visual communication
Typographic Systems

 

  :: syllabus :: book jacket :: journal :: class blog ::

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Book Cover Examples/Articles
_ book cover archive
_ smashing magazine
_ sorodesign
_ nytimes review
_ bookcovers + comments
_ prof. Buszewicz Studio
_ examples of Series

Videos
_ Paul Rand Bookcovers
_ Alvin Lustig Bookcovers
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Chip Kidd
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Jessica Hische
_ Louise Fili
_ Margo Chase (login to lynda.com)
_ Marian Banjes (lynda.com)
_ Andew Byrom | ted x

Deginers
_ John Gall
_ Louise Fili
_ Jessica Hische
_ Chip Kidd

Project Resources
_ VisualThesaurus.com
_ This Means That.pdf
_ Graphic Design..pdf
_ Collage
_ Type Only Covers.pdf
_ First Pages

 

 

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A really good book cover has to work regardless of what it’s about, on a visceral and emotional level.
Chip Kidd

Can you judge a book by it’s cover? Of course you can. How is your book going to be judged? You will be developing three different design directions for one book. This should be obvious but: don't chose something that is already well done, famous for the design, recently made into a movie. Also avoid cookbooks, photo portfolios... you need a book that has deapth, character development and a sense of place and or time.

Watch Chip Kidd on TED

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You will be creating three different designs for one book. As a designer you will often be asked to create different concepts to present to a client.

NOUNS
1) Person: a character from the book
2) Place: setting
3) Thing: representative object.

MEDIA
1) image dominate/juxtaposition (photography, illustration, collage...)
2) type dominate (computer, manipulated, hand drawn, photographed...)
3) non-computer (can not use the computer for main image/typography, title, subtitle and)

Deliverables: Cover, spine, back cover, flaps, end papers, title page, and process book.

Size: cover 6 x 9in, spine .75in, 6 x 9in, flaps 2.75in (final flat size is 18.25 x 9 inches)
printed on Epson Heavyweight 13 x19 with a color, pattern or image printed on the back

FYI about imagery: The artwork can be illustrations or photographs could be by you or can be found in a book or online. Be careful all art needs to be of high quality. If you find an image online it has to be VERY large. If it is not high enough quality, you find a new image. (images online are 72dpi and that quality is not high enough for print work, so don't even try it, the image must be high res no jpg grizzle). If your final image is grizzled or low res your project grade will be lowered by one full grade.

Typography: The fonts you chose has to be appropriate and match the concept.

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Tuesday, April 7
assignment, book selction
_ watch Chip Kidd

1) “A book cover is a distillation.” It’s a “haiku” of the story. Ask yourself this question, “What do the stories look like?”

(2) “Once the book designer has read the text, then he has to be an interpreter and a translator.”

(3) Finished books need a “face”–the book cover provides a first impression on what the reader “is about to get into. A book designer gives form to content.”

(4) “The book designer’s responsibility is three-fold: to the reader, to the publisher and most of all, to the author.”

(5) “Even though we love publishing as an art, we very much know it’s a business too. And that if we do our jobs right and get a little lucky, that great art can be great business.”


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H O M E W O R K
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Select 10 Book Cover examples. Organize research on 11 x 17 page(s). Click through the links on the upper left, pull 10 examples of book covers you think are successful or that you just like please try and select 3-4 photo dominate, 3-4 illustration dominate, 3-4 type dominate.

What makes a successful book jacket?
01) Does it use a photo, illustration, collage, juxtaposition, type only...
02) Do you think cover is based on a character, place, object from the story
03) Would you consider the cover traditional, contemporary, vintage, futuristic (vintage or scientific: jetsons or tron), mysterious, romantic, fantasy.
04) Execution is the image altered (colorized, bit-mapped, saturated...), juxtaposed (two images placed next to each other to create a new meaning), cropped, framed/boarder, layered, collaged, title as a label, hand-drawn...
05) What emotion, feeling, tone does the cover project?

Work on this in class (finish as homework) organize on 11 x 17 page(s)
01) title of the book
02) author (short bio at 50 - 100 words)
03) other books by the same author
04) short synopsis / plot / summary
05) what is the feeling of the book (descriptive words at least 12)
06) what is the message? 07) protagonist does...why are they important to the story...
08) antagonist does...
09) 1 - 3 quote(s) from a character(s)
10) why did you pick this book to redesign?

11) Characters: identify at least 2 characters in book you have selected. Describe them fully in written form (sentences, lists). Include role (protagonist, antagonist, foil). Physical appearance, personality, relationship to other characters, do we like them, hate them? Choose the character you find the most interesting -- it can be the main character it could be a supporting character. Create a word list of at least 50 words describing the one of the key characters. From the 50 identify 3-5 key words and define them. Try and use words that create a visual in ones mind, an emotion, tone, mood... Find 10 images, photos, illustrations, patterns that visual show those key words (mood board)

12) Place: when and where does the book take place. Describe it (you can pull it directly from the book). Create a word list of at least 50 words describing the place, word the provoke visuals dark, gloomy... From the 50 identify 3-5 key words and define them. Try and use words that create a visual in ones mind, an emotion, tone, mood... Find 10 images, photos, illustrations, patterns that visual show those key words (mood board)

13) Object(s): what "things" are important to the story? Why are they important? Describe them. Create a word list of at least 20 words not only describing the object but also its meaning, importance, feeling, mood... From the 20 identify 3-5 key words and define them. Try and use words that create a visual in ones mind, an emotion, tone, mood... Find 10 images, photos, illustrations, patterns that visual show those key words (mood board)

Oraganize/prepare to present your research. Format onto 11 x 17 sheets of paper.
Print out all of the above and bring to class.

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Hand in what you did for class. Look at pdfs.
Workbook corrections.
Small Caps Inch and Foot Marks
Preparing file for LULU

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H O M E W O R K
REFINE and correct your Workbook, add the Font Specs (optional but nice) and get it off to LULU by April 14.

Visit a bookstore
KU Union, Hastings, ... spend sometime looking around. What do you see? What captures your attention. How are books displayed. What made you walk up to a section. What made you pick up a book?

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PDFs.

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H O M E W O R K
Read: This Means That (pdf)
Read: Graphic Design the new Basics: (pdf)
Look at: the pdf of type as labels and type only book covers

Create 15 type only cover solutions/sketches on and off the computer. Only 5 of the 15 can use hand drawn type!

Create 15 title + author treatments as a “label” all on the computer.

Visual Library: Create a library of visuals. Collect at least 25 photos. It is fine to use someone’s photography but please credit it. We do this as designers. Must be high res.

Photography Resources: Sometimes the best way to find great photography is to look at portfolios or reps of photographers. Don't just google, fliker... check these out and start saving your own list...

http://www.magnumphotos.com

Top Notch artist reps
http://www.art-dept.com
http://www.ba-reps.com
http://bransch.net
http://www.bigactive.com
http://www.lebook.com
http://www.reneerhyner.com
http://wearecasey.com

http://www.nigelparryphoto.com
http://www.hedislimane.com
http://francoisrobertphotography.com
http://fredrikbroden.com

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LULU

Formatting a pdf and making bleeds
How to Bleed for Lulu

More info about Bleeding with Lulu

TEST: you can upload to LULU and not purchase it. I suggest uploading a TEST version before you try to upload youf final book. This will also allow you to get the cover size information.

Page 1 is YOUR TITLE PAGE the inside first page of your book. Do not LEAVE it blank

FONTS: MAKE SURE ALL YOUR FONTS are turned on do not export to pdf if you have any font errors -- lulu gets mad.

IMAGES: if you have any imagery make sure it is linked.

Package: Best thing to do is to Package your Workbook before making the final pdf.

PAGES: Export pdf as PAGES not SPREADS!

COVER you can use the LULU cover maker but most of you will want to click on ONE-COVER WIZARD it wil tell you exactly want size to make you cover * you can do all this and not SEND to lulu.

Cover file must be a PDF, JPG, GIF, or PNG
Spine width:
Spine begins from the left.
Total cover width:
If using an image, its resolution should be set to 300dpi

Tips for Creating a One-Piece Cover PDF 
For best print results of your one-piece book cover, follow these tips:

Although, it is possible for you to create a very complex PDF using Adobe Illustrator with many layers, fonts etc. do not do this. Our automated cover creation process creates a flattened, single layer PDF file that is then sent to the printer.

Avoid transparencies and transparent areas in your image files, as these cause unsightly gray or white areas in the printed material.

The more complex the PDF, the greater chance that the process of converting, or rasterizing, it for print will generate errors. If you've created a cover PDF that uses fonts and separate images, your best option is to open the PDF in Photoshop — it will automatically ask for DPI (300 is optimal) and color palette (choose RGB). It will then rasterize the file to a single layer.

Leave crop marks off of the uploaded PDF image.

We do not recommend the use of sharply contrasting colors for your spine and cover images since all printed books -- not just Lulu books -- can have a slightly offset spine. This means that some of the spine may spill onto the cover, or some of the cover onto the spine. The difference is minor and will not be greater than 1/8th of an inch.

YOU HAVE TO click PURCHASE A COPY to actually purchase it. Just because you upload it does not mean it is being shipped to you.


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Crit type only and title as a label

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H O M E W O R K

CHARACTER (cover only 6 x 9 inches)
10 sketches
I want to see a full range of ideas, not the same idea (or photo or illustration) over and over. 20 different ideas by hand or on the computer. Scan in ideas you do by hand. Please write which key word(s) go with every sketch. You must try each of the following: illustration (found or made), using photography (your own or found), juxtaposition (mixing 2 images to create a new image), you can collage, you should try coming up with solutions that do not use the computer...Please include notes on each sketch. How did you use research? Which key words are you being influenced by?

PLACE (cover only 6 x 9 inches)
10 sketches
I want to see a full range of ideas, not the same idea (or photo or illustration) over and over. 20 different ideas by hand or on the computer. Scan in ideas you do by hand. Please write which key word(s) go with every sketch. You must try each of the following: illustration (found or made), using photography (your own or found), juxtaposition (mixing 2 images to create a new image), you can collage, you should try coming up with solutions that do not use the computer...Please include notes on each sketch. How did you use research? Which key words are you being influenced by?

OBJECT (cover only 6 x 9 inches)
10 sketches
I want to see a full range of ideas, not the same idea (or photo or illustration) over and over. 20 different ideas by hand or on the computer. Scan in ideas you do by hand. Please write which key word(s) go with every sketch. You must try each of the following: illustration (found or made), using photography (your own or found), juxtaposition (mixing 2 images to create a new image), you can collage, you should try coming up with solutions that do not use the computer...

Please include notes on each sketch. How did you use research? Which key words are you being influenced by?

*These are sketches, ideas, not refined executions.Rememberscale, contrast, color, figure ground, framing, layers, transparency, pattern, cropping the image, turning it upside down, sideways, change its color, more saturated, less saturated, bit-mapped, 2 color, add pattern, add color fields, try the title large, try it small, try it some sort of border, cut the border...

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Crit sketches

Discuss: What is the “face” the book jacket is going to provide? What is the first impression on what the reader is about to get into.

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H O M E W O R K

Narrow down to 9 covers. How does the solution tell the story in an unexpected, thoughtful way?

CHARACTER
Create 3 DIFFERENT
directions of the full cover (front, spine, back, flaps) on the computer. How does the solution tell us the story in an unexpected, thoughtful way?

PLACE
Create 3 DIFFERENT
directions of the full cover (front, spine, back, flaps) on the computer. How does the solution tell us the story in an unexpected, thoughtful way?

OBJECT
Create 3 DIFFERENT
directions of the full cover (front, spine, back, flaps) on the computer. How does the solution tell us the story in an unexpected, thoughtful way?

DIFFERENT MEANS DIFFERENT you can’t use the same illustration, photo, type treatment on any of the 15 covers.

SIZE: 6 x 9in, spine .75in, 6 x 9in, flaps 2.75in (final flat size is 18.25 x 9 inches)

THINK ABOUT How does the experience of picking up the book and turning from front to spine to back help tell the story? How can you make it visually dynamic/ surprise/ unexpected?

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW RULES 
all 9 bookjackets have to be different from each other
no repeating the same image on any of the covers
no repeating the same type treatment on any of the covers
avoid using the same 1 or 2 fonts over and overno repeating the same text format for the back and flaps

Out of the 9 bookjackets covers there should be a mix of covers that are image dominate, type dominate or non-computer.

You need to have the flowing on the back and flaps (any combination of text do not design it the same on every cover... every back and flaps have to be different in your 9 jackets
-- short bio about the author
-- a short description of the book
-- a quote

PRINT 9 COVERS in color. TRIM out to size. (print with crop marks turned on so you know where to trim your pages. Have this ready when class starts. If you are still printing or folding you will be counted absent.

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picking top 5 in classConversation with Erik Spiekermann

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H O M E W O R K

BOOKJACKETS
REFINE 3 DIFFERENT BOOK JACKETS
: Using what you have done so far -- refine and explore type treatment, compositions, image treatment. (*if you are unhappy with any of the covers you can create new ones -- it isn’t too late)

ENDPAPERS
Explore 6 different ideas
. Endpapers are inside when we “open the book” what happens? what is the surprise/ visual narrative? Can be a pattern or photo (choosing to just a use a full color is not exceptionable).

FIRST PAGES
9 different first pages.
How can you take the intent, feeling, mood, and continue or push the visual narrative to a black and white first page? For our purposes...

PRINT
full color, trim and fold. You may scale down to 11 x 17. Do not come to class without these printed out. Do not trim or fold at the beginning of class. BE READY when class starts!

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Large crit have everything printed trimmed and folded BEFORE the start of class.

Line length
Widows and orphans
Paragraph rule: indents
Hyphen, En Dash, Em Dash
Three type faces! Spines read down
Justification settings!
Real quotesHanging quotes

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H O M E W O R K

BOOKJACKETS
REFINE 3:
Using what you have done so far – we picked your top 3 directions in class -- refine and explore type treatment, compositions, image treatment. Create 1 variation for each cover so that means you have 1 design and 1 variation, 1 design and 1 variation, 1 design and 1 variation.

ENDPAPERS
REFINE 3
endpapers when we “open the book” what happens? what is the surprise/ visual narrative? Can be a pattern or photo (choosing to just a use a full color is not exceptionable).FIRST

PAGES
REFINE 3
first pages. How can you take the intent, feeling, mood, and continue or push the visual narrative to a black and white first page? For our purposes..

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crit
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H O M E W O R K

Prepare for final REFINE, PRINT, TRIM, FOLD, PROCESS BOOK

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Final Book Jackets + Process Book Due

For all three bookjackets:
Print, Trim, Score, and Fold all three book jacket, print endpaper on the back.
Make sure the pattern fills the back full back of the cover.

Print and trim title pages

1 PDF with your final 3 bookjackets, end papers, title page and pattern each on their own page (yourname_covers.pdf)

1 PDF of your process book (yourname_process.pdf)

Process book has to be DESIGNED (USE A GRID!, type sizes for print not onscreen...) not over designed/decorated. You need to use a GRID, hierarchy, type sizes, leading. You are handing in a pdf but it has to look professional enough to print out and take to an interview.

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Behance due by Friday, May 8th 9am

Post project onto Behance: project overview, blurb, cover, endpapers, title page (3x). Figure out how to present it in a professional manner. You do not have to take photos you can use flat files. *Photoshop templates are on the dropbox Templates