Analysing book covers

HAND LETTERED

In the style of the illustration (uses same media)

Becomes the illustration - the whole cover is lettering. Highly personal, all about the voice/main character’s personality

Lettered on top of a photograph - holds connotations of looking back on memories, photo album nostalgia

INTERESTING MEDIA

Paint, collage, paper cutting, photography + type, embroidery, drawing on objects.

PAINTED

MONOPRINT TEXTURE

Monoprint + inked lettering works wonders. Both distinctly hand rendered Illustrated shapes then texture is captured in photoshop.

TRENDS - CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Black line drawings, filled in with bright, block colours.

This is very popular among children’s books, especially the age range where children are beginning to read books by themselves. The bold colours must be thought to attract attention and seem fun.

Covers are often two colour, where one colour is a Silhouette and the other is a boldly coloured texture. This adds dimension and softness to a contrasting image. It stands out on the shelves, and if the theme is dark, it instantly represents horror.

Bold colours - black outlines Hand drawn lettering capitals Thick font Unisex/boyish colours

MY PRIMARY RESEARCH Children’s books in Waterstones

I like the minimal style of these, and how there is a wobbly border around the edge, the same line weight as the motif. The very slight colour gradient gives a faded, vintage look.

The “Adrian Mole� signature is used frequently, and is something I would like to continue on as it’s so appropriate to the diary format of the book.

I need to think: what can enhance the diary aesthetic?

EXTRA FINDINGS

JUST INCREDIBLE ILLUSTRATED TEXTURE

NASTIA SLEPTSOVA Incredible work - the compositions would suit a book cover, which caught my eye. The large area of simple patterned space brings the whole illustration together. The effect is similar to papercutting and photographing where a shadow appears, adding dimension. Brush textures complicate the piece bringing it to life and adding a delicate aesthetic.

The grid layout in the background has connotations of school work books. The lettering on top is personal and supports this - it would make for a good children’s book combination.

The colours are unisex, possibly leaning towards male (from the darker shade) which means it appeals to the largest spectrum.

Boys (even men) are stereotypically more opposed to female design than girls are to boyish design.