The Overstory Book Covers
I created alternate covers for the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Overstory. One is a contemporary take, and one is a modernist take.
Contemporary
I wanted to hone in on the natural setting and strong themes of environmental activism in the book. Contemporary book covers don’t have many restrictions so I had a lot of freedom to play around with the design. I found leaves in my backyard and then used crayons to shade them. I also used the crayon to write the text. I scanned these assets into photoshop and then color-corrected them and arranged them.
Modernist
Modernist covers from the early 1900’s to the 1940’s typically consisted of simple illustrations and limited color palettes. I created an abstract geometric version of a tree, the curves and bends symbolizing it’s journey through life up until the point it finally blooms. I also modified the penguin logo to play on the theme of deforestation and climate change and the characters’ journeys to protect the planet.
