Linda Secondari of Studiolo Secondari explains aspects of book design within the context of bookselling and content consumption. Using the example of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" Ms. Secondari traces the impact of innovation and marketing approach on cover design. The talk culminates with examples from the 2017 AAUP Book Show.
This document lists honors and awards received by Linda Secondari for her work between 1999-2007. It includes selections for New York Book Show in 2007 in Cover Design and Illustrated Book categories, as well as ICP selection in Photography Book category. Previous selections include AIGA's 50 Books & 50 Covers Competition in 2001, AAUP selection in Book Category in 2001 and 2002.
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Product Design Trends in 2024 | Teenage EngineeringsPixeldarts
The realm of product design is a constantly changing environment where technology and style intersect. Every year introduces fresh challenges and exciting trends that mold the future of this captivating art form. In this piece, we delve into the significant trends set to influence the look and functionality of product design in the year 2024.
How Race, Age and Gender Shape Attitudes Towards Mental HealthThinkNow
Mental health has been in the news quite a bit lately. Dozens of U.S. states are currently suing Meta for contributing to the youth mental health crisis by inserting addictive features into their products, while the U.S. Surgeon General is touring the nation to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The country has endured periods of low national morale, such as in the 1970s when high inflation and the energy crisis worsened public sentiment following the Vietnam War. The current mood, however, feels different. Gallup recently reported that national mental health is at an all-time low, with few bright spots to lift spirits.
To better understand how Americans are feeling and their attitudes towards mental health in general, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents and found some interesting differences among ethnic, age and gender groups.
Technology
For example, 52% agree that technology and social media have a negative impact on mental health, but when broken out by race, 61% of Whites felt technology had a negative effect, and only 48% of Hispanics thought it did.
While technology has helped us keep in touch with friends and family in faraway places, it appears to have degraded our ability to connect in person. Staying connected online is a double-edged sword since the same news feed that brings us pictures of the grandkids and fluffy kittens also feeds us news about the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the dysfunction in Washington, the latest mass shooting and the climate crisis.
Hispanics may have a built-in defense against the isolation technology breeds, owing to their large, multigenerational households, strong social support systems, and tendency to use social media to stay connected with relatives abroad.
Age and Gender
When asked how individuals rate their mental health, men rate it higher than women by 11 percentage points, and Baby Boomers rank it highest at 83%, saying it’s good or excellent vs. 57% of Gen Z saying the same.
Gen Z spends the most amount of time on social media, so the notion that social media negatively affects mental health appears to be correlated. Unfortunately, Gen Z is also the generation that’s least comfortable discussing mental health concerns with healthcare professionals. Only 40% of them state they’re comfortable discussing their issues with a professional compared to 60% of Millennials and 65% of Boomers.
Race Affects Attitudes
As seen in previous research conducted by ThinkNow, Asian Americans lag other groups when it comes to awareness of mental health issues. Twenty-four percent of Asian Americans believe that having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness compared to the 16% average for all groups. Asians are also considerably less likely to be aware of mental health services in their communities (42% vs. 55%) and most likely to seek out information on social media (51% vs. 35%).
AI Trends in Creative Operations 2024 by Artwork Flow.pdfmarketingartwork
Creative operations teams expect increased AI use in 2024. Currently, over half of tasks are not AI-enabled, but this is expected to decrease in the coming year. ChatGPT is the most popular AI tool currently. Business leaders are more actively exploring AI benefits than individual contributors. Most respondents do not believe AI will impact workforce size in 2024. However, some inhibitions still exist around AI accuracy and lack of understanding. Creatives primarily want to use AI to save time on mundane tasks and boost productivity.
Organizational culture includes values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits that influence employee behaviors and how people interpret those behaviors. It is important because culture can help or hinder a company's success. Some key aspects of Netflix's culture that help it achieve results include hiring smartly so every position has stars, focusing on attitude over just aptitude, and having a strict policy against peacocks, whiners, and jerks.
PEPSICO Presentation to CAGNY Conference Feb 2024Neil Kimberley
PepsiCo provided a safe harbor statement noting that any forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and are subject to risks and uncertainties. It also provided information on non-GAAP measures and directing readers to its website for disclosure and reconciliation. The document then discussed PepsiCo's business overview, including that it is a global beverage and convenient food company with iconic brands, $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, and nearly $14 billion in core operating profit. It operates through a divisional structure with a focus on local consumers.
This document lists honors and awards received by Linda Secondari for her work between 1999-2007. It includes selections for New York Book Show in 2007 in Cover Design and Illustrated Book categories, as well as ICP selection in Photography Book category. Previous selections include AIGA's 50 Books & 50 Covers Competition in 2001, AAUP selection in Book Category in 2001 and 2002.
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Product Design Trends in 2024 | Teenage EngineeringsPixeldarts
The realm of product design is a constantly changing environment where technology and style intersect. Every year introduces fresh challenges and exciting trends that mold the future of this captivating art form. In this piece, we delve into the significant trends set to influence the look and functionality of product design in the year 2024.
How Race, Age and Gender Shape Attitudes Towards Mental HealthThinkNow
Mental health has been in the news quite a bit lately. Dozens of U.S. states are currently suing Meta for contributing to the youth mental health crisis by inserting addictive features into their products, while the U.S. Surgeon General is touring the nation to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The country has endured periods of low national morale, such as in the 1970s when high inflation and the energy crisis worsened public sentiment following the Vietnam War. The current mood, however, feels different. Gallup recently reported that national mental health is at an all-time low, with few bright spots to lift spirits.
To better understand how Americans are feeling and their attitudes towards mental health in general, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents and found some interesting differences among ethnic, age and gender groups.
Technology
For example, 52% agree that technology and social media have a negative impact on mental health, but when broken out by race, 61% of Whites felt technology had a negative effect, and only 48% of Hispanics thought it did.
While technology has helped us keep in touch with friends and family in faraway places, it appears to have degraded our ability to connect in person. Staying connected online is a double-edged sword since the same news feed that brings us pictures of the grandkids and fluffy kittens also feeds us news about the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the dysfunction in Washington, the latest mass shooting and the climate crisis.
Hispanics may have a built-in defense against the isolation technology breeds, owing to their large, multigenerational households, strong social support systems, and tendency to use social media to stay connected with relatives abroad.
Age and Gender
When asked how individuals rate their mental health, men rate it higher than women by 11 percentage points, and Baby Boomers rank it highest at 83%, saying it’s good or excellent vs. 57% of Gen Z saying the same.
Gen Z spends the most amount of time on social media, so the notion that social media negatively affects mental health appears to be correlated. Unfortunately, Gen Z is also the generation that’s least comfortable discussing mental health concerns with healthcare professionals. Only 40% of them state they’re comfortable discussing their issues with a professional compared to 60% of Millennials and 65% of Boomers.
Race Affects Attitudes
As seen in previous research conducted by ThinkNow, Asian Americans lag other groups when it comes to awareness of mental health issues. Twenty-four percent of Asian Americans believe that having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness compared to the 16% average for all groups. Asians are also considerably less likely to be aware of mental health services in their communities (42% vs. 55%) and most likely to seek out information on social media (51% vs. 35%).
AI Trends in Creative Operations 2024 by Artwork Flow.pdfmarketingartwork
Creative operations teams expect increased AI use in 2024. Currently, over half of tasks are not AI-enabled, but this is expected to decrease in the coming year. ChatGPT is the most popular AI tool currently. Business leaders are more actively exploring AI benefits than individual contributors. Most respondents do not believe AI will impact workforce size in 2024. However, some inhibitions still exist around AI accuracy and lack of understanding. Creatives primarily want to use AI to save time on mundane tasks and boost productivity.
Organizational culture includes values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits that influence employee behaviors and how people interpret those behaviors. It is important because culture can help or hinder a company's success. Some key aspects of Netflix's culture that help it achieve results include hiring smartly so every position has stars, focusing on attitude over just aptitude, and having a strict policy against peacocks, whiners, and jerks.
PEPSICO Presentation to CAGNY Conference Feb 2024Neil Kimberley
PepsiCo provided a safe harbor statement noting that any forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and are subject to risks and uncertainties. It also provided information on non-GAAP measures and directing readers to its website for disclosure and reconciliation. The document then discussed PepsiCo's business overview, including that it is a global beverage and convenient food company with iconic brands, $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, and nearly $14 billion in core operating profit. It operates through a divisional structure with a focus on local consumers.
Best Digital Marketing Strategy Build Your Online Presence 2024.pptxpavankumarpayexelsol
This presentation provides a comprehensive guide to the best digital marketing strategies for 2024, focusing on enhancing your online presence. Key topics include understanding and targeting your audience, building a user-friendly and mobile-responsive website, leveraging the power of social media platforms, optimizing content for search engines, and using email marketing to foster direct engagement. By adopting these strategies, you can increase brand visibility, drive traffic, generate leads, and ultimately boost sales, ensuring your business thrives in the competitive digital landscape.
Content Methodology: A Best Practices Report (Webinar)contently
This document provides an overview of content methodology best practices. It defines content methodology as establishing objectives, KPIs, and a culture of continuous learning and iteration. An effective methodology focuses on connecting with audiences, creating optimal content, and optimizing processes. It also discusses why a methodology is needed due to the competitive landscape, proliferation of channels, and opportunities for improvement. Components of an effective methodology include defining objectives and KPIs, audience analysis, identifying opportunities, and evaluating resources. The document concludes with recommendations around creating a content plan, testing and optimizing content over 90 days.
How to Prepare For a Successful Job Search for 2024Albert Qian
The document provides guidance on preparing a job search for 2024. It discusses the state of the job market, focusing on growth in AI and healthcare but also continued layoffs. It recommends figuring out what you want to do by researching interests and skills, then conducting informational interviews. The job search should involve building a personal brand on LinkedIn, actively applying to jobs, tailoring resumes and interviews, maintaining job hunting as a habit, and continuing self-improvement. Once hired, the document advises setting new goals and keeping skills and networking active in case of future opportunities.
Best Digital Marketing Strategy Build Your Online Presence 2024.pptxpavankumarpayexelsol
This presentation provides a comprehensive guide to the best digital marketing strategies for 2024, focusing on enhancing your online presence. Key topics include understanding and targeting your audience, building a user-friendly and mobile-responsive website, leveraging the power of social media platforms, optimizing content for search engines, and using email marketing to foster direct engagement. By adopting these strategies, you can increase brand visibility, drive traffic, generate leads, and ultimately boost sales, ensuring your business thrives in the competitive digital landscape.
Content Methodology: A Best Practices Report (Webinar)contently
This document provides an overview of content methodology best practices. It defines content methodology as establishing objectives, KPIs, and a culture of continuous learning and iteration. An effective methodology focuses on connecting with audiences, creating optimal content, and optimizing processes. It also discusses why a methodology is needed due to the competitive landscape, proliferation of channels, and opportunities for improvement. Components of an effective methodology include defining objectives and KPIs, audience analysis, identifying opportunities, and evaluating resources. The document concludes with recommendations around creating a content plan, testing and optimizing content over 90 days.
How to Prepare For a Successful Job Search for 2024Albert Qian
The document provides guidance on preparing a job search for 2024. It discusses the state of the job market, focusing on growth in AI and healthcare but also continued layoffs. It recommends figuring out what you want to do by researching interests and skills, then conducting informational interviews. The job search should involve building a personal brand on LinkedIn, actively applying to jobs, tailoring resumes and interviews, maintaining job hunting as a habit, and continuing self-improvement. Once hired, the document advises setting new goals and keeping skills and networking active in case of future opportunities.
A report by thenetworkone and Kurio.
The contributing experts and agencies are (in an alphabetical order): Sylwia Rytel, Social Media Supervisor, 180heartbeats + JUNG v MATT (PL), Sharlene Jenner, Vice President - Director of Engagement Strategy, Abelson Taylor (USA), Alex Casanovas, Digital Director, Atrevia (ES), Dora Beilin, Senior Social Strategist, Barrett Hoffher (USA), Min Seo, Campaign Director, Brand New Agency (KR), Deshé M. Gully, Associate Strategist, Day One Agency (USA), Francesca Trevisan, Strategist, Different (IT), Trevor Crossman, CX and Digital Transformation Director; Olivia Hussey, Strategic Planner; Simi Srinarula, Social Media Manager, The Hallway (AUS), James Hebbert, Managing Director, Hylink (CN / UK), Mundy Álvarez, Planning Director; Pedro Rojas, Social Media Manager; Pancho González, CCO, Inbrax (CH), Oana Oprea, Head of Digital Planning, Jam Session Agency (RO), Amy Bottrill, Social Account Director, Launch (UK), Gaby Arriaga, Founder, Leonardo1452 (MX), Shantesh S Row, Creative Director, Liwa (UAE), Rajesh Mehta, Chief Strategy Officer; Dhruv Gaur, Digital Planning Lead; Leonie Mergulhao, Account Supervisor - Social Media & PR, Medulla (IN), Aurelija Plioplytė, Head of Digital & Social, Not Perfect (LI), Daiana Khaidargaliyeva, Account Manager, Osaka Labs (UK / USA), Stefanie Söhnchen, Vice President Digital, PIABO Communications (DE), Elisabeth Winiartati, Managing Consultant, Head of Global Integrated Communications; Lydia Aprina, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Nita Prabowo, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Okhi, Web Developer, PNTR Group (ID), Kei Obusan, Insights Director; Daffi Ranandi, Insights Manager, Radarr (SG), Gautam Reghunath, Co-founder & CEO, Talented (IN), Donagh Humphreys, Head of Social and Digital Innovation, THINKHOUSE (IRE), Sarah Yim, Strategy Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo (CA).
Trends In Paid Search: Navigating The Digital Landscape In 2024Search Engine Journal
The search marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies, and professionals, like you, rely on innovative paid search strategies to meet changing demands.
It’s important that you’re ready to implement new strategies in 2024.
Check this out and learn the top trends in paid search advertising that are expected to gain traction, so you can drive higher ROI more efficiently in 2024.
You’ll learn:
- The latest trends in AI and automation, and what this means for an evolving paid search ecosystem.
- New developments in privacy and data regulation.
- Emerging ad formats that are expected to make an impact next year.
Watch Sreekant Lanka from iQuanti and Irina Klein from OneMain Financial as they dive into the future of paid search and explore the trends, strategies, and technologies that will shape the search marketing landscape.
If you’re looking to assess your paid search strategy and design an industry-aligned plan for 2024, then this webinar is for you.
5 Public speaking tips from TED - Visualized summarySpeakerHub
From their humble beginnings in 1984, TED has grown into the world’s most powerful amplifier for speakers and thought-leaders to share their ideas. They have over 2,400 filmed talks (not including the 30,000+ TEDx videos) freely available online, and have hosted over 17,500 events around the world.
With over one billion views in a year, it’s no wonder that so many speakers are looking to TED for ideas on how to share their message more effectively.
The article “5 Public-Speaking Tips TED Gives Its Speakers”, by Carmine Gallo for Forbes, gives speakers five practical ways to connect with their audience, and effectively share their ideas on stage.
Whether you are gearing up to get on a TED stage yourself, or just want to master the skills that so many of their speakers possess, these tips and quotes from Chris Anderson, the TED Talks Curator, will encourage you to make the most impactful impression on your audience.
See the full article and more summaries like this on SpeakerHub here: https://speakerhub.com/blog/5-presentation-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers
See the original article on Forbes here:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2016/05/06/5-public-speaking-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers/&refURL=&referrer=#5c07a8221d9b
ChatGPT and the Future of Work - Clark Boyd Clark Boyd
Everyone is in agreement that ChatGPT (and other generative AI tools) will shape the future of work. Yet there is little consensus on exactly how, when, and to what extent this technology will change our world.
Businesses that extract maximum value from ChatGPT will use it as a collaborative tool for everything from brainstorming to technical maintenance.
For individuals, now is the time to pinpoint the skills the future professional will need to thrive in the AI age.
Check out this presentation to understand what ChatGPT is, how it will shape the future of work, and how you can prepare to take advantage.
The document provides career advice for getting into the tech field, including:
- Doing projects and internships in college to build a portfolio.
- Learning about different roles and technologies through industry research.
- Contributing to open source projects to build experience and network.
- Developing a personal brand through a website and social media presence.
- Networking through events, communities, and finding a mentor.
- Practicing interviews through mock interviews and whiteboarding coding questions.
Google's Just Not That Into You: Understanding Core Updates & Search IntentLily Ray
1. Core updates from Google periodically change how its algorithms assess and rank websites and pages. This can impact rankings through shifts in user intent, site quality issues being caught up to, world events influencing queries, and overhauls to search like the E-A-T framework.
2. There are many possible user intents beyond just transactional, navigational and informational. Identifying intent shifts is important during core updates. Sites may need to optimize for new intents through different content types and sections.
3. Responding effectively to core updates requires analyzing "before and after" data to understand changes, identifying new intents or page types, and ensuring content matches appropriate intents across video, images, knowledge graphs and more.
A brief introduction to DataScience with explaining of the concepts, algorithms, machine learning, supervised and unsupervised learning, clustering, statistics, data preprocessing, real-world applications etc.
It's part of a Data Science Corner Campaign where I will be discussing the fundamentals of DataScience, AIML, Statistics etc.
Time Management & Productivity - Best PracticesVit Horky
Here's my presentation on by proven best practices how to manage your work time effectively and how to improve your productivity. It includes practical tips and how to use tools such as Slack, Google Apps, Hubspot, Google Calendar, Gmail and others.
The six step guide to practical project managementMindGenius
The six step guide to practical project management
If you think managing projects is too difficult, think again.
We’ve stripped back project management processes to the
basics – to make it quicker and easier, without sacrificing
the vital ingredients for success.
“If you’re looking for some real-world guidance, then The Six Step Guide to Practical Project Management will help.”
Dr Andrew Makar, Tactical Project Management
Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT and AI in Testing - A Real-World Look, present...Applitools
During this webinar, Anand Bagmar demonstrates how AI tools such as ChatGPT can be applied to various stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC) using an eCommerce application case study. Find the on-demand recording and more info at https://applitools.info/b59
Key takeaways:
• Learn how to use ChatGPT to add AI power to your testing and test automation
• Understand the limitations of the technology and where human expertise is crucial
• Gain insight into different AI-based tools
• Adopt AI-based tools to stay relevant and optimize work for developers and testers
* ChatGPT and OpenAI belong to OpenAI, L.L.C.
The document discusses various AI tools from OpenAI like GPT-3 and DALL-E 2, as well as ChatGPT. It explores how search engines are using AI and things to consider around AI-generated content. Potential SEO uses of ChatGPT are also presented, such as generating content at scale, conducting topic research, and automating basic coding tasks. The document encourages further reading on using ChatGPT for SEO purposes.
More than Just Lines on a Map: Best Practices for U.S Bike Routes
This session highlights best practices and lessons learned for U.S. Bike Route System designation, as well as how and why these routes should be integrated into bicycle planning at the local and regional level.
Presenters:
Presenter: Kevin Luecke Toole Design Group
Co-Presenter: Virginia Sullivan Adventure Cycling Association
Ride the Storm: Navigating Through Unstable Periods / Katerina Rudko (Belka G...DevGAMM Conference
Has your project been caught in a storm of deadlines, clashing requirements, and the need to change course halfway through? If yes, then check out how the administration team navigated through all of this, relocating 160 people from 3 countries and opening 2 offices during the most turbulent time in the last 20 years. Belka Games’ Chief Administrative Officer, Katerina Rudko, will share universal approaches and life hacks that can help your project survive unstable periods when there seem to be too many tasks and a lack of time and people.
This presentation was designed to provide strategic recommendations for a brand in decline. The deck also incorporates a situational assessment, including a brand identity, positioning, architecture, and portfolio strategy for the Brand.
Presentation originally created for NYU Stern's Brand Strategy course. Design by Erica Santiago & Chris Alexander.
Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them wellSaba Software
According to the latest State of the American Manager report from Gallup, employees who have regular meetings with their managers are almost three times as likely to be engaged as those who don’t. These regular check-ins keep managers and employees in sync and aligned. Want to see better manager/employee relationships in your organisation? Then make an all-in commitment to 1:1 meetings. Not sure how? You’ve come to the right place.
In this webinar with Jamie Resker, Founder and Practice Leader for Employee Performance Solutions (EPS), and Teala Wilson, Talent Management Consultant at Saba Software, you’ll get the inside track on how to hold effective 1:1 meetings, including tips for getting managers on board.
• Go beyond discussing the status of everyday work to higher level topics, including recognition, performance, development, and career aspirations
• Learn how to decide meeting frequency, what to cover, as well as roles and responsibilities of the manager and employee
• Understand how managers can build trust and make it comfortable for employees to provide upward feedback
• Unite your organisation with a unified approach to 1:1 meetings
Join us for this 1-hour webinar to get practical tips for building better manager-employee relationships with intention and purpose.
About the Speakers
Jamie Resker - Founder and Practice Leader for Employee Performance Solutions (EPS)
Jamie Resker, Practice Leader and Founder of Employee Performance Solutions, is a recognized innovator in performance management. She is the originator of the-the Performance Continuum Feedback Method® and Conversations to Optimize Employee Performance training program; tools and training that reshape communications between managers and employees to drive and align performance. Jamie is on the faculty for the Northeast Human Resources Association, is a contributor to Halogen Software's Talent Space Blog, and is an editorial advisory board member for HR Examiner.
Teala Wilson - Senior Consultant, Strategic Services, Saba Software
Teala is a Talent Management Consultant at Halogen Software, now a part of Saba Software. She has worked with teams on a national and global level supporting human resources in areas such as performance management, recruitment, employee benefit programs, training and talent development, workforce planning and internal communications. Teala also has a personal passion for visual arts and design.
Want to learn more? Join us for an upcoming Product Tour!
http://bit.ly/2yitfqu
Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them well
Editor's Notes
Thank you Leila for that great introduction, and thank you audience for making time to come and learn a bit more about book design.
This talk is titled predictably “Judging a book by its cover” but the subtitle, “Book Design and the Art of Reading and Book Selling” I hope get to the meat of this talk. Because book design exists to address those two very different needs: reading and selling. I hope to explore that idea during our time together.
This is a photo of the battlefield as it were. Where the game is played out, all those books vying for your attention as a consumer.
But first a bit about me, Leila has already given you my bio so I won’t go into detail. Other than to say that I am the Principal of a small design studio in New York city, called Studiolo Secondari. This isn’t a photo of my studio per se, but it is a meditation about the craftsmanship which is an important element of design. I also just love this image of the 17th century print maker Abraham Bosse by Rembrandt.
Before we begin I’d like to learn a bit more about all of you. I’ll ask you for a show of hands to answer the following questions. Feel free to raise your hand more than once if you think that is accurate response.
Where do you procure your books, and by books in this context I mean paper books—not ebooks. Do you borrow them from a library? (and hopefully return them…)
Do you buy them from a store?
Do you order them online?
Another question: what format do you read?
Do you read paper books most of the time?
Do you prefer ebooks?
Or are you split between both?
Well it is obvious that you are all book people! I guess that isn’t surprising if you are spending your Friday night listening to me talk about book design. Ok, no more beating around the bush. I know what you are here for.
Book porn! (proceed to next slide)
Flicker, flicker, flicker
Before that though, let’s go back to the subtitle of this talk, “The art of reading and of book selling” As a book designer I’ve had the privilege of designing both book covers and book interiors. In university press publishing that is the norm. Designers design both. In trade publishing there are often two different departments and the book as a whole is rarely designed by the same person. The examples from the AAUP Book Show that are on display at this venue tend to be designed by the same designer which allows for a very cohesive package.
But at the end of the day the cover and the interior serve two very different purposes. The cover exists to sell the book. It belongs to marketing in many ways. It needs to encapsulate the authors premise and to invite the reader to engage more deeply with the book.
The cover is composed of a number of elements. The title is one. In most non fiction publishing there is nearly always a subtitle, to ensure that the purpose of the book is clear. The author’s name is also an element, and depending on the renown of the author, it can be the most important element of a cover. There is generally some sort of visual—a graphic or a photo, in some cases an type treatment. These elements together are meant to signal to the reader what the book is about, who the audience is.
Currently we live in a bifurcated world where books exist as physical objects and as these small thumbnails that appear in purchase environments and on ebooks. Lively discussions are had in cover approval meetings about which version takes precedence. Should the type be bigger so that it will be legible on the thumbnail? But doesn’t that detract from the physical object? Fun times!
I’d like to show you a fun video, it is less than 2 minutes long but it does a nice job of showing the many steps involved in designing a cover.
That’s a very interesting and accurate depiction of the technical aspects of books design execution, it doesn’t even begin to address the creative effort that is required to develop a concept.
Because the cover is a marketing element it is more impacted by publishing trends and stylistic changes over time as well as innovations in technology such as printing and paper manufacturing, ink development. I would like to walk you all down a timeline of book cover design as illustrated by various covers for one book, George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
This is the first British edition of “Animal Farm” published in 1945. This cover was produced during WWII and is austere by necessity. This all type execution is straight forward and is very “name, rank and serial number” approach to cover design. It tells the reader very little about the theme of the book. This is in keeping with the Prewar book design approach.
One year later in the US, Harcourt Brace published “Animal Farm”. Although somewhat more visually complex, this cover is still very removed from the elements of the story line. Like the UK cover it is 2 color, with white of the paper providing the third color for the composition.
In 1955 Penguin UK came out with this edition. Penguin is a heavily branded publisher and this cover is in keeping with their strong visual identity that continues to this day for certain aspects of their list. Again the publisher is avoiding representing the content of the book on the cover. The cover design signals to the Penguin reader that this is a literature title. The educated reader is meant to know what the book is about. This is a very different approach from what you will see going forward.
Signet in 1986 published this paperback edition including visuals of the key players in the story. The typography is playful using only lower case letters set in pink, a reference to the pigs. Although the illustration is cartoony and the over all feel of the cover is childish, the sinister looks on the faces of the animals gives the reader a hint of what is to come in the tale.
In the mid 1990’s this cover appears. The type is simple. The color scheme is monotone. The image of the pig which is made up of silhouettes of all the barnyard animals in the story is the point of focus. The austerity of the color scheme and typography allow the complex illustration to be the focus of the design.
Penguin published this cover in 2004. Very different from the earlier edition. The feeling is sinister. Rather than being an aperitif, to stimulate the interest of the reader, this cover is a forgone conclusion, revealing the writers hand at the very onset. Obviously “Animal Farm” is a well known fable by 2004, the publisher appears to feel that selling it with the conclusion on the cover is a viable strategy.
Penguin again in 2008 with a cover by shepard fairey the man who designed the emblematic “Obama HOPE” poster. Here Mr. Fairey creates a complex image that evokes soviet era heroic propaganda posters. This cover doesn’t exactly show the author’s hand but it does influence the way the reader interprets the book.
Penguin again in 2014, I guess if you have a valuable copyright you keep repackaging it and putting it out there! The pig is covered in seminal text from the story. This cover is more subtle that what we have seen previously. The typography and layout are evocative of older designs while still looking contemporary.
This is just a small example of the many Animal Farm covers that are out there. you should check it out yourself, just google “Animal Farm book cover” in an image search.
Looking at them like this you can see many of them rely strongly on color, the use of strong black, red, and pink. Pig images and animal images are also everywhere. Many of these covers look sinister to me. This is a great way to see how different designers have interpreted the same content to very different effects in collaboration with publishers and marketing departments.
With that as context, let’s now look at a sampling of the AAUP cover design selections. I would highly recommend that all of you take a look at the books that we have here because these books were all designed to be held and read.
There is a lot going on with this cover. The title of the main text by Isaac Newton, given prominence by the designer in a big circle in the center of the cover. The translators, three in all are listed within the same circle beneath title to ensure that their effort is given proper prominence. The scholarly apparatus—the guide to the work, is given a lesser position but it has its own circle which is respectful. These many elements are elegantly composed in a visual that is evocative of Newton’s concepts. In the hands of a less gifted designer this could have been a very busy or tedious cover.
This designer had the opposite challenge. This is an austere cover. It is rare for an academic title not to have a clarifying subtitle. It is even more rare to have a one word title. David Drummond, plays up the singular opportunity he has been given. The brain and the title appearing in the same color, underscore the relationship and the visual metaphor. Very brave cover. Very brave publisher.
This is a quirky cover. The color is strong. The iconographic visual of Alice’s feet disappearing at the frame edge, is at once evocative of the well know Lewis Carrol book and illustrations, as well as disorienting. The title is playful interrupted by the subtitle, another slightly disorienting element that supports the over all effect of this design.
Here again we have a designer flipping the frame on the viewer. Much like the astronaut at the center of the cover, the viewer doesn’t know what is up or what is down. The title along with the author name is an actual lifeline for us and the hapless astronaut, guiding us to the safety of the bottom of the cover and some sense of stability.
This is a very strong cover. Strong use of red, black, and white. Effective yet reductive imagery, and clean type make this an aesthetically consistent and purposeful design. This kind of simple execution requires an unwavering eye and steady hand.
This cover from a book published by our very own University Press of Kentucky, “Conversations with Classic Film Stars” is an homage to the vernacular of classic movie design. It is spot on in the usage of drop shadow, black and white imagery, and cursive display type. The design defines the time period and the ethos of the era perfectly. Well done.
This cover just makes me smile every time I look at it. It is playful, slightly chaotic or nervous. President Obama’s face smiling out of that awkwardly shaped heart is the crowning element. Again there is no subtitle so we need to let the title speak for itself.
This is a great opportunity to discuss the elements of the book jacket. The spine, is often the unsung hero of book design. If you think about it most books are shown spine out. It is the battlefield where we book designers fight for the hearts and minds of our readers. The back ad is often a tedious piece of Realestate given over to sales copy, bar codes, and publisher information. Here the designer kept the playfulness that is seen on the cover, with sufficient restraint to allow for legibility. I love the way the “O” in “OBAMA” interrupts the spine. And the type is positioned on the spine in a somewhat haphazard way. With the “I” setting vertically while “Obama” sets horizontally.
There’s a lot of use of strong red in this show. Much like on the Animal Farm covers we looked at earlier. This is a very clean and essentially simple design. The visual metaphor of the light and the graphic way it is interpreted makes the design. The yellow shards of light, if you will, lead the eye of the reader to the title. Perfect placement of all the elements.
This is an irreverent cover perfectly depicting the content. The type and illustration are period perfect. The seeming simplicity of this design is only achieved by the sure hand and eye of a very talented designer, Chris Ferrante. The challenge in designing academic covers is that often the content is rather opaque. As designers we are called upon to distill scholarly concepts in a way that speaks to a variety of audiences. You get a wonderful education when you are a designer at at University press, although I only have a BFA from parson’s school of design, I feel that I probably have a masters in esoteric information.
This cover is just so unexpected. The title obviously impacted the design direction. But again, this clever visual is so simple that it feels like it just exists. This belies the effort on the part of the designer who imagined this concept, worked hard to design it effectively (the bloody handprints are really well done) and had the guts to present the design for approval. Well done Regina Starace.
This is the full paperback cover. The bloody handprints continue onto the back without diminishing the space needed for the abundant back ad copy.
And now we are going to move onto the interior of the book. The following are selections from the awarded titles, again I urge you to take a look at the books after the talk.
If the cover of the book is a marketing piece, the text design of a book belongs to the content and the reader. The best interior designs are effortless to navigate and are pleasurable to read. In scholarly publishing many of our books have abundant apparatus or pedagogy—elements that are meant to help the reader understand the importance of various types of information. In the hands of a talented text designer it all works.
This books reminds me a bit of those “Animal Farm” covers. Here the designer has taken elements of the cover design . This is the cover design here. and introduced them into the text design to ensure a cohesive package. It is tactfully done and does not intrude on the reader’s ability to read.
This is a fun example of one of those cover elements being included in the chapter open. This is a good example of what I describing earlier where in University Press publishing the same designer is often responsible for both cover and text and it allows for a great package.
This book is part history and part cocktail book. Again the designer has introduced not just the aesthetic of the cover into the interior but also elements of the cover. The design feels evocative of the place and the period.
This chapter number is a beautiful detail that supports the overall design feel of the book and remains informative and useful to the reader.
“A History of Boston in 50 Objects” as the name suggests is an illustrated history of Boston. I appreciate the dynamic way that the illustrations are presented in the text. The use of color for section openers is a successful “way-finding” technique to help the reader navigate the content.
I really appreciate the attention to details. The way this image of a coin is allowed to invade the text area and the elegant placement of the figure caption
“Scarecrow” is a book of poetry. The cover has a spooky austerity to it. And that is carried through in the text design. But it doesn’t detract from the verse. The poems are presented in a very clear and almost innocent manner, when compared to the full bleed dark colored title page and part openers.
This is a detail of the verse setting. Very simple and clean. This sort of invisible elegance doesn’t just happen, it is created by a well trained hand and eye.
“adjusted Margin” Again there is a strong and distinct relationship between the cover and the text design but the interior design isn’t a slavish adaptation of the cover. Whereas the title on the cover is running vertically the title page shows the title in a more regular orientation. The chapter opens relate deftly to the cover typography but are useful and appropriate on the page nonetheless.
Here is a detail of the beautiful chapter number.
And finally, “Village Atheists” you can see how the cover image was used as the title page. The elegance of the display typography used in the chapter open and title page spot on.
Here is a detail of the typography is really feels like it was pulled from a broadside of that era.
And that’s it. I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together. It has been a pleasure to share with you my thoughts about book design and book selling, and the wonderful AAUP Book Show. Thank you to Leila Salisbury and the University Press of Kentucky for inviting me to speak with you. Please follow Studiolo Secondari on twitter, well you see it all here. Thanks again. Any questions?