Kafka on the shore

Personal interpretation of a Book Cover for Kafka on the shore by Haruki Murakami.

I wanted a design that invites open interpretation, capturing the dreamlike and surreal essence of Murakami’s novel.

The typography is clean and minimalistic for the author’s name and title in contrast with the monolithic, abstract central illustration. While abstract, the design subtly incorporates key elements from the story, the name Kafka first and symbolic motifs such as a fish, a cat, and a rock, all central to the narrative (have you spotted all of them?).

There’s a sense of movement in the shapes, texture and colours, as if they were transforming or shifting, which parallels the theme of identity and change of the book. The brushstrokes give a raw yet human and tactile feel, adding depth and personality to the piece and, again, resonate with the themes of the novel.