(B5) Penguin Book Cover: Refining Idea

 Looking at other books on the market, again, in the same genre of climate change:

- Again wide range but a common thread with these are the typefaces, capitalised, condensed and really bold.

- Want to think about how to make the type of the cover more unique with the layout, but also with the typeface.

- How can the approach of including data be made more contemporary? If the design doesn't match these that's good, can stand out, be more unexpected, key is to make sure the cover is true to the content.

Own work, developing cover further:

A

- Bold type, as previously experimented with, seeing how it looks with a new arrangement.

- Feels very aggressive, in your face.

- Type does grab attention but not sure if this is the right tone for the publication.

B

- Using extended typeface with the same type arrangement as A

- Feel this is more balanced as a cover, the type isn't overbearing but is still the focal point.

- The design could do with a little rejigging, feels as though the angles on the paper scrunch aren't working too well since they're weighted to the right. 

C

- PLacing the text over the paper scrunch, this is too similar to the original cover, it works nicely but isn't different enough, it has a similar tone to it.

- Could experiment more with different type using type layout like B, and see how this changes the tone of the cover.

D

- Using lower case letters.

- Looking at this after the capitalised text it looks more childish and naive. 

- The content of the book is serious and had a harsh tone to it, by using call caps this mimics the harsh  edge of the content within a visuals. 

E

- Thinking about the dark, gloomy tone of the publication and how to present this.

- I wanted to avoid the book looking all doom and gloom but have a slight darker tone to it, here using the inverted black and white scan of the image is interesting, it's definitely darker but looks a lot more like it'll be about tech or spies than climate change.

- Don't think this is the most successful outcome, could test with other colours.

F

- Experimenting with a different colour, it feels a little odd to be using this yellow, it doesn't have much relevance to the content of the book. The blue colours feel more appropriate. 

G

- Testing a new typeface, this isn't very strong as the balance between the image and text is off.

- The text is very overpowering and distracts the reader from the paper.

- The thick text is easier to read over the image so could think about the weight of the font more.

H

- All the copy text is on the cover here it fits nicely but is more weighted to the right of the page.

- Could do with scanning some more paper scrunches to see if there is a better shape to use (one that's more central). 

I

- Centring the text again, but this is too similar to the original cover.

J

- Thinking about using hand written text on the cover, wanting to present a more personal connection to the book, however, this digital version isn't very successful as it appears rushed.

- The idea of handwritten text with the paper scrunch looks more like it's for a teen book than an adult fiction, by using an existing typeface the cover alludes to an older audience more.  

K

- This clean centred design really highlights the paper scrunch in the middle, it frames and brings attention to it rather than try and hide it like A and G.

- Feel the paper scrunch is a strong metaphor for the disposing of important data, hiding it from the public, and so it should be highlighted on the cover with the text to suit it. 

- This arrangement doesn't use all the body copy so would need to rethink.  

L

- The text arrangement on this cover works really well, it balances out the cover and nothing overpowers anything else. 

- Could have the scrunch be a little smaller so the text can be made more of a focal point since it's in a lighter weight it might need more attention brought to ti.

The scrunch shape made a couple of issues as it's much more weighted to one side than another, so scanning new shapes could be a way to fix this problem. 

NEW SCANS:

Edited with gradient mapping to get a more consistent colour across the image. 

- The images above have a larger range of tone, this helps the image look more lifelike.

- I don't think I like this style it seems as though it's been done before, appear a little cliche, I think the images with less tone are more successful as they present a much stark graphic image while still looking like a scrunched up piece of paper.

- Here the images have a lower range of tone, they communicate the same idea as a scrunches up, thrown away piece of paper but is less photorealistic.

- The layout of these means the 'a story of the future' text gets lost, should rethink text layout or image opacity. 

- Same text layout as H

- Lighter image makes the 'a story about the future' text easier to read, it's still a little difficult so could adopt a layout more like L

- The change to text on the bottom I really like, think it's more interesting having the text aligned in different ways, adds another visual element to the design that's engaging but not confusing. 

- As for the scrunched I think any of them work well, the centre and right hand images have more details so text is more likely to get lost in them is the only potential issue. 

Reflections:

• The cover seems very successful so far, just needs a little more thought about the type.
  - Consider the balance on the page, just looked back over previous shortlisted outcomes and the text is much more in balance with the image.
  - Bear this in mind when working further.
• The concept is strong and I think it communicates a key theme of the book without being too obvious, feel I've found a good idea that could be take forward. 
• Think about the spine and back page, start placing idea into template and go from here.
  - Looking at previous shortlists the blurb tends to be more simple, just need to frame the text well. 
• Don't spend more than tomorrow on the brief, need to have it completed by sunday latest.