Book Cover Redesign

Student project. The brief was to redesign a book dust jacket (any genre) which must include a drop cap design - this had to be the initial letter of the writer's surname or a key word in the title. For me, and in both cases, this was the letter G! Can you spot it? It also needed to illustrate elements of the story. I designed the G as a bit of an optical illusion - formed from two shapes within the image: the parasol and the hanging decorative lantern in front of it. Together forming the letter shape without it dominating the focus. I wanted the red circle to symbolise the parasol (which Japanese geisha often carry) but also the sun (Land of the Rising Sun) which features on the Japanese flag. This is mirrored in the red spot on the lantern. Elements from the story are included - the geisha herself, cherry blossom, the hidden handkerchief (of the man she loves) in her obi and the little rice cake box she holds to give to her daana (sugar daddy!). This was a really enjoyable project and I'd love to design more book covers in the future.