Cover Design Proposal for Norwegian Wood
Brief Overview
The task is to design a cover for the vintage collection of Penguin Books, specifically for Norwegian Wood, a novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Set in late 1960s Tokyo, the novel is a nostalgic exploration of love, loss, and the internal struggles of youth, juxtaposed against a backdrop of student protests and societal change.
Creative Approach
To capture the essence of Norwegian Wood, I explored the themes of nostalgia, Japanese culture, and personal introspection. After conducting research and analysing the novel’s deeper meanings, I developed two distinct graphic concepts for the cover.
The Fan and Vinyl Concept
Inspiration: The fan is a traditional symbol of Japanese culture, representing elegance, simplicity, and a connection to nature. I paired this with the image of a vinyl record, which resonates with the novel’s time period, invoking a sense of nostalgia and the emotional connection to music.
Visual Elements: The vinyl reflects a deep red sunset, symbolising both the emotional warmth and melancholy of the story. The centre of the image forms a small sun, representing the duality of beginnings and endings, much like the novel’s exploration of youth, love, and loss.
Symbolism: The combination of these elements reflects the delicate balance of emotions within the story, bringing both cultural depth and a nod to the era in which the novel is set.
Futured on:
