This project required using the creative process to create designs for a book jacket and interior pages for The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
My initial research of the book’s motifs found that the red hunting hat, the ducks in central park, and New York City were prominent symbols in the text. These motifs were the basis of the thumbnail and rough sketches, seen above.
The final design combines two motifs from the rough sketches: the ducks in central park, and the New York Skyline. The massive skyline evokes the feeling of alienation that the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, experiences. The ducks leaving central park for the winter symbolizes change, something Holden attempts to prevent. Both of these images reference his loss of innocence and isolation in a big city.
I typeset the interior pages to make them as readable as possible. The body copy’s justification settings and leading were adjusted to provide maximum readability.
