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Crying in H Mart Redesign 2025
Charcoal, InDesign, Photoshop

Charcoal sketch

Second iteration

First iteration
The redesign for this cover, though seemingly simple, came from a lot of complex thinking about the novel’s themes. I played with many versions of this design; do I reference music? Korean food (similar to the original cover)? A family portrait?

I landed on the idea that less is more, and conveys the message of the book quite nicely. Similar to much of my work, I went between handdrawn, analogue techniques that were then manipulated and expanded upon by digital means. The table and chairs artwork used in the final work came from a hand drawn, charcoal sketch by me. In Photoshop, I played with a few versions of this visual,  and ultimately came back to the texture of the original charcoal.

The drawing of an empty dinner setting came from the intent to symbolize isolation and loss, while at once referencing both food and family. This is the reason that the table remains devoid of food; without her mother, the element of Korean cooking and cultural connection is missing.
Final Illustrator file
The final design uses my symbolic visual alongside the color red that serves as homage to the original design. I found my initial intuition to stay true to some element of the actual design was right; not only is there a linearity between the previous cover and my redesigned one, but red as a color of power is situated nicely against the barebones artwork.  

When the book is closed, on either side only one part of the table and a single chair is visible. The intent here is to further demonstrate the theme of grief that is the novel’s focal point.

The author name is not a font, but actually Michelle’s signature. I decided to use her signature as a subtle nod to her work as a musician.






Book mockups