This book cover design explores the theme of harmony between nature and architecture as seen in Auroville where humans live in harmony with nature. This theme is also seen in the diverse group of people with different ethnicity living in harmony with each other in Auroville. Featuring organic imprints of tree trunks alongside architectural details, the composition symbolizes the coexistence of natural and built environments. The typography complements the organic yet structured aesthetic, reinforcing the balance between these two elements.
The spine maintains a cohesive aesthetic with the title elegantly placed among the circular motifs, ensuring continuity across the design.
The book jacket design extends the theme of harmony between nature and architecture. The back cover introduces a serene landscape with a banyan tree, a meditation center, and floating circular forms that echo the natural cycles of growth and sustainability. The earthy color palette and balanced typography enhance the organic yet structured feel of the design, making it visually engaging and conceptually rich.
Process Work
Book Title- Under the Banyan (Principles for Sustainable Habitats in the Tropics- Auroville)
Author- Auroville Consulting
Book Summary- “Under the Banyan” is a book about sustainability architecture. The book revolves around passive design principles used in architecture in Auroville through hand drawn sketches and illustrations.
Design Approach- My initial idea for choosing this book was its concept, which is related to sustainable architecture. For the typography, I initially thought of using an organic looking font to align with the book’s theme. Font called “Gyst,” where the tail of the letter y, the arm of the letter r, and the crossbar of the letter T are shaped like leaves. The rounded and curvy forms of the letters give the font an organic, natural feel.I decided to incorporate the imprint texture of a tree trunk, symbolizing nature, and the imprint texture of a metal plate, referencing an architectural detail from the meditation center located at the heart of the town. By combining these elements, the design conveys the theme of harmony between nature and architecture.The book’s green background fades into white towards the dust jacket, symbolizing a seamless connection. The back cover merges with the front cover through textural elements that flow from the back to the front. The spine continues this concept, with the textures flowing from the back cover to the spine and into the front cover, creating a cohesive and unified design.
Design Choices
Design Directions
The 3 themes that I went for are Architecture, Sustainability and Harmony.
3 Design Iterations
The design explores three key themes: Sustainability, reflecting the use of eco-friendly materials like bamboo and wood in Auroville’s architecture; Harmony, capturing the seamless coexistence of people, nature, and built environments; and Architecture, represented through a bird’s-eye view of Auroville’s unique town layout. Together, these elements create a visual narrative that embodies the essence of Auroville’s philosophy and design approach.
Final Design
The final design conveys the meaning of the word “Under” by placing it beneath one of the elements, emphasizing its significance. The use of organic typography evokes a natural feeling, aligning with the theme of the book. Additionally, the design communicates the concept of cohesiveness, harmony, and unification which is central to the book’s message, by combining natural and architectural elements seamlessly.
