ALEJANDRO
MANCHA
Graphic Designer/Illustrator
Capturing Mystery in Design
PASTEL HORROR
2024 - Print, Book Cover, Typography, Illustration
As part of a school project, I designed a mock book cover for Leave the World Behind with the goal of visually expressing the novel’s tone and central themes through composition, color, and typography.
I analyzed the novel to develop motifs that reflect its central themes, exploring contrasting ideas, technology, and visual elements such as sliding doors, flamingos, nature, decay, and the interplay of light and darkness.
After researching the book’s atmosphere and motifs, I developed sketches and digital drafts exploring the motif of Pastel/Horror. Through texture, contrast, and layering, I aimed to balance serenity with unease.
The final design merges soft pastel tones with subtle horror elements, creating a compelling visual tension that mirrors the novel’s mystery and dichotomous nature, which shows that we are not always what we think we are.
