SELF-SABOTAGE
Concept Project
Mixed Media
Roles: Creative and Art Direction, Illustrator, Designer
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The goal of the project was to develop the cover for the book Self-Sabotage, a work that delves into the internal mechanisms that lead us, consciously or unconsciously, to harm ourselves. The visual concept needed to convey this conflict in a direct and symbolic way: the tension between the self that moves forward and the self that interferes, doubts, or inflicts harm. The challenge was to translate this emotional struggle into a striking, clear image capable of creating an immediate impact, while maintaining a contemporary aesthetic with a strong psychological character.
Furthermore, the cover needed to particularly resonate with an audience interested in personal growth, introspection, and emotional dynamics, offering a recognizable visual metaphor that encapsulated the tone of the book.
THE CONCEPT
I wanted to create an image that immediately conveyed the concept of self-sabotage. To represent this “self against myself,” I placed a small figure holding the rope of a guillotine that is about to fall on its own face. This tiny figure symbolizes our inner voice, the one that sometimes repeats doubts, plants harmful ideas, and can lead us to hurtful places. The large face contrasts with the small figure, creating drama and a direct symbolic reading. The gaze of the face is directed at its diminished “self,” and together with the line of the rope, it guides the viewer’s attention toward the decisive action that could trigger a fatal outcome. The choice of colors reinforces the emotional tension: conflict, inner pressure, and the silent violence that characterizes self-sabotage.
A selection of examples showing how the design could work on a book cover.
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