Here's a cover I made for Khaled Hosseini's bestselling book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Set in war-torn Kabul, Afghanistan in the late 20th century, the book follows the lives of two women, Laila and Mariam, as they navigate war, oppression and loss. Amongst all the horror they endure, their lives intertwine, making this also a story of hope, sacrifice and resilience.
I really wanted the cover to reflect the loss and devastation that features so heavily throughout this story, which is why I chose to use real sand, dirt and charcoal. The resulting 3D, textured effect mirrors the roughness and reality of the two protagonist's lives, and of war in general. While the two suns nod to the name of the book, they more so represent Laila and Mariam and their unity and strength through this war-torn world.
I worked with a photographer to capture the scene, then tweaked/added copy on InDesign and Photoshop.
This is student work.
