The year is 1939, the war has started, and Death has never been busier. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, released in 2005, is a powerful story narrated by Death that follows a young girl growing up in Germany during World War II. The goal for this project was to design a book cover that visually captures the novel’s emotional depth and haunting perspective, using captivating imagery and colors that expand upon the story. Expanding on this concept, a series of merchandise and giveaways for a book signing event was developed, ensuring each piece aligned seamlessly with the cover design.

Discovery

Moodboard

Working with a historical fiction piece, I took inspiration from World War II propaganda to create my moodboard. I also researched book jackets from early-20th-century literature and other historical fiction works to gain insight into what is popular with this genre.

Sketches

To prepare for my sketches, I reread the book, noted important recurring symbols, and created my sketches based on the symbolism Markus Zusak used throughout the book.

Digital Drafts

The concepts I decided to move forward with depicted book burnings, death, and a specific plane crash scene from the book. I chose the silhouette cover that includes the main character and death for my final concept. After feedback, I chose to change the colors to red, black, and white because of their relevance to the story and the war.