Project Overview:

I was asked to create a new cover for a classic novel. I chose Frankenstein because I was the most versed in the depth of the characters and the concepts of the novel. As well as the visual imagery contained within the book. I also found this novel incredibly intriguing and was excited to create a visual to help portray the connection between reader and the two most well known characters.

I was to present three final covers, each based on a deep concept from the novel. Each of the three covers should be unique and I was to create:

      1. A typography only cover

      2. A cover created from physical materials

      3. A cover created in the medium of my own choosing

Research:

I started off with lots of research on my novel. Looking for concepts, visual imagery, and mood ideas.

After getting some concrete ideas about the book. I needed to create thoughts of how to lace these ideas of the mood, imagery, and concepts together into a cohesive idea. I also did a deep dive and found all kinds of book covers that were either of Frankenstein covers that have been done in the past, or covers that inspired my thought process. I did some more brainstorming. A mind map, and word lists. After all these I started to see patterns of things that could work together. I then made a page of sketches for my typography cover, and another set for the other two covers.

Finally it was time to create some digital compositions and see what worked together, and what did not. At this point I had created some physical assets by hand and tried to work them into some of my covers. Here are some of the top ideas and assets.

Physical Assets:

Digital Concepts:

At this point I was able to get a set of feedback to help me decide on what ideas worked, and which ones didn't. I narrowed it down to a few and kept working on them to see what other ideas would be sparked to take the ideas farther.

Another round of feedback and I was able to narrow it down to three and start the deep refining process. Here are some screen shots of the process.

As I decided on final concepts and refined them, I asked for more feedback. I was able to continue refining to the point where I was happy with my final product. I went back and thought about what I wanted from each cover and really dove deep into the concepts and the creative techniques of design,

This cover is a German inspired concept. This concept encompasses the idea of life and death and creation. The majority of the title is supposed to represent the grave and being underground or even in hell. The word sein in German means to be or to exist with a male tense. I thought this perfectly showed how Dr. Frankenstein thought that creating life would make him transcend the scientific community and put him on a new plane of understanding. So as we can see in the cover, sein is transcending the grave, or hell as Dr. Frankenstein seems to think, and becomes more through his creation. 

This one is so very deep. It’s about the piercing danger of creation. That as one creates they also destroy. Sewing is the piecing together of broken pieces in a destructive yet creating manner. You have to first break something apart, to create something new with a sharp instrument that does somewhat irreversible damage to the previous materials. This is a really good material change exploration that brings to light the deep concepts of the book.

The use of isolation in this cover draws attention to the doctor. This is not usually what popular culture thinks of with this book. With this visual we find the fear and disturbed nature of the creation of the monster through the doctors eyes. We see regret and fear. And the shadow of the monster foreshadows the ominous and destructive future for the doctor, as his creation pries his life apart like a crack in a door being opened.

Conclusion:

I learned so much from this project. How to choose options that have great concepts and not just the ones I "like." I had a few I was invested in and then had to let them go. I learned more than ever how much feedback is a catalyst for important refinement. It helped me learn how important the perceptions of all viewers are. And as with every project, that following the process is what creates good compositions, not just ones that look nice.