Redesigning The Hunger Games Book Covers
A Fresh Look for the International Phenomenon
Fifteen years ago, the first novel in the worldwide bestselling Hunger Games trilogy came out. The dystopian world of Katniss Everdeen spent more than 5 years on Best-Seller Lists, has over 100 million copies in print worldwide, and spawned 4 hit blockbuster movies.
Earlier this year all 4 Hunger Games movies were added to Netflix, causing a resurgence in popularity not seen since they were originally released. This inspired me to breathe new life into the book cover designs.
I decided to go with a nature theme for the new cover designs since the books have such vivid descriptions of the scenery and are largely based outside. These close-up, aerial views of nature complement the drama of the stories more than the previous designs. To give the designs more depth, the text is partially covered by components of the images, including plants and sticks.
The first book, The Hunger Games, largely takes place in dense forestry. The lush vegetation and abundant greenery in the first Hunger Games book serve as a crucial setting where the characters hide, fight, and showcase their survival skills.
The plot of the second book, Catching Fire, suits the title as it revolves around the smoldering embers of rebellion and dissent that gradually ignite into a full-scale uprising against the oppressive government. My cover design features sparks starting to spread across destroyed wood, almost as if the forest from the previous cover was destroyed and is now… Catching Fire.
The world of Mockingjay, the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy, has been ravaged by war. Throughout the book, readers are exposed to the destruction and desolation of the districts as the rebellion intensifies, offering a stark contrast to the previous books’ settings. My cover design for Mockingjay reflects this and continues the progression of the first two book covers; the once lush forest has now been reduced to ashes.
