Project 3: Design a Book Cover

For this project you will design a cover, spine and back panel for a novel. The cover of a book is the essential tool designed to engage, intrigue, and communicate overall concept. This can be achieved through the use of photography, mixed media, illustration, typography or a combination of these.

It is imperative that you do the research to understand the nuances of the book you select. Some thoughts as you conduct research:

• Make descriptive notes and sketch as you go through the book, and think outside the obvious.
• Try to understand the point of view or what the author is trying to communicate. Be aware of the plot, subplot, characters, environments, tone and genre.
• Do not allow yourself to be persuaded by style directions of other versions of the cover you may come across during your research. You should discover what designs have been created in previous covers but your idea should be unique. 
• Be inspired... look at many things for inspiration - theatrical posters, CDs, event promotions etc... Design influences are all around so be open to everything.

Your book cover must include:
1.    Front cover, back cover and spine
2.    Title, author
3.    publisher, publisher’s logo
4.    ISBN, price, bar code

Schedule
Mon     Oct 10    Introduce Project / Class Exercise 3
Wed     Oct 12    Group Presentations / Work Day - Sketching + 1on1’s
Mon     Oct 17    Work Day – Sketching + 1on1’s
Wed     Oct 19    In-progress Critique – Pinup sketches, photos, type, illustration, etc. related to concept development. You should have at least 3 design directions.
Mon     Oct 24    Class Exercise 4 – ½ mockup book cover due.
Wed    Oct 26     Final Project Due

See full project brief here: http://www.catnormoyle.com/classdocuments/03_Book_Cover.pdf