Pets or Pests?
This book cover redesign of Pests by Bethany Brookshire communicates the book’s central theme: how human perception shapes whether animals are seen as companions or pests. The cover uses cats—one of the animals discussed in the book—as the central motif, arranged in a conceptual and visually engaging way. By highlighting a creature often viewed with both affection and nuisance, the design reflects the tension at the heart of the text and invites readers to question their own assumptions. Art Direction: Yevhenia Haidamaka
Challenge
For the redesign of the book cover, 'Pests' by Bethany Brookshire, the objective was to create a book cover that visually communicates the central theme of the text: how human perspective shapes our understanding of animals, as either “pets or pests”. The cover needed to feature some of the animals discussed in the book.
Solution
Through market research of books on similar subject matters, I observed that many covers in this genre use animal silhouettes and minimalist designs. Inspired to take a different approach, I aimed to communicate a central theme of the book while thoughtfully incorporating some of the animals featured in the chapters, presenting them in a way that tells a story and goes beyond a traditional collage. The design solution centers on the idea of perception. By using a visual illusion, the cover illustration encourages viewers to engage with the artwork and notice how their own viewpoint can alter what they see. This interactive element mirrors the book’s exploration of shifting attitudes toward animals, making the cover both visually striking and conceptually meaningful. The result is a design that not only attracts attention but also deepens the reader’s connection to the book’s message from the very first glance.
