For this book jacket design, I wanted to ensure I captured the whimsy of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and while the book was originally published in 1865, I wanted the cover to look more modern. I felt it was important to include a recognizable image on the cover, like the Cheshire Cat smile, the white rabbit, or the Mad Hatter. Something people would immediately find familiar. I chose to explore hand lettering and formed the shape of the Mad Hatter’s hat with the title. In addition to the book jacket, I created three type-based illustrations using the same color palette and typographic styles as the cover. These illustrations could also be turned into posters.
Front Cover
Back Cover
For the title, I mixed the hand-done type with the typeface Gimlet Display, a thin slab serif. Gimlet contrasted nicely with the thick rounded letters I had drawn. In order to create the Mad Hatter’s top hat shape for the title I manipulated the letters in the word “Adventures” by stretching the stems, ascenders, and descenders. The manipulated letters added to the whimsical mood of the cover. For the color palette, I wanted to include the classic blue from Alice's dress and the red from the Queen of Hearts, but I needed something light and bright to complement the red and blue. I chose yellow and created a primary color palette that felt playful, bold, and a little unexpected for the story.
Alice quote
Cheshire Cat quote
Cheshire Cat quote
Instructor: Jennifer Urdang Stern