Covers I Want to Like Today
I really want to like this book cover but…well, I dunno. Is it the type? Perhaps something a little more smaller? What would make it perfect?
Tell me if I’m way off on this one.
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Comments:
Also, does anyone know who the designer is?
Right away, I think it’s the color that’s causing problems. The green/brown is a seventies color scheme and it also suggests that O’Connor was some kind of sentimental naturalist rather than an incisive storyteller. Where’s the violence? Where’s the wit?
The title is so loaded with imagery that doesn’t make it onto the cover at all. With O’Connor, you can’t go too far.
It’s clear to me that the designer hasn’t done their homework. Maybe they were too eager to play off the author’s last name.
What would make it perfect? Starting over.…
The colors, layout, and clunky typography are all off. The concept is obvious - a few “southern” halftones and a pic of the author - it’s just lazy design.
I’m assuming it was done in-house by an overworked staffer who just has to bang out product. At least I hope so, because there (seemingly) wasn’t much thought put into this.
The fake small caps used on the author’s name are what bug me the most. Down with fake small caps!
Wow. You guys really hate the cover that much?
I feel so stupid right now.
I do not like how the photo jumps out of the grid like it does. It is just plain plopped there. The crop is pretty bad too. This is bugs me most.
Color is an issue.
The title has a lot of potential. The designer likely had little time to pull this together I suspect.
“You guys really hate the cover that much”
Not really, but you asked and it could be better.
I just think it’s soft-peddling an author who had a lot of guts. I don’t like that.
the fonts are hideous but if they must, a little kerning wouldn’t kill anyone.
I think it would be interesting, and I will taken as a hypocrite for not dong it myself, if those who have expressed distaste with this design to redo it.
As an experiment, it would be worth while to see what may be done better. The result would be something like “War of the Worlds”.
Limits? Maybe you can not use any photography that is not on the current design. Font’s however, are all up to you. Oh, and kerning too.
the rectangular shape of the book is really retro, eh?
believe ON vs believe IN?
haunting
I must say that i´m quite shocked to see this cover featured here. I think none of the elements quite make it on their own, and they certainly don´t work together at all. It looks amateurish to me. But that´s my very own amateurish critique.
First off, I don’t mind the colors so much. That said, I think there’s too much going on — the top photo is the most interesting thing to me, and it’s kind of buried. The bottom photo, to me, doesn’t really add anything.
But the type really is the worst part. For one thing, I’d be awfully hard-pressed to letterspace u&lc. But the unforgivable part is the fake small caps, especially for a face with such a large x-height.
Ok, who wants to take a stab at redoing this cover? I’ll jump in if you’ll be kind enough to be brutally honest.
I will be kind enough to be brutally honest. : )
Thank you Puck. BTW, who are you? A famous book designer?
That is a funny question. I got a good laugh out of that one. : )
Regrettably, I am not a famous book designer. I am working on it however. Do I sound famous?
To be honest, brutally if you would like, I feel I have a conflict of interest by participating in Forward. I think this site is great and I stop by here daily. Thanks for providing it. But I selfishly feel that by participating in this site I may only be hurting myself. The better this site gets, the better Osprey Design does. And as a designer of books, however unlikely it may be, I could be shooting myself in the foot.
As a non famous book designer, I am trying to get over this feeling - really.
Again, thanks.
We need to have a “Lightboxing” event (see Veer.com) between Puck and Amanda. You both design a cover and your fellow bloggers will vote on which one we like best!
Puck…the more you give, the more you get
this is especially true professionally
That is so super-true, super.
All of you totally over-estimate my design abilities.
I can see good design (well, on most days) but producing it is another matter.
Puck, please feel free to hang out and be anonymous or introduce yourself for real. Many of us here are “in competition” with one another. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending J. for instance to a client I didn’t think we’d be able to help. Overall, I hope that Giles and I have created a tiny environment where we can learn, gather inspiration, ideas, etc.
Foreword is far from the most beautiful or clever design blog out there but we get something out of it.
I do want to redesign this cover. Giles and I are set to have a bit of a busy week. Stay tuned.
We need to have a “Lightboxing” event (see Veer.com) between Puck and Amanda.
That is also funny.
Really, I have placed the fault on myself. I am not trying to fight.
If I find myself awake late at night over the week, I may give the cover a stab.
For now, I must return to work myself.
Good day.
O.K., I had some extra time today, here’s what I tried.
This is what I came up with…
J., wow, that’s really beautiful.
E., I like the “ghostly” image but it feels too lifeless. Does that make sense?
Wow.
You guys are amazing.