My Self-Initiated Project for the Penguin Book Archive- To Kill a Mockingbird

I did a self-initiated project in which I created a conceptual book cover for the Penguin Book Archive of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

In designing this cover, I hand-drew a mockingbird and a gavel, two symbols that profoundly resonate with the core messages of the story. The mockingbird represents innocence and the moral imperative to protect the vulnerable, while the gavel symbolizes the law and the quest for justice. Together, these elements encapsulate the essence of the narrative and highlight the themes of empathy and social justice that are central to Harper Lee’s iconic novel. The creative process began with sketching out the illustrations. I wanted to show how innocence is destroyed by the so call justice system.

Once I was satisfied with the drawings, I hand-lettered the title to add a personal touch to the design. This step allowed me to infuse my style into the cover while maintaining the integrity of the overall composition. With the illustrations completed I used Photoshop to add color. My goal was to create a visually striking cover that would invite readers to engage with the story. The color palette I chose reflects the themes of the book—the woody earthy tones that evoke the Southern setting and cultural context.

I also created patterns that can be used for the end papers and the sides of the book