Epboards7

Concept

STAY GOLD, PONYBOY. The brief was to redesign the cover for S.E Hinton’s classic teen novel The Outsiders.

The Outsiders is about two rival groups, the greasers and the socs, and the events that ensue when a soc pushes a greaser too far.

The concept for my redesign references an iconic line from the book ‘stay gold Ponyboy!’ and the ‘rumbles’ that are an important feature of the book.

Elizabeth Tyrer

Brief #7

OUGD603

Puffin Design Award

Research

To ensure that my design targeted the appropriate audience, I researched into novels aimed at a similar age group. The novels that have been released more recently tend to use hand rendered type and illustration, and bold colour palettes which catch the reader’s eye.

Elizabeth Tyrer

OUGD603

Brief #7

Puffin Design Award

Research

After researching into other teen novels, I wanted to explore hand rendered type and illustration in my own cover design.

I therefore researched into hand rendered illustration and type across publishing design to see how it is applied to the covers.

Elizabeth Tyrer

OUGD603

Brief #7

Puffin Design Award

The Development

After researching into novels aimed at a similar audience, I felt that it was appropriate to use hand rendered illustration and type: it has a more raw and personal feel to it which reflects the novel’s characters. Black ink was used to create the illustrations, as I felt that

this material closely relates to the greasers and the hair grease they apply. Drawings of fists were created as they represent the rivalry and fights between the Socs and the Greasers, the central theme of the novel.

Elizabeth Tyrer

Brief #7

OUGD603

Puffin Design Award

The Design

The use of gold foil references the line ‘Stay gold Ponyboy!’, whilst the black ink references hair grease used by the novel’s characters.

The fists feature on both the front, spine and back of the cover to reiterate the central themes of the novel.

Elizabeth Tyrer

OUGD603

Brief #7

Puffin Design Award

The Design

Elizabeth Tyrer

OUGD603

Brief #7

Puffin Design Award