Class Twenty-Three: Book Cover Series

Daily Doodles

Here's the rules.

All sketches (thumbnails and roughs) must be in a free-floating rectangle of approximately the right aspect ratio. For book covers, it's 2 by 3. Use a ruler if you need to, but it's pretty easy to eyeball with consistent line segments.
Roughs aren't just bigger thumbnails. They should be a guideline for the comps. They need to show visual thinking about:

The type of fonts being used. Go out and find them online or on the computer and preview how they look.
The image. Find one or more images that work and reference them in the rough.
The layout. Work out how the elements of the cover relate to each other in terms of alignment and size.
You can use call-outs to indicate specific things like fonts and images, but the layout should be pretty well thought out in the rough.

Do thumbs in ink, but roughs in pencil. Include light lines to indicate things that line up and margins (if any).
In the roughs, draw light lines parallel to the edges for the baseline of text, and another light line at the top of the text to get the right cap-height
Roughs should take you at least a half-hour each, possibly more

Once the concept is established, it's time for visualization and composition (what images/typography and how are they laid out?)

Why would you use type only? What design concept predicates "KIDNEY FOR SALE BY OWNER"?

Why would you use Type-Driven over Image-Driven or All-Type?

Why would you use Image-Driven over Type-Driven or All-Type?

When type and image are inseparable, they become emblematic. That is to say, they become a powerful symbol of the concept of the book.

	Attract readers with an attention-grabbing design
	Display information in a clear visual hierarchy
	Express the essence of the book's content
	Suggest the genre
	Differentiate it–make it unique
	Design the spine for graphic impact and readability
	Treat back cover and spine as part of the "whole" design
	Type and image should work cooperatively

I'm here to help