Assignment 04
Book Cover Series

As graphic designers our job is to internalize a subject and oftentimes propose visual solutions that reflect the content. This requires us to observe themes, concepts and opinions about the work in question. These examinations help us develop an understanding of the work. It's oftentimes up to the designer to use style and visual language to their advantage.

Choose a book. If it isn’t a book you’ve read already, try reading something you’ve been meaning to by next week. Your assignment is to design three different covers for this book. Cover one must use type & photography. Cover two must use type & illustration. Cover three must use type only. You will ultimately be designing the front, back and spine of each edition.

Go to Strand bookstore and pick up three different dollar hardcover books. You’ll be using these for your book mock–ups in the final week. Make sure to use dimensions from the books you purchased when designing. While you’re there, take a look around and check out the new hardcover and paperbacks.

Deliverables
3Covers total (front, back, spine) Size based on your books purchased at Strand Final crit requires wrapped book mock ups
1Type and Photograph
1Type and Illustration
1Type Only

Timeline

8  10.24.17  R01
Design the front cover of your three editions. Print them at actual size and hang for critique. Read the assigned essays below. Have a few comments prepared.

9  10.31.17  R02  Guest Crit
Refine your designs further. Print all three covers actual size. Present the front, back and spine wrapped around your hardcover books. Consider paper stock and other printing effects this round.

10  11.7.17  R03
Present final front, back and spine designs for all three editions wrapped around your hardcover books. Your mock-ups should be meticulously printed & crafted.

Background

The reading that accompanies this assignment is an essay title “Style is Not a Four Letter Word” by Mr. Keedy. Mr. Keedy is the author name of Jeffery Keedy, an American graphic designer, type designer, writer and educator. He is notable as an essayist and contributor to books and periodicals on graphic design. He is also notable for the design of Keedy Sans, a typeface acquired in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in 2011.

The second reading that accompanies this assignment is another debate, this time from the 1980s between Tibor Kalman and Joe Duffy. This debate echos similar sentiments as Coruwel v. Van Toorn, but is more focused on contemporary design, nostalgia, vernacular, and design as a business.

Lastly, Michael Rock discusses the Kalman v. Duffy debate, and considers which side either is on (if they even are on different sides) in his article “The Self-righteous vs the Self-serving”. Especially if you're spinning after reading all these “style” writings, this will give a better picture of Rock’s opinion on the matter.