I’m a sucker for a well designed book cover and have often thought of it as an underrated form of design. I think it adds a lot to the book your reading if it has a great cover. It can really set off, or frame, what’s inside. And it can’t be easy to capture all those words in such a limited canvas. Covers is an excellent book cover blog maintained by Fwis, a design outfit based out of Brooklyn. Here’s some of my favourites:
I agree with you. Book covers are certainly works of art. In fact, I must admit that I sometimes judge a book by its cover. Hehehe. Perhaps what I really don’t like about book covers is when they adopt movie posters. It just takes away all the art that goes with it. I’m not saying that the posters aren’t works of art themselves but they were made to be commercial. I don’t like commercial in my books.
I agree with you. Book covers are certainly works of art. In fact, I must admit that I sometimes judge a book by its cover. Hehehe. Perhaps what I really don’t like about book covers is when they adopt movie posters. It just takes away all the art that goes with it. I’m not saying that the posters aren’t works of art themselves but they were made to be commercial. I don’t like commercial in my books.
Think that’s fair enough Julie. I agree with you
Think that’s fair enough Julie. I agree with you
Yep, definitely Neil. Aside of superficial snap judgements, I think it’s partly because the book cover provides a visual frame of reference for the substance, narrative, or ‘world’ that the author is trying to bring to life.
It’s a shame when brilliant content suffers, sales-wise at least, from a poorly designed cover, but it’s a lesson to every author that they can’t afford to neglect design. And if they’re unable to detect an interesting/inspiring/resonant cover from one that misses the book’s point entirely, then I guess it’s always a good idea to consult someone that can!
[I also think you extend this point to the typefont, line/character spacing, and illustration/diagrammatic styles used throughout the book – which again, should add to rather than take from the reading experience.]
Yep, definitely Neil. Aside of superficial snap judgements, I think it’s partly because the book cover provides a visual frame of reference for the substance, narrative, or ‘world’ that the author is trying to bring to life.
It’s a shame when brilliant content suffers, sales-wise at least, from a poorly designed cover, but it’s a lesson to every author that they can’t afford to neglect design. And if they’re unable to detect an interesting/inspiring/resonant cover from one that misses the book’s point entirely, then I guess it’s always a good idea to consult someone that can!
[I also think you extend this point to the typefont, line/character spacing, and illustration/diagrammatic styles used throughout the book – which again, should add to rather than take from the reading experience.]
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