Nitish Bhushan's
LOVE, SWIPE, BLACKMAIL
Project Focus
Creative direction, Illustration,
Graphic Design, Book Cover Design,
THEME
This story highlights the insecurities formed in relationships and how they can last long after a relationship ends. There is ample amount of betrayal, resentment, jealousy that add to the already tangled web of lies, spun around our characters. All these layers added to the complexity of the situation finally leading to confrontation.
AUDIENCE
While the imagery had to have a broad appeal, it had to attract mature readers between the ages of 30 to 45, who may not yet have had a full experience of dating online but they can grasp the different themes present all over the story.
APPROACH
The task was to create three different concepts for the cover that will be used to promote the book and will be part of the reprinting effort.
I created the options, picking certain thematic concepts from the book - The Puppeteer, Trapped animals & The Black mailer
Love, Swipe, Blackmail is a mystery thriller. But, it also echoes to the pitfalls of dating online with the express purpose of physical intimacy.
Creative direction
Illustration
Graphic Design
Book Cover Design
ANNECDOTE PUBLISHING
OVERVIEW
Mountain Dew
CONCEPT
Using the motif of control through the dating app, our protagonist falls to his evident demise ever deeper. A helping hand does appear to get him out of the situation.
DIRECTIONS
THE PUPPETEER
All strings attached.
REFERRENCE
CONCEPT
As symbolism for the final confrontation between Vandana - often referred to as a lioness - and the blackmailer. It creates an intrigue of why this motif is against the words LOVE SWIPE BLACKMAIL.
DIRECTIONS
TRAPPED ANIMALS
The bite is worse than the bark.
REFERRENCE
CONCEPT
To create a mystery regarding the blackmailer, I conceptualized the two inciting incidents for the story - The protagonist downloading the dating app and the trip to Dubai. The consequences of these events culminate into the appearance of the blackmailer in the protagonist's life.
DIRECTIONS
THE BLACKMAILER
What lies beneath?
REFERRENCE
COVER DESIGN
THE BLACKMAILER
After presenting the 3 cover options the final choice made by the client and author was - The Blackmailer. I started developing my original sketch digitally, beginning with the base colour red - conveying both danger and sensuality.
My practice in oil portraits especially, came handy in making this cover. I try my best to customize my own brush for the right support needed in an artwork.
DESIGN
LOVE, SWIPE, BLACKMAIL
