CARLEE McKENZIE
BANNED BOOK CLUB COVER REDESIGN
"Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Perez
*"Banned Books Book Club" project awarded Silver Addy Award
Well Done Marketing created a 'banned book club' amongst the rise of book banning in America. Book bans have been slapped across titles for containing 'sensitive subjects' such as gender, racism, sexuality, and more. Well Done wanted to not only read these books, but discuss them and bring awareness by redesigning the covers of these books, based on the team's discussions.
"Out of Darkness" is set in the 1930s and explores themes of race, violence, love, family, segregation, and abuse, among other themes.
The story revolves around Naomi, a Mexican-American girl, and Wash, an African-American boy, and their pursuit of love and justice in the unjust world. Throughout the book, we are faced with instances of “darkness” where characters undergo unspeakable tragedy, but these acts are often bracketed by kindness and love.
Original Cover
Early Concepting Comps
Theme
The Upside Down
Symbols/Objects: Light and Darkness - a symbol of tension, but also of balance—light cannot exist without the dark.
Naomi's braid - a connection to her mother and a symbol of her identity and heritage
Woods - the separation between communities, also a sanctuary, a middle ground
People holding hands - The transformative power of love
Oil fields - Texas setting
Style: Light/Shadow Box - as a shadow box displays mementos, the book layers the story of segregation, love, struggles, tragedy, and social and societal barriers.
Final Redesigned Cover
