Misery
by stephen king
Personal design
horror \ thriller \ fiction
Misery by Stephen King was one of the first thrillers I read, and it became one of my all time favorites—not just because it’s a scary story, but because it follows a character facing an inescapable psychological entrapment. My cover design reflects the novel’s chilling premise: bestselling author Paul Sheldon, injured and helpless, is trapped in the home of his self-proclaimed "biggest fan," Annie Wilkes—who quickly proves to be more than just an enthusiastic reader.
The letterforms of the title play a key role in my design, with the letters of Misery forming prison bars, symbolizing Paul’s inescapable confinement. The house at the center resembles a dollhouse, mirroring the way Annie "plays house" with Paul, constructing a world where she believes he belongs. Through the tiny windows, we see Paul tirelessly working on his manuscript in his wheelchair, while above him, Annie looms like a prison guard, watching his every move.
To make this cover stand out from traditional horror genre aesthetics, I opted for a minimal yet ominous approach, inviting potential readers to piece together the unsettling nature of the story—just as the novel itself keeps them on edge, never quite knowing what will happen to Paul.
A Short Walk Through A Wide World
by douglas westerbeke
personal design
historical fiction \ fantasy
Douglas Westerbeke’s A Short Walk Through a Wide World is a spellbinding and inspiring journey, following Aubry Tourvel, a fiercely independent and hopeful traveler constantly searching for a cure to her unshakeable curse. Set in 1885, the novel is a testament to how the journey itself, rather than the destination, shapes who we are.
To reflect the novel’s historical depth and sense of adventure, I incorporated a vintage map as the foundation of my cover design—specifically, one adorned with cherubs and clouds in the margins, reminiscent of old-world cartography. One cherub even holds the Wheel of Fortune, subtly reinforcing the novel’s themes of fate, movement, and the unpredictability of life’s path.
Inside the circular globe at the center, I overlaid a faint astrological map, its rings depicting planetary movements, symbolizing how Aubry charts her journey through the world. The title is placed within this globe in an elegant script, giving it the feel of a personal inscription or a handwritten log of her travels.
My goal was to create a cover that feels both historic and timeless, grounding itself in the past while maintaining a modern, graphic appeal that sets it apart within its genre. I wanted the design to strike a balance between classic and contemporary, much like the novel itself. This book was an absolute joy to read, and I highly recommend it.
Dark Matter
by blake crouch
Personal Design
science fiction \ thriller \ mystery
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, alternate realities, and the lengths we go to for the lives we dream of. The novel follows Jason Dessen, a physicist who invents a machine capable of transporting someone into infinite parallel universes—a concept that inspired the core visual of my cover design.
At the heart of the design is a repeating arch, symbolizing doors within doors, each leading into a new reality, reflecting the novel’s mind-bending exploration of possibilities and diverging paths. The glowing gradient aura represents infinity, evoking the countless worlds Jason navigates throughout the story.
I approached this cover with a modern, minimal aesthetic, allowing the subtle mystery of the design to draw readers in. The simplicity reflects the novel’s fast-paced yet cerebral nature, leaving just enough intrigue to make someone wonder what lies beyond the next door.
The Woman in Cabin Ten
by ruth ware
personal design
mystery \ suspense \ fiction
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware is a gripping mystery that perfectly blends luxury and suspense—a seemingly idyllic cruise that turns into a psychological nightmare. The novel follows Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist who witnesses what appears to be a woman thrown overboard—but with all passengers accounted for, the mystery deepens.
I wanted my cover design to evoke the nostalgic charm of classic mystery novels, inspired by my own experience of reading it on a cruise, where I could fully dive into the premise. The design is intricate and fluid, with flowing shapes reminiscent of ocean waves, hinting to the nautical setting of the story.
Within these shapes, I incorporated four vintage-inspired watercolor illustrations, each offering a subtle clue to the plot:
The left panel features the enigmatic woman applying mascara, referencing an important clue for Lo to uncover.
The right panel gives a bird’s-eye view of the cruise ship, cutting through the waves, reinforcing the sense of indulgence and isolation at sea.
The bottom left showcases the lavish dining hall, where a mysterious guest never arrives.
The bottom right captures the moment a figure falls from the boat—but was it real, or just a trick of perception?
To enhance the classic mystery aesthetic, I chose a vintage-inspired typeface and a rich, moody color palette, striking a balance between cozy intrigue and quiet suspense. The result is a cover that feels timeless yet thrilling, much like the novel itself.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep?
by philip k. dick
personal design
science fiction \ dystopian \ cyberpunk
Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a seminal work of science fiction, exploring the blurred boundaries between humanity and artificial intelligence. The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter assigned to track down six rogue androids—machines that are nearly indistinguishable from humans, possessing intelligence, emotion, and even dreams.
Rather than taking a literal approach, I aimed to visualize how an android’s dream might appear, creating an abstract representation of synthetic consciousness. The design features interconnecting circles with swirling hues, where overlapping transparencies create new, unexpected colors—some vibrant, some completely opaque or transparent. This concept mirrors the fluid, layered nature of thought and self-awareness, questioning what it means to be truly sentient.
To complement this, I selected a futuristic, geometric-yet-fluid typeface, reinforcing the structured yet organic aesthetic of the design. Much like my approach with Dark Matter, I kept the design minimal yet thought-provoking, avoiding overly illustrative elements in favor of a modern, and conceptual feel—one that reflects the futuristic themes at the heart of the novel.
Jane Eyre
by charlotte brontë
personal design
classic \ gothic \ fiction
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is a novel of passion, independence, and gothic mystery, following orphaned Jane Eyre as she endures a harsh childhood, forges her own path, and ultimately finds herself entangled in the secrets of Thornfield Hall and its enigmatic master, Mr. Rochester. While often categorized as a romance, Jane Eyre is just as much a story of self-discovery and conviction, which I sought to capture in my design.
To reflect the novel’s brooding and contemplative tone, I placed a stoic image of Jane at the center, her face softly lit as if by candlelight, symbolizing her inner strength and quiet determination. The background is dark and mysterious, evoking the gothic atmosphere of Thornfield.
Superimposed over the silhouette of Jane’s dress is a portrait of Mr. Rochester, his expression distressed, reflecting his inner turmoil and the burden of his secret. The deep burgundy and pink hues in his portrait hint at his undeniable passion for Jane, contrasting with the cool, shadowed tones of the rest of the composition.
Rather than leaning into traditional romance cover aesthetics, I wanted this design to emphasize the depth, mystery, and gothic beauty of the novel. The result is a cover that feels timeless, haunting, and emotionally complex—just like Jane Eyre itself.
Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro
Personal Design
science fiction \ fantasy \ contemporary
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun is a deeply moving exploration of artificial intelligence, human connection, and hope, told through the eyes of Klara, an Artificial Friend with extraordinary observational skills. As she waits to be chosen, Klara watches the world outside her store window, forming a profound belief in the Sun’s life-giving power—seeing it almost as a sentient force capable of healing and offering salvation.
For this cover, I focused on the Sun as the central visual element, reflecting its pivotal role in the novel. I took a minimalist approach, ensuring the design evokes warmth, mystery, and quiet wonder without revealing too much—not wanting to give away the novel’s delicate storytelling.
At the center of the cover, a soft radiating gradient creates the impression of looking directly into the Sun’s glow, immersing the viewer in its warmth. Around the edges, converging lines form a subtle circular pattern, symbolizing radiance, light, and Klara’s deep reverence for the Sun. To complement this concept, I selected a thin, geometric typeface, subtly hinting at the novel’s futuristic themes while maintaining a sense of grace and simplicity.
