Design Choices
I researched 19th century samplers and noted the common motifs: 2D elements, symmetrical sections, a semi-limited color palette, filigree, patterns, and nude backgrounds. Common imagery is that of homes, animals, and florals.
My biggest challenge was how to make my designs actually resemble needlepoint. For this, I decided to work pixel-by-pixel to create the grid-like structure seen in needlepoint work. Each pixel represents each knot/stitch. I then created a shadow map in Photoshop, following the same grid-system, to give each stitch a 3-dimensional illusion.
Symbolism
Each flower in the border represents one of the March sisters. In the novel, the girls are symbolically compared to specific flowers: Meg is a daisy, Beth is a violet, and Amy is a rose. Jo, however, compares herself to a rock, feeling different from the traditional femininity associated with flowers. In my design, this symbolism becomes a visual structure: the flowers form a symmetrical border arranged in birth order, with Meg’s daisy at the top, followed by Beth’s violet, and then Amy’s rose. Jo’s rock is placed off to the side rather than within the symmetry, reflecting how she often feels separate from her sisters and struggles with traditional expectations of growing up.
At the top of the border sits a quill, representing Jo’s passion for writing. At the bottom is Jo’s novel, emphasizing her creative journey. The title is framed by doves, which reference the March father being away at war, but also symbolize the themes of love, hope, and aspiration. At the composition’s center is the March family home, the emotional heart of the story and the family's anchor.
The overall layout is intentionally symmetrical, echoing the orderly, traditional domestic world the girls live within. The only elements that break this mirror symmetry are the female silhouettes, acting as visual metaphor for how the March sisters, each in her own way, break away from societal expectations. Little Women is fundamentally about forging one’s own path and embracing individuality, and the asymmetry introduced by these figures symbolizes that departure from the expected.
Playbill
Instagram Post
Postcard Front & Back
Enlarged Poster (to show texture & details)