🗝️ ISTD Typography Competition Brief 🗝️
In my third year as a Graphic Design student, I tackled a challenging project: redesigning a book cover using primarily typography.
This project was part of an international competition organized by the ISTD (International Society of Typographic Designers) based in London, UK. Founded in 1928, the ISTD promotes typographic excellence worldwide, embracing both traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. Their student briefs now encourage diverse interpretations across various media.
The unique challenge was to create a visually pleasing design using only typography and basic shapes, drawing inspiration solely from the book's first and last chapters.
The color palette of blue and red was chosen with careful consideration. These hues symbolize key elements of the story: Alice and the king and queen of hearts. The narrative begins with Alice's journey into Wonderland, dominated by blue tones, while the final chapter unfolds in a court presided over by the king of hearts, characterized by red. The design masterfully employs monochromatic variations to breathe life into the book without overwhelming the senses. Gradients and effects, including inner and outer glow, add depth, mirroring Alice's descent into the rabbit hole.
The word "wonderland" is ingeniously manipulated to form a teapot, evoking Alice's whimsical tea party with the mad hatter, featured in the final chapter. The teapot, pouring red tea, signifies the book's gradual shift from serenity to chaos.
The design is characterized by generous white space, facilitating readability and preventing sensory overload.
Additionally, the design incorporates clever nods to the book, such as a stopwatch symbolizing the white rabbit, a crown for the queen of hearts, and a top hat for the mad hatter. These subtle hints pique curiosity, encouraging potential readers to delve into the book and uncover its secrets.
Designing this book cover was a rewarding experience that pushed my creative boundaries. The challenge of using typography and basic shapes to capture the essence of the story taught me the power of typography as a storytelling tool. It deepened my appreciation for color symbolism and the subtleties of visual metaphor.
