DIGITAL EXPERIMENTS: ghost type

This is my typography experiment, using Photoshop, which involved typing letters and words using a simple typeface, creating copies of these, and using the 'Radial Blur' option, create this effect. I used 'Animal Farm' one of Orwell's well-known novels for this experiment. Although this has a good effect, it does strain the eyes a bit, especially with the blurry backdrops. If I were to use this in my final exam, I would probably use for '1984', because it suits the theme. If I could improve this, I would add an image of a pig, or some other farm animal and do the same effect. 

DIGITAL EXPERIMENTS: enhanced layer

This is another experiment created in Photoshop. This experiment involved using a single image, with the layers copied and layered over one another. Afterwards, this was taken to a new document, where I added a rectangle, erased some of it for aesthetic effect, and typed the title of the book. 

I'm not too keen on this experiment, as I don't think I used the right colouring, or the best image to work with. If I used a brighter image, I could have pulled it off more effectively. But since, I am working on a book which has a dark theme, I thought it would have been relevant to use a dark image.

DIGITAL EXPERIMENTS: multiple exposure

These are my digital experiments, using primary photos involving multiple exposure on Photoshop. When making these, I was focusing on the Orwell book '1984' and one of its main element: a totalitarian government who watches the citizens every move.

For this one, I used the 'Hard Light' option. This one obviously has the lightest hue of red, and makes the theme a bit less sinister. 

 For this one, I used the 'Multiply' option. This one is a bit darker, and has more impact on making the book seem frightening and unsettling. Also, like the first example, I think that the soft but helpless look from the subject, conveys how the citizens are imprisoned by the government's watchful eye.

 The 'Colour burn' option was used for this. As this has the darkest hue, this makes the theme of the book a look a lot more sinister, and dark. The eye isn't too bright, but the expressionless look it seems to have, with the darker hue emphasises the dark aspect of the book, which I like.

I quite liked this experiment, as I felt that it was quite relevant to this type of book. And as well as the technique, I think it was important to choose the right images to work with. If I could develop it further, I could either use one or two relevant images to add to it, or even some type, like the title of the author's name in centre alignment in a bold typeface like 'Impact' font

MINIMALIST BOOK COVERS

"this series was my way of releasing some of that energy creatively"

Images from 'Chic Blog Type' blog

These are the book covers of famous fairy tales, including 'Snow White', 'The Ugly Duckling', 'Mary Poppins' and Pinnochio'  all designed by Christian Jackson, who works for Square Inch Design.  When these were made is unknown but these covers have a minimalist design, using only an important element of the book to represent the story. I have chosen to analyse this piece, as it is a source of inspiration for my book jackets outcome for the final exam.

As mentioned before, the purpose of these minimalist designs is to represent the whole essence of the story using a single aspect from the book. So in the case of 'The three bears', the three porridges with their flaws, and the long braided hair from 'Rapunzel', and the long nose from 'Ponnochio'. According to the designer, he had become a father, and creating these fairly tale covers "was a way of releasing that energy creatively" and that his lifestyle "pretty much demanded it". Unlike some artworks, where the title of the work informs the viewer more than actual work, this case is the other way round: the main element does this for the viewer.

These designs may have been hand drawn before being edited digitally on Photoshop. The background seems to have some sort of texture, so these may have been overlain with colour, or he could have used some sort of gradient tool. Some of the shapes featured on these covers could have been installed on the digital programs before hand, or he could have installed them himself, and positioned them himself to his liking.  In the case of the 'Rip Van Winkle' cover, the designer may have used 'Diffuse glow' technique, or a Brush tool set at a low opacity, using the colour white. All of the books follow the same design: The  main element of the book is usually placed in the centre, with the title of the story, written in uppercase lettering, is placed on the bottom left hand side, accompanied with the author's name and series number in smaller sized typing underneath. This could have been the style specifically chosen by the publishing company that Jackson was working for, whilst everything else was his own decision. The size of these is most likely to be A4/A5 size, as this are the standard size for books.

Even if you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, these covers made me want to read them, even if they give you more of a clue as to what the book will be about, and this is what I like about it- the fact that the designer uses only one element (a few objects) from the story but it says quite a bit. These minimalist designs are similar to Christian Peterson's Harry Potter series covers, as they are also minimalistic, but they say a lot about the story, without giving much away. So although they do convey some information, to get the full idea of the plot, you still need to open up the book and read it. This is how effective I want my final outcomes to be when I create them.

ANIMAL FARM MOODBOARD

ONE: Red, beige and white colour scheme  TWO: Penguin published design  THREE: Designed by devianart member FOUR: printed version FIVE: Propaganda like design SIX: Multiple expose design SEVEN: Illustrated design EIGHT: Design showing animal food chain with pigs as the bigger one NINE: Typographic design, with wood background.

'1984' COVER MOOD BOARD

 ONE: Illustrated 1984 cover TWO: A bold cover with monochrome colour  THREE: Design with lots of eyes  FOUR: Red dominated design FIVE: Muted colour design with the eye resembling a camera SIX: A person with a camera for a head, emphasises totalitarian regime SEVEN: A mixed media cover. Blank face could symbolise no individual thoughts EIGHT: Repeated title with a single red one, could symbolise protagonist's individual thoughts NINE: Barcode- like design TEN: Propaganda like design

MINIMALIST MOODBOARD

ONE: '1984' book cover of Room 101 TWO: 'War and Peace' cover depicting of peace symbol made with guns THREE: 'The Scarlet Letter' book cover of a scarlet coloured 'A' FOUR: 'A Clockwork Orange' cover depicting of the bowler hat and milk that the protagonist wore and drank FIVE: 'Snow White' and 'The Princess and the Pea'  SIX: 'Harry Potter' book series SEVEN: 'Stephen King' book covers: Carrie, Cujo, Thinner and The Shining EIGHT: 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' showing the three porridge bowels and their flaws NINE: 'The Shining' poster showing the axe

IGOR UDUSHLIVY

"Book jacket and bookmark can work together. 

They can create a unique image of a book"

"Robin Hood"

"The Sword in the Stone"

Images from the Behance gallery of Igor Udushlivy

These are the book jackets and bookmarks of 'Robin Hood' and 'The Sword in the Stone', which are part of the 'Jacket+Bookmark' series assigned and created by Igor Udushlivy. I have chosen to analyse these pieces of work for his techniques and inspiration for my final book jackets of George Orwell books.

According to Udushlivy, the jacket and bookmark "expands the book's space and gives it new image and feel". This is true, as the bookmark goes well with the cover of the book, which is rarely ever the case with bookmarks, as they usually are bought as a separate item. In addition, both of these items work well together to depict the central element of the book, reinforcing his statement (see above). It can be suggested the the designer found inspiration from main elements of the book.

With 'Robin Hood' the apple and the arrow are featured. Because the arrow is a well-known object associated with Robin Hood, it was most likely essential to include it somewhere on the design. It could also symbolise Robin Hood's resistance against the unfair laws made by King Richard and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and how he fights to get justice for this who do not have much say. The typeface itself is bold and simplistic, resembling the 'Impact' typeface. Although, it looks to have been digitally edited from the rough texture seen on the final 'D' on 'Hood'. How it was made is unknown, but the designer could have used Photoshop's 'Layers' system to overlay the rough texture over another, or a particular type of brush to achieve the rough surface, or simply a typeface designed this way. Alternatively on Illustrator, where he may have used the Clipping Mask technique. The overall composition is simplistic, keeping to minimalism, so as to convey the elements effectively to the viewer. The cover was probably done by hand and then edited digitally to clean up the appearance or to add more texture to the apple (if looked at closely the different surfaces can be seen), whereas the bookmark was most likely done by hand, using card for its sturdiness.

With 'The Sword in the Stone', it has very similar features. This includes the minimalist composition, the same typeface in the same centre alignment and the same placement of the 'Icoeye' logo. The obvious differences being a the story, different elements and title. Unlike 'Robin Hood' where the title was kept at the same size, this the last three words have decreased in size, so as to fit all the text on the page, and more of the rough texture is seen on more words, almost gives the impression of ink that ran out, or conveys the possible struggles that the main protagonist has to endure.  The cover and bookmark are that of the sword and stone that is central to the story, with the sword being the bookmark. It gives the impression that it's actually stuck in the stone, which is clever. 

I like the simplicity of the designs, and the originality of the main elements being used for the cover and bookmark. It reminded me of the 'Harry Potter' book cover designs by Christian Peterson, which were also minimalistic but conveyed the elements well. In my final book cover designs of Orwell books, I may use the roughly surfaced fonts, as I think that this would match the theme of the book.

NEW: EXAM PROJECT

I have now finished the Personal Project, and will go on to focus on the final project of the Graphics course: The Exam Project

My chosen brief is Book Jackets. By the end of this project, I would have created a series (at least 3) book covers for three of George Orwell's books: "1984", "Animal Farm" and "The clergyman's daughter". Over the duration of this project, I will analyse other artists/designers who have made book jackets and their techniques so that I could use them in making my final outcomes. I will also do a series of experiments, including observational drawings and digital techniques.