I listen to this podcast regularly! I think it is great and I find it very insightful and inspirational as an upcoming designer. The host, Debbie Millman, interviews well renowned designers, artists and authors, even Chip Kidd (episode 10/21/2013), about their past, present and their successes. I recommend checking it out :)
DesignObserver.com
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Book Jacket goodies
You should read, watch, use and be inspired by these:
Videos
_ Chip Kidd
_ Jessica Hische
_ Louise Fili
_ Margo Chase (login to lynda.com)
_ Marian Banjes (lynda.com)
_ Andew Byrom | ted x
Designers
_ John Gall
_ Louise Fili
_ Jessica Hische
_ Chip Kidd
_ Alvin Lustig
_Paul Rand
Project Resources
_ VisualThesaurus.com
_ This Means That.pdf
_ Graphic Design..pdf
_ Collage
_ Type Only Covers.pdf
_ First Pages
Videos
_ Chip Kidd
_ Jessica Hische
_ Louise Fili
_ Margo Chase (login to lynda.com)
_ Marian Banjes (lynda.com)
_ Andew Byrom | ted x
Designers
_ John Gall
_ Louise Fili
_ Jessica Hische
_ Chip Kidd
_ Alvin Lustig
_Paul Rand
Project Resources
_ VisualThesaurus.com
_ This Means That.pdf
_ Graphic Design..pdf
_ Collage
_ Type Only Covers.pdf
_ First Pages
VISC 304: Assignment 01: DEFINING A STORY: BOOK JACKET RE-DESIGN
THE SKINNY
You will be giving form to content. You will be creating a face to an already existing body. You will be designing book jackets.
Now, can you judge a book by it’s cover? Of course you can. How is your book going to be judged? You will be developing three different design directions for one book.
This should be obvious but: don’t chose something that is already well done, famous for the design, recently made into a movie. Also avoid cookbooks, photo portfolios... you need a book that has depth, character development and a sense of place and or time.
A really good book cover has to work regardless of what it’s about, on a visceral and emotional level.
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INTRODUCTION
You will be creating three different designs for one book of your choosing. As a designer you will often be asked to create different concepts to present to a client. This concept will be executed for this first project.
Book jackets are no different than any other medium that could benefit from good design. In fact, they are actually better. A jacket does not have to be literal but rather convey moods or interpret content. Not only are graphic symbols the perfect shorthand; color, shapes, and lettering can evoke suggested mood.
As a book jacket designer it really can be boiled down to one question:
What does this story look like?
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PROJECT BRIEF
PROJECT BRIEF
State general project information, goals and relevant background information for project as a whole. This paragraph should be a statement overview of project as a whole. Including your concept statement, research and brand evaluation. This will be turned in so should look professional. Could be included in process book.
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CHALLENGE ONE
You will design a book jacket and it’s components in three conceptual forms.
The first would be image based, the second typographic based and the third
direction you will not use the computer. Sound familiar?!
Things to keep in mind:
NOUNS (how can these help you?)
1) Person: a character from the book
2) Place: setting
3) Thing: representative object
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PARAMETERS
MEDIA
1) image dominate/juxtaposition (photography, illustration, collage...)
2) type dominate (computer, manipulated, hand drawn, photographed...)
3) non-computer (do not use the computer for main image/typography, title, etc)
FYI about imagery: The artwork can be illustrations or photographs could be by you or can be found in a book or online. Be careful all art needs to be of high quality. If you find an image online it has to be VERY large. If it is not high enough quality, you find a new image. (images online are 72dpi and that quality is not high enough for print work, so don’t even try it, the image must be high res no jpg grizzle). If your final image is grizzled or low res your project grade will be lowered by one full grade.
Typography: choose a sans serif and serif font from the approved font list (no dafont typefaces no lost type typefaces). The font you chose has to be appropriate and match the concept. Choose from the list I have posted on our class blog
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FINAL DELIVERABLES
Cover, spine, back cover, flaps, end papers, title page, process book and an inclass presentation of your process and final magic.
Specifics you ask?
Cover: 6 x 9in, Spine: .75in, Back Cover: 6 x 9in, Flaps 2.75in
(final flat size is 18.25 x 9 inches)
Printed on Epson Heavyweight 13 x19 with a color, pattern or image printed on the back. This will look fantastic.
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PROCESS BOOK
1 PDF of your process book (yourname_process.pdf) Process book has to be
DESIGNED (USE A GRID!, type sizes for print not onscreen...) not over designed/decorated. You need to use a GRID, hierarchy, type sizes, leading. You are handing in a pdf but it has to look professional enough to print out and take to an interview.
DESIGNED (USE A GRID!, type sizes for print not onscreen...) not over designed/decorated. You need to use a GRID, hierarchy, type sizes, leading. You are handing in a pdf but it has to look professional enough to print out and take to an interview.
………………...………………...………………...………………...………………...………………...
SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21ST
Introduction to Project 1. Share book selections.
HOMEWORK:
Research! --- Select 18 book examples from the links I have provided or anywhere. 6, image, 6 type dominate and 6 nontraditional. What makes them a successful book jacket?
Research the author: find text about the book and the author.50 words about the author include any quotes about the author.
Character, Place, Objects research: identify at least 2 characters in book you have selected. Describe them fully in written form. Do the same for locations, and any “things” that are important for your story. Bring al research to class.
Character, Place, Objects research: identify at least 2 characters in book you have selected. Describe them fully in written form. Do the same for locations, and any “things” that are important for your story. Bring al research to class.
Image Boards: Create a Pinterest board of a reference images.
OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
1) Does it use a photo, illustration, collage, juxtaposition, type only...
2) Do you think cover is based on a character, place, object from the story
3) Would you consider the cover traditional, contemporary, vintage, futuristic (vintage or scientific: jetsons or tron), mysterious, romantic, fantasy.
4) Execution is the image altered (colorized, bit-mapped, saturated...), juxtaposed (two images placed next to each other to create a new meaning), cropped, framed/boarder, layered, collaged, title as a label, hand-drawn...
5) What emotion, feeling, tone does the cover project?
2) Do you think cover is based on a character, place, object from the story
3) Would you consider the cover traditional, contemporary, vintage, futuristic (vintage or scientific: jetsons or tron), mysterious, romantic, fantasy.
4) Execution is the image altered (colorized, bit-mapped, saturated...), juxtaposed (two images placed next to each other to create a new meaning), cropped, framed/boarder, layered, collaged, title as a label, hand-drawn...
5) What emotion, feeling, tone does the cover project?
THIS MIGHT BE HELPFUL: http://www.visualthesaurus.com/
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD
Small groups. Identify 6 KEY WORDS for each the character, 6 for the place, 6 for the object in your story.
HOMEWORK:
This Means That (pdf) Firefox is having issues with pdf try safari or chrome. (blog a summary / reflection of the reading)
Visual Library: Create a library of visuals. Collect at least 25 photos. It is fine to use someone elses. We do this as designers. Must be high res.
Sketches: I want 15 sketches for image, type and non-computer.I want you to include notes on each sketch. How did you use research? Which key words are you being influenced by?
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 28th
Class Crit of sketches. Narrow down to 12 covers.How does the solution tell the story in an unexpected, thoughtful way?
HOMEWORK:
Treat your title as a logo. I want to see 10-15 Illustrator title explorations for next class. Full color, designed covers due 2/4.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 30th
Class Crit look at type exploration. Talk about title page.
HOMEWORK:
8 title pages to go with 12 covers.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4th
Class Cover & title page Crit. Narrow concepts down and discuss full jacket. Do so in large group room 315 at 1PM.
HOMEWORK:
Refine covers and start on the back cover, spine, flaps, etc.You need to have the following on the back and flaps (any combination of text do not design it the same on every cover. Every back and flaps have to be different in your 9 jackets
-- short bio about the author (a photo perhaps?)
-- a short description of the book
-- a quote
You may scale to 11 x 17. Do not come to class without printed.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6th
Review full jackets. Narrow down to a top 5 and refine.
HOMEWORK:
THERE ARE ONLY A FEW RULES
1) all 5 book jackets have to be different from each other
2) no repeating the same image on any of the covers
3) no repeating the same type treatment on any of the covers
4) avoid using the same 1 or 2 fonts over and over
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11th
HOMEWORK:
REFINE 5: Using what you have done so far – we picked your top 5 directions in class -- refine and explore type treatment, compositions, image treatment. (*if you are unhappy with any of the 5 covers you can create new ones -- it isn’t too late) Refine ideas have 2 mocked up dvd packages for class. Also have full insert for each package (3-5 pages minimum).
5 DIFFERENT IDEAS. ENDPAPERS are inside when we “open the book” what happens? what is the surprise/ visual narrative? Can be a pattern or photo (choosing to just a use a full color is not exceptionable).
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th
Review all work in Individual meeting. Narrow down to top 3.
HOMEWORK:
REFINE 3: Using what you have done so far – we picked your top 3 directions in class -- refine and explore type treatment, compositions, image treatment. Create 1 variation for each cover so that means you have 1 design and 1 variation, 1 design and 1 variation, 1 design and 1 variation.
REFINE 3 ENDPAGES when we “open the book” what happens? what is the surprise/ visual narrative? Can be a pattern or photo (choosing to just a use a full color is not exceptionable).
REFINE 3 FIRST PAGES. How can you take the intent, feeling, mood, and continue or push the visual narrative to a black and white first page? For our purposes..
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18th
Large group Crit.
HOMEWORK:
Refine, refine, refine.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20th
Work day. Final push for project due next week.
HOMEWORK:
Group crits and individual meetings.
………………...………………...………………...………………...………………...………………...
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25th
Final project due.
HOMEWORK:
Print, Trim, Score, and Fold all three book jacket, print endpaper on the back. Make sure the pattern fills the back full back of the cover. Print and trim title pages
1 PDF of your process book (yourname_process.pdf) Process book has to be DESIGNED (USE A GRID!, type sizes for print not onscreen...) not over designed/decorated. You need to use a GRID, hierarchy, type sizes, leading. You are handing in a pdf but it has to look professional enough to print out and take to an interview.
Post project onto Behance: project overview, blurb, cover, endpapers, title page (3x). Figure out how to present it in a professional manner. You do not have to take photos you can use flat files.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Book Jacket things to inspire
Hello my super sophomores! I hope break is treating you well! I miss your smiling faces! Or tired faces which is what I get to see mostly. :)
I had some tips for you to remember and things to share.
First, come to class with at least 3 different books you are considering. We can make the best call together on which to move forward with.
I mentioned this all in class and this should be obvious but: don't chose something that is already well done, famous for the design, recently made into a movie. Also avoid cookbooks, photo portfolios... you need a book that has depth, character development and a sense of place and or time.
Lots of things for you to research, read and watch. PLEASE look through this all, it will really help as we start to design and think about your book jackets.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Super Super Sick
I have not gone to bed yet due to the lovely flu I have caught over night. So sadly, I can not make it to class (or out of my bed) today 11/21.
You should all have 10 distinct cover concepts for class today if we were meeting. I really hope you took this as an opportunity to pushed yourself creatively and explore style and concept.
In addition to the 10 covers for next Tuesday 11/26 I want you to chose your 3 strongest cover concepts and extend those concepts to full DVD packages. They can be flat and dont need to be mocked up yet but I want you to think about Cover, Back Cover, Spine and interior of form. Think about what information is needed in these areas. If you find your film on the Criterion website the copy for the Back Cover of your DVD should be listed. It would be the running time etc. Also think about any support copy you might want at this time.
I am so sorry for the inconvenience. Now, I'm going back to feeling like death.
You should all have 10 distinct cover concepts for class today if we were meeting. I really hope you took this as an opportunity to pushed yourself creatively and explore style and concept.
In addition to the 10 covers for next Tuesday 11/26 I want you to chose your 3 strongest cover concepts and extend those concepts to full DVD packages. They can be flat and dont need to be mocked up yet but I want you to think about Cover, Back Cover, Spine and interior of form. Think about what information is needed in these areas. If you find your film on the Criterion website the copy for the Back Cover of your DVD should be listed. It would be the running time etc. Also think about any support copy you might want at this time.
I am so sorry for the inconvenience. Now, I'm going back to feeling like death.
Friday, November 15, 2013
DVD Template
Gang,
Here is a link to download the DVD template.
I would not be too worried about template just yet...please just focus on strong cover concepts and designs. The cover size is basically 5.35" x 7.5 Work in that size and proportion for the cover concepts.
Cant wait to see what you come up with.
Here is a link to download the DVD template.
I would not be too worried about template just yet...please just focus on strong cover concepts and designs. The cover size is basically 5.35" x 7.5 Work in that size and proportion for the cover concepts.
Cant wait to see what you come up with.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
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