Objective
Note: This will be due by the END of class on the due date.
You are going to redesign a book cover. Although a book cover is usually considered just the front of the book, we will be creating a complete book wrap. You will need to design the front, spine, back and inside flaps of the wrap, and possibly integrating these areas together visually.
Specs
- Printed Size: Dependent on your chosen book size.
- Front, Back, Spine and front and back flaps will be designed, with inside flaps of approximately 4 inches in width, dependent on book size
- Digital and physical submission
Requirements
- Typography will serve as your medium and your imagery
- No Photographic Imagery or Non-typographic Illustration*
- Relevant Information for the book accessible (Title, Author)
- An abstract (summary) of the book somewhere on the wrap
- Inside panels should not be left blank unless it’s for a reason which you can justify
*Exceptions might be made for usage of photos as texture or ambiance in some cases; any usage of non-typographical elements must be approved. If you turn in a project with non-typographical content that has not been approved, your project will not be accepted. You may illustrate your typography. You may take photos of typography that you have made by hand. The point is that conceptual type is your medium here, and you must use it – its rendering, the way it’s set, its color – to communicate, not simply as a supplement to photography and illustration.
You can distort type, cut it up, crop it, or otherwise mangle it, but whatever you do with it should have a purpose.
STEP 1
Decide on a book that you have read. This is important because your design should be expressive of the feel of the book. Begin sketching ideas about the cover of the book. Also, gather the content for all the panels you’ll be designing. You can use the existing content on the current book cover or information within the book. A panel should not be left blank unless you have a solid conceptual reason for it, as this is valuable real estate. You should have at least 10 distinctly different concepts and corresponding sketches (detailed) for the book. More than one sketch may be necessary to show your intention for the entire wrap. Your sketches will not be reviewed and your project will not be accepted if you do not provide this. (10 concepts, Due class after assignment)
What may seem like extra time here is so that you spend time figuring out a strong conceptual approach to the project.
A good indication of showing distinctly different approaches.
If several view points are necessary to show how the wrap will work (particularly if elements wrap around panels), then you should show that.
STEP 2
Once your sketches and ideas are approved, begin implementing your project ideas and layout into a digital format using Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Photoshop may be used to create artwork, but your final layout should be completed in Adobe Illustrator.
Have your layouts with text in place at least by the day before the project due date. Your type handling will be heavily scrutinized, and since bad type can sink an otherwise good design, be sure you get sufficient feedback and make revisions accordingly.
STEP 3
Print your project and place it around the original book that you based your designs on. You will be turning in a book for this project. I will give you the book back, but not necessarily the wrap.
Submission
You will be turning in physical and digital submission for this project. For the physical copy, turn in a book with the wrap around it. For your digital submission, combine your working files and a pdf proof into a folder labeled [lastname_firstinitial_project4] and place it in the drop box by the beginning of class on critique day.