BOOK COVER RE-DESIGN
Crime and Punishment
ABOUT THE BOOK
I decided to re-design a cover of a classical book by a Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky - "Crime and Punishment".
"Crime and Punishment" focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in Saint Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker with an axe for her money.
One of the main reasons for the crime is proving his philosophical theory, which divides the society into two parts — those who are allowed to do whatever they want without any consequences and those who are not allowed. After the killing he suffers a lot and feels remorse, which leads to him admitting the crime and proving his theory wrong.
BOOK COVER IDEAS/
SKETCHES
FINAL BOOK COVER SKETCH
ABOUT THE COVER
For the cover design, I chose to show the crucial and visually the most intense and recognisable moment of the book story - the crime itself. My idea was to show the main character with the axe, standing behind the old lady.
ABOUT THE AR
To add more sense and depth to the original cover, when the reader scans the main artwork, a video appears on top of the book, showing in the loop what happened moments after. I wanted to make it graphic but subtle enough, not depicting the dead body but the criminal and the weapon covered in blood.
CHARACTER DESIGN
My plan was to make the characters quite simple, but give them a "horror" look at the same time. I tried to find the balance between not being too intense with the graphics but and the same time transmitting a dark feeling through them to represent the story and the questions the author discusses in the book.
I used the same base for both of them to make sure the style is the same and the differences are subtle, but enough to make the characters distinguishable. I followed the plot of the book to get the references of what they were actually wearing.
3D MODELING PROCESS
FINAL 3D RENDER/
3D ILLUSTRATION
FINAL BOOK COVER
For the book proposal, to go on with the red theme one of the versions could be made with the pages painted red, which can also help it distinguish from other books.
PICTURES
My idea was to take photos at the location that would match the atmosphere of the book. I choose red lightning that goes along with the interactive part of the project, where the lights are blinking and can be seen on the face of the main character.
Apart from meaning danger, blood, fear, the lightning also plays a role in the
before / and / after the crime concept.
The reader's hands on the photo are lit up with normal lightning, but if the look in the mirror, they are red. It also can be a metaphor in a way, to make you feel like you are the main character, whose hands are covered in blood.
INTERACTIVITY/
ARTIVIVE
ABOUT THE AR
The final video shows the main character after he committed the crime. I chose to depict him from a lower angle to make the viewer inferior to him and create a more horror atmosphere.
The sound design goes along with the actions, emphasising the silent yet tense moment, with the dripping sound, the door sqeaking and lights buzzing.
