(B5) Penguin Book Cover: Writing Brief, Research, Ideas

Formalising the brief: 

- The brief is fairly straightforward, consolidating key aspects from the penguin brief into the brief sheet template. Use this to keep a sense of direction throughout the project.
- Deadline is set as the 2nd of March but wanting to complete the project in a total of a few days between now and that deadline. Completing the brief amongst other work. 

Shortlisted Books form 2020:

> This was the winner

> This cover won 2nd prize

• There is a wide range of styles in the outcomes, a combination of digitally rendered and physical produced visuals.
• There is little consistency between these covers (understandably since they're all from different designers).
• The back page seems to be most consistent with the text being arranged in an easy to read fashion.
• Those that won had an easy to read, bold title with interesting arrangements elsewhere.
  - Seems as though these two elements should be considered when designing own cover. 
• All the covers have a strong sense of character, they're bold and impactful and pull upon themes from the publication.
  - This is a requirement on the brief, make sure the work I'm making takes note from the publication itself. 
  
  

Further Initial Ideas:

Thinking about the visuals from the book:

"business as usual" is one that stood out, along with the large range of natural disasters mentioned tsunami's, hurricanes, drought, flooding etc.

- Test previous idea of illustrating these disasters over circular shape. 

Thinking along the lines of the image above.

- Once drawn the idea seemed less effective, looked very much like a child's drawing.

- Even though it was a rough sketch the idea didn't seem as though it would translate. 

- Decided to focus on one element: fire

Made a papercut image of a globe on fire:

And added it to the book cover:

A

B

C

Playing with type and arrangement.

- B and C use serif typeface, similar to the original cover. I feel the use of a serif typeface makes the book look more dated, it seems like the content may be older than it is.

- Using a sans serif typeface (such as image A) presents amore contemporary design and I think this should be used as the climate crisis is a current problem, not something of the past.

The illustration is fun and eye catching, particularly on the dark background, however it feels a little immature for the content.

- The papercut illustration is akin to those you see in children's storybooks not adult non-fiction. 

Seems as though a text based design could be the way forward, or a more digital approach?
- The idea should be grown up and suit an older audience.
- If imagery is to be included perhaps photography? (this however doesn't seem to be the direction Penguin goes in)

Could play on the idea of business as usual?
- Have a sign hanging over the flame?
- Thinking if the flame is sending the idea that the world is on fire. Could potentially make more obvious by having countries on fire and then a hanging sign? 

Feeling stuck in the direction, seems too literal.
Go back and research further into what it means to design a book cover. 

What does it mean to have a successful book cover?

Inside Random House: "The Art of Cover Design" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Z86L25v30

• The job is not to illustrate, but intregure the consumer. 
• Sets a tone, sets the stage, sets the atmosphere.
• Create something enticing.
• Should survive, be associated with the text and people want to keep it in their houses.
  - When it comes to this publication the themes are so dark I don't want to present an obvious picture of doom and gloom because who wants to purchase this?
• Find out what the author thinks about the book. 
• Don't want to display a full character, the audience should develop this for themselves. 

Chip Kidd - Advice for Students https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4njGOdIZWU

• Don't need to show both.
  - The title of the book is 'The Uninhabitable Earth' so you don't need to present an uninhabitable earth. This is what I've done so far, the idea needs to come from elsewhere.
  - In this sense the book cover should communicate a tone, a feeling of the content inside.
  - It should be less obvious, it should entice.
• Getting ideas comes from the history of graphic design, so you learn what has been done and what you can do next. 
• Solving a problem based on defining the problem then finding the solution. 
  - Need to understand the problem of the publication, what is it wanting to communicate?  
  
  
  

REFLECTIONS:

- So far been working with an obvious visual, an earth that is uninhabitable. Need to rethink and push a new idea forward.

- Illustrative paper cuts are a more childish visual, unless presented well. Can keep the idea but try different execution. 
- Need to strip things back. Think about the tone, how can type and colour communicate this? Test then play.