OUGD406 | Studio Brief 02 - Study Task 03

We were given 30 mins to then create a type only, black and white cover for the book. This was to be influenced by the words we were given for feedback in the group discussion. If these words were negative we had to subvert these. My words were -

-Irrelevant -> RELEVENT

-Old fashioned -> MODERN

-Amateur ->PROFESSIONAL

-PERSONAL

-Unbalanced -> BALANCED

-Untidy -> NEAT

-Post Modern

I decided to focus on a post modern theme as this reflects the content of the book the most. I found a typeface called Orator Std Medium which reminded me of some of the post modern graphic design by David Carson. This typeface had post modern links but was also modern and neat which satisfied the descriptors. The typeface also looks quite digital as it is similar to the bitmap fonts you would find on phones and computers - I feel this linked in with the modern age. I decided to place the authors at the top of the page as this is where the eye would go first, and I felt that others would be attracted to the book if they saw such a famous designers name on the cover. 

I placed the main title in the largest pt size in the centre of the page as I feel this title is intriguing and could catch the eye of someone walking past. I repeated the title twice as this represents the meaning of stealing sheep - copying other ideas. The movement created by this also represented the baa's of sheep and seems to shout at the reader, as if the writer is fed up of others copying and lacking originality. 

To satisfy the word neat, I used a grid and rulers to centre the text and titles on the page and organise the page overall. I enlarged the word type to communicate that the book is about type and this is also a technique often seen in post modernist design. 

Regrettably, I placed the contents, like the original on the front cover. This was a last minute decision but I liked how the typeface looked when used in a body copy situation. I separated this from the title with a line of dashes to make the design clearer but this was unsuccessful as the design is so simple it blends in with the title and creates a confusing composition. 

I did originally try the cover with a black background to show seriousness in the 'stop copying people' title. However, this seriousness was not consistent with the fun tone of voice of the book's content. 

Using grids in illustrator to create my cover

Black version

Final version 

The designs were then laid out on the table and other students wrote the first word which came to mind when seeing the cover. Most of the comments appear to relate to the repeated title. I am unsure as to whether this is successful as post modern design does not aim to be legible - I did try to maintain the readability of the cover with a post modern twist.

I would agree that there is too much content, but others did identify the cover as a post modern representation which I am pleased with.

-Drunk

-Post Modern

-Forceful

-Bleating (sheep)

-Eye catching

-Rigid

-Rule breaking

-Ironic 

-Too complex

-Repetitive

-Confusing

-My eyes hurt

-Exentric

-Wavey

-Exaggerated

-Full of content

-Good typeface

-Sans-serif

-Post Modern

-Interesting

I am unsure at the moment if this is an approach to my book cover that I would like to continue with, I will decide this after my research stage.