The objectives of this project include
• Create meaningful visual contents that make emotional connections and result in a deeper engagement with the audience.
• Promote and strengthen visual thinking and image generation as integral parts of the design process
• Acquire skills in using the elements of design and in applying the principles of design
• Acquire skills in composition, typographic design, image manipulation, and creative problem solving.

Problem Statement

You will design three cover options for a book, which is the collection of poems by your favorite poet. The cover should focus on one poem of your chosen. All three covers need to convey the meaning of the poem, but with different art directions.

Constraints/requirements

The book dimensions 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″. Full bleed and Full color are available options.
• Any image used on the cover and back cover (extra credit) should be your original artwork. You may base on an existing photography or artwork for one of the required three book covers, but don’t use it as it was. You need to modify it to a degree that it become your own. You may use the photography of the poet on the back cover.
• Three different approaches to the cover, not three variations of the same concept.
• There are no constraints as to the typography selections, but any type solution should convey the meaning of the poem and be appropriate for your concept.
• The working title of the book is the title of the chosen poem. The name of the poet also needs to be on the cover. You may add “a selection of poems by” etc.
• The logo of the publisher (you may use the existing publishers’ logo) should appear on the spine and back cover (extra credit) and can be used on the cover if the designer wishes.
• Less is More

Process

Document your process and upload/pin all the materials (include the final designs) onto your Project 2 Pinterest board.

Step 1 Choose the poem and conduct research
Identification and research on the poet chosen (One-two paragraphs)

Study the chosen poem — underline the key event and write in notes of things that come to your mind while reading; write out a list of words associated with some of the main themes of the poem.

Conduct a competitive study on the selected poem and related topics. Analyze existing book cover or visual representation of your poem or any work of the poet. If you can not find any, then look for what has been done for the similar topic. Then write a brief overview.
Reference:
1. “How to Write a Competitive Analysis for Your Small Business (With Template)”
2. Katherine Beutner’s competitive Analysis

Write your design brief to summarize your competitive study and state your concept. You may submit design brief and competitive analysis as two separate docuements.

Collect/pin inspiring book cover designs (minimum of twenty designs) and write down your comments for each pin.

Step 2 Sketch out ideas
Sketch out your ideas by hand on paper or on screen. A minimum of fifteen sketches are required. Conduct a font study to help you select the appropriate typeface.

Step 3 Create your image
Explore different techniques, media, styles, materials appropriate to the poem. Try at least four different ways to create the images.

Step 4 Create roughs on computer
You shall select two ideas for each cover to implement them using Adobe InDesign.

Step 5 Refine your final designs and print
Select the three most promising roughs for further refinement. Save your final designs with cropping marks in pdf format. Print on quality white paper and trim out neatly. Mounting instruction is under “Deliverable”.

Deliverable

1. Pinterest Board with all the required materials
Research study on the chosen poet and poem, competitive study, design brief, book cover design research, sketches, documented imagemaking process, type study, roughs and refinement, final designs, and any other materials you have created for this project.

2. Mount your designs on 15″x20″ black boards
Write down your name, course number, and project name on the back of the mat board.

2a. Three front covers
Mount three front cover designs on one 15″x20″ black board.

2b. Two front covers and one complete book cover (Extra Credit: spine and back cover included)
Mount the two front covers on one black board. Mount the complete book cover design (Spine and back cover included) on another 15″x20″ black mat board.

2c. Three complete book covers (Extra Credit: spine and back cover included)
Mount each of the complete book cover (spine and back cover included) on a 15″x20″ black board.

Due: Thursday, March 5th (at the beginning of the class)

Grading

The project is evaluated based on process, design execution, and presentation.

Design process: 35 Points

Step 1 Research(5 points)
Development of image (10), sketches (10), roughs, laser prints, etc. (10)

Execution: (15 points per cover) 45 Points

Presentation/Craft: Process board & final designs 20 Points

Total: 100 points

Bonus: 10 points

Don’t forget about these design principles

* Cover design by Peter Mendelsund