This book cover project was a competition brief for the Penguin design awards. The Big Sleep is a classic piece of American literature, based in Hollywood during the “dirty thirties.” The crime novel, written by Raymond Chandler, follows one liner detective Philip Marlowe in a blackmail case.

 

My aim for the piece was to design a cover that would interact with the audience, placing them directly in the middle of the story. The basic textured cover doubles as a case envelope prop from the novel. By opening the back of the envelope you will find the blurb, a matches pack bookmark, a poster and photos that relates to the novel. I aimed to create an eye-catching cover that would hopefully intrigue the new audience, while at the same time relating to those who are familiar with the novel.