Book Cover Redesign

For this project in my Graphic Design I class, we were asked to redesign an existing book cover that didn’t align with the tone or genre of the story. Using Adobe Photoshop and a 10-image composite, we created an original design concept that better fit the book’s narrative, mood, and themes.

I chose A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. While the original red-and-wolf cover hinted at danger, it missed key elements of the story—like its rich romantic tension, political intrigue, and magical setting.

My redesign centers on three main symbols:
• The arrow – a pivotal plot element tied to the protagonist’s strength and the stakes she faces.
• Thorny roses – representing the beautiful but deadly world of the fae and the book’s central romance.
• The crown – nodding to the power dynamics and court politics that define the series.

I shifted the color palette to darker, cooler tones to better reflect the book’s mystery and elegance, and used a bolder font to balance out the detailed imagery. The result is a cover that offers a more accurate and emotionally resonant first impression.