We Have Always Lived
in the Castle
Book cover
Objective
Redesign an existing book cover by creating a cohesive set of designs for the front, back, spine, and inside flaps.
Summary
We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a gothic horror novel by Shirley Jackson, known for its unsettling atmosphere. I wanted my design to capture that same haunting tone, to draw the viewer in and reflect the strange, mysterious world of the story.
Process
Moodboard
Sketches
I aimed to create a book cover design that felt quiet, haunting and mysterious. I was especially drawn to imagery of houses at night to represent the titular “castle,” along with dark skies, silhouettes, and lots of texture. I also wanted to try to include fire somewhere in the design, to represent the destruction later in the story, along with the moon, which appears as a recurring symbol throughout the book.
Digital Drafts
Revision
First version
(Created in class)
Revised version
(Created in portfolio)
This project was another one that I wasn’t initially sure if I wanted to include in my final portfolio or not. I liked the original design, but I had created it quite early on in my time as a design student, before I fully understood the Adobe tools, so I felt that it no longer was representative of my current style or skill level. So I decided to create a new version that leaned more into illustration and incorporated lots of texture for added depth (something I’ve discovered over time that I really enjoy working with), while still keeping the dark, mysterious tone of the original. I’m happy with where this updated version ended up, and I’m glad I pushed myself to revisit it with fresh eyes.
Final
