Little Women Redesign
Book Design
This project is a redesign of the cover and interior of Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women. The cover design is inspired by the 1800s, the time period in which Little Women takes place, as well as the symbolism Alcott uses throughout the novel.
The use of four flowers in each corner of the cover is meant to represent each of the four sisters that the story follows. Meg is represented by the lily of the valley, which symbolizes sweetness and humility. Amy is represented by the rose, which symbolizes love, passion, and beauty. Jo is represented by the daffodil, which symbolizes resilience and new beginnings. Lastly, Beth is represented by the forget-me-not, which symbolizes remembrance. Lilies appear in the center of the design, representing the overarching themes of passion and personal growth. The use of these floral elements are also seen throughout the interior of the book redesign.
Process
When designing the book cover of Little Women, I started by researching the main themes of the book. I was drawn to the personalities of the four March sisters and explored ways to represent them visually. I decided to use flowers in the four corners of the cover to symbolize each sister.
I sketched out a couple of layout options, experimenting with how the flowers and vines could frame the title and fill the space. After making rough sketches, I combined the best elements into a final refined sketch before moving digitally.
Visual Inspiration
I wanted the cover illustrated and decorative, like something that would’ve existed around the time the story takes place. I was inspired by existing cover designs that used swirling linework and botanical elements to create a frame around the text. For the color palette, I wanted to be consistent with the time period of the story, so I chose a rusted red and muted green to give the cover a vintage feel.
