Alternate Assignment 6

1. Book Designs in the Past, Present, and Future
Alaina Todd Digital Design

2. First Book Designs
● Design is first communication to reader that represents content and history
● Cover solely for protection in 1820’s
● Gained importance in 1890’s
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Google Scholar
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qYpz4vOahVU
C&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=book+cover+design&ots=tqfjcJTZ49
&sig=YHQtyVDrSU6zLzoA0O42NUMXXF0#v=onepage&q&f=f
alse

3. Book Design Influences
● European art inspired graphic designers
● Cubism challenged traditional forms of art
○ Inspired abstract designs
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/arts/design/two-views-of-
cubism.html
Google Scholar
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qYpz4vOahVU
C&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=book+cover+design&ots=tqfjcJTZ49
&sig=YHQtyVDrSU6zLzoA0O42NUMXXF0#v=onepage&q&f=f
alse

4. Past Book Design Characteristics
● Covers inform readers, sets tone, and can create tension
● Can form figurative and literal representations of the story
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=
2&sid=df8094fa-9ced-460f-a4af-a61e254c1e4c%40pdc-v-sessmgr06&
bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCx1cmwmc2l0ZT1lZHMtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#AN=edsgcl.587975166&db=edsglr
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/18/books/jd-salinger-ny-publ
ic-library-exhibit.html

5. Design Significance
● Books mark cultural points in time
● Ability to shape society
● Covers like Ulysses received criticism, but its originality created memorability
Alaina Todd Digital Design
Google Scholar
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qYpz4vOahVUC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1
3&dq=book+cover+design&ots=tqfjcJTZ49&sig=YHQtyVDrSU6zLzoA0O42NUMX
XF0#v=onepage&q&f=false

6. Past Book Designs: Example
● Catch 22 and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
○ “Covers become visual manifestation of groundbreaking literature”
● Vintage reproductions show success
Alaina Todd Digital Design
Google Scholar
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qY
pz4vOahVUC&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=book+cover+
design&ots=tqfjcJTZ49&sig=YHQtyVDrSU6zLzoA
0O42NUMXXF0#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201
7/dec/02/books-younger-self-top-writers-r
ecommend-lord-flies-catch-22
https://www.columbian.com/news/2015/jun/20/revolutiona
ry-book-cover-designer-dies/

7. Present Book Designs
● Book design should match with how it is going to be marketed and sold
● Stand out among many competing books
Alaina Todd Digital Design
Google Scholar
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qYpz4vOahV
UC&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=book+cover+design&ots=tqfjcJTZ
49&sig=YHQtyVDrSU6zLzoA0O42NUMXXF0#v=onepage&q
&f=false

8. Present Book Designs
● Example: Books sold on Amazon are simple and sharp to stand out online for
their market
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-most-popular-books-
all-time
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewe
r/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b
0b%40sessionmgr4007

9. Cover Characteristics
● Covers should have “iconic simplicity”
● Don’t reveal too much about the plot: spark curiosity
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/aug/1
2/ten-must-read-ya-novels-youve-probably-never-heard-of
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewe
r/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b
0b%40sessionmgr4007

10. Present: Building a Brand
● Build a brand connecting multiple books
○ Distinctive cover, similar element on all covers
● Sequels should connect their designs with themes
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewe
r/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b
0b%40sessionmgr4007

11. Digital Covers
● Digital publishing has created new opportunities
○ Ebook covers don’t need to please stores
● Unique and unusual aspects on cover
○ Balance
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/books/coronavirus
-free-books-digital.html
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdf
viewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-
efc04e911b0b%40sessionmgr4007

12. Shifts in Design
● As digital increases, covers could increase in uniqueness
● Cover designs should be simpler and larger for online presence
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewe
r/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b
0b%40sessionmgr4007

13. Web Design
● Web art is being encouraged with the increase of ebooks
● Innovation is key in success of books
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348555
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewe
r/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b
0b%40sessionmgr4007

14. Print vs Online
● Future could cause different covers for in print and online
○ Detailed images for print
○ Simpler images for digital
Alaina Todd Digital Design
https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewe
r/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b
0b%40sessionmgr4007
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/business/media/amazon-
introduces-kindle-subscription-service.html

15. In Conclusion
● Covers represent info, tone, theme, and story
● Designs shift to stand out online
● Marketing intertwines with book and author brand
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16. Article Sources
Barthelmess, Thom. “What Makes a Good Book Cover.” Horn Book Magazine, Apr. 2014, pp. 74–78.
Drew, Ned, and Paul Sternberger. “Modern American Book Cover Design.” Google Books, Princeton Architectural Press,
2005,
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qYpz4vOahVUC&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=book+cover+design&ots=tqfjcJTZ4
9&sig=YHQtyVDrSU6zLzoA0O42NUMXXF0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
Obeso, Dionne. “The Art of the Future.” Publishers Weekly, 23 Sept. 2013, pp. 40–44.,
eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=799836f2-7501-4787-a452-efc04e911b0b%
40sessionmgr4007.
Alaina Todd Digital Design