A Clockwork Orange
A cover that explores the philosophy of ultraviolence practised by the protagonist, Alex. The illustration juxtaposes the mental state and idealism of Alex, which revolve around rape, crime and violence.
The figure and ground rendition enhances the idea that everything is imbibed in him, from which he cannot escape; from drugs to his visit to Korova milk bar - both subtly referenced, forming the silhouette of his face. Much like the many-layers of one’s character, the cover explores the unfolding of this notion, revealing the protagonist to the audience.
2nd Prize, Penguin Design Award
Judges’ Comments
‘This is both elegant and aggressive, which is such a hard combination to achieve’
- Alexandra Shulman
‘Incredibly clever. The three images – face, figure and droplet – all tie together seamlessly’
- Richard Bravery – Senior Designer, Penguin General Books
‘This was the most immediately striking of the covers for me. I liked the clever double-entendre of the woman’s body and the face. It’s a strong, graphic solution that captures the sexual violence too’ - Joanna Prior – Managing Director, Penguin General Books
‘Graphically very clever. A resourceful solution to placing the title text’
- David Shrigley
‘An imaginative and well-crafted illustration which cleverly captures the themes
of the book’
- Jim Stoddart – Art Director, Penguin Press