REFLECTION ON PRACTICE Setting the Stage
DANA BERGER
1
RESEARCH
After my initial search for inspiration by browsing the web, I went to Subterranean Books and took pictures of book covers that caught my eye. I then expanded my search by reviewing images and designs I collect and save over time. These images come from pictues I take at museums, galleries, on the street, or images I pull from design blogs and Pinterest.
I began my research by looking at the AIGA 50 books 50 covers in order to see what makes a cover eye-catching. I looked for ways that type and image combine in unexpected ways to illustrate a story. I was drawn to decorative and bright book designs. I then did a general search of best book cover design. I was influenced by typography with strong personality and lettering that creates metaphor. While some book covers in my search did create a sense of depth using word and image, I was somewhat limited in my search for creative ways of staging a scene.
This book caught my eye on the shelf. I brainstormed materials like beads and sparkles that could give a similar effect.
I was inspired by the different layers created on this book title. The typography floats on the the image, which pulls you in.
I was inspired by the different layers created on this book title. The typography floats on the the image, which pulls you in. The image of ice cream on this book cover influenced my initial brainstorm on material ideas.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
3
I looked to works of type created in space. The tension created by the positioning makes the piece dynamic.
DISCOVERY
The word web for the title, Waiting for Infinity, helped me discover the most intriguing aspects of the words. I was drawn to the idea of infinity as a utopian space.
The lettering recedes into space, This infuenced my initial experiments of type fading into an obscure black backround.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
5
DISCOVERY Mediterranean Love Story
80s Murder Mystery
The brush stroke typography and bright neon colors sparked my interest in creating a book cover for this story, I looked at different food and how it could be pieced apart to illustrate the idea of love coming undone.
The unraveling of the lemon served as a metaphor for the relationship, but there was not deep layering involved in my compositional ideas.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
I compared different typefaces that convey the mood of the 80s. I settled on the typeface boxed in the black border.
7
After settling on the details of my story and the event of Black Monday, I researched newspaper articles from the date. The contrast between the “80s type” and the bold headlines of the newspaper led me to experiment with layering the two elements in water, which features in the story.
To create the effect of neon and I experimented with glow in the dark tape and glow in the dark glue. However, the paint was too faint and the tape was limiting in color.
The initial experiments were intriguing in 2D form; however, they lacked depth and motion. I thumbnailed the idea of a “crime scene” with elements that were glow in the dark, to create a stage and sense of depth.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
9
REFINEMENT
In the next water experiments I used a deeper bucket and sunk the paper closer to the bottom. I used food coloring to activate the water and adjusted my lighting to capture a sheen.
Initial book cover templates with photo experiments.
I continued experiementing with the tape and looked for ways to create depth. I placed the tape outside so that hints of trees would show to evoke and atmosphere.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
11
The first full book jacket lacked interest on the back cover and flaps. I needed to create a more cohesice experience from front to back.
The color and font were clunky and hard to read.
The layout of the back cover is unoriginal.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
13
CRITICISM
1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
#
l” sensationa “Electric, — NyTimes character” ful female “A power Steinem ia or Gl — “A smart and quirky look into the deceptive world of finance” — Rolling Stone “A bold and refreshing work by Kelly Walsh. Buy this book!” — Vogue
. d hilarious sly dark an d” A must-rea rtt Ta — Donna
“Deliciou
WAITING FOR INFINITY
Kelly Walsh is the author of Waiting for Infinity, which was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Kelly was born in Portland, Oregon and attended Northwestern University. Her novels have been translated into over thirty languages.
KELLY WALSH
The typography on the back cover suffers from rivers and discordance with the back cover.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
WAITING FOR INFINITY
1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
#
Sally Jones is a 25-year old successful stockbroker at an investment firm in Chicago. Every weekend Sally’s extravagant suburban mansion turns into the ultimate party, a den of excess. Sally throws the biggest party of her life the night of Sunday October 18th, 1987. During the bleak early hours of Monday morning, the DIJA dropped 24.39%, stock markets around the world come crashing down, Sally was found dead by her pool. Detective Jones finds a strange link between the two events. The story of Sally’s fateful night beings to unfold.
The flaps still lack interest and do not continue the dybamic, off-kilter feeling established by the image on the front cover.
15
Kelly Walsh is the author of Waiting for Infinity, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction in 2015. Kelly was born in Kent, Connecticut and attended Tufts University. Her novels have been translated into over thirty languages.
l” sensationa “Electric, — NyTimes character” ful female “A power Steinem — Gloria “A smart and quirky look into the deceptive world of finance” — Rolling Stone “A bold and refreshing work by Kelly Walsh. Buy this book!” — Vogue
rious.
d hila ly dark an “Delicious ust-read” Am Tart t — Donna
WAITING FOR INFINITY
1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
#
KELLY WALSH
WAITING FOR INFINITY Sally Jones is a 25-year old executive at a sucessful investment firm in Chicago. Every weekend Sally’s glamorous and extravagant suburban mansion turns into the ultimate party, a den of excess. On the night of October 18th, 1987, Sally throws the biggest party of her life. During the early hours of Monday morning, the DIJA dropped 24.39%, stock markets around the world came crashing down, Sally was found dead by her pool. Detective Jones finds a strange link between the two events. The story of Sally’s fateful night begins to unfold.
The compisition is dynamic and eye-catching; however, the final cover lack the depth I was aiming for. Further experimentation could have helped establish a deeper sense of space.
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage
17
Reflection On Practice: Setting The Stage