I started looking for inspiration and for some possible trends within the winners cover designs from previous years. There are a range of responses ranging from very typographically focused entries to more illustrative styles, which were typically for the more children orientated books. For the first three I do include the responses from judges that were available on the website, to enhance my understanding of what it is in particularly they appreciate and are drawn to (the two in red are judges again this year for the 'In Cold Blood' cover, so I can consider this with my research on the judges)
Explanation of Work
- Decided to focus on the language famously used by Anthony Burgess in his novel.
- Picked out words from the language which relate to the themes in the book and illustrated this on the cover using a typographic style which relates to the dystopian future setting of the book.
Judges’ Comments
‘I was immediately drawn to the clever idea of using the language as the only device on the cover’ Alexandra Shulman
‘With so much symbolism and iconography attached to the story it is refreshing to see an approach that looks at the book in a different way’ Richard Bravery – Senior Designer, Penguin General Books
‘We loved how this brought Burgess’s remarkable language onto the front of the cover. It’s a clever, intellectual solution and that seems right for this book. Also a fantastic piece of design’ Joanna Prior – Managing Director, Penguin General Books
‘So good to see a typographical solution, almost the only one submitted - I love the simple confidence of the design and typography’ Jim Stoddart – Art Director, Penguin Press
Explanation of Work
"Caitlin Moran is taking definitions of feminism that exist today and starting a new conversation about being a woman that needs to be had. I wanted this cover to reflect what the book represents as a whole, as Moran shares her fresh take on what has begun to feel like a dated and overlooked topic.
‘Pure, clean and very impactful’ Jason Smith – Art Director, Cornerstone
‘Zachary has produced a very confident package which is influenced by classic design but feels cool and relevant’ Richard Ogle – Art Director, Transworld
‘I love the confidence and assertiveness of this design, it looks like it really means business’ Tracey Thorn
Explanation of Work
- Being a woman is expensive. Bras, tampons, razors, handbags, childcare and Brazilian waxes are just a handful of necessities.
‘Very clever, graphic and visually appealing design, makes me want to pick it up and take a closer look. Clean design with a great sense of humour’ Jason Smith – Art Director, Cornerstone
‘A very simple, smart idea which looks confident and assured but allows for the message of the book, laced with some humour, to shine through’ Richard Ogle – Art Director, Transworld
Caitlin Moran’s comment
‘A thrillingly punchy runner-up - I’m going to be honest with you, darling - you could sell this idea TOMORROW. Seriously. Let’s face it - there are BILLIONS of chatty books about modern feminism now, and your design would elevate any of them to the top rank. Perfect visual explanation of the cost of sexism, AND it looks brilliant. LOVELY turquoise. You have triumphed here love’
- A perfect illustrative cover, which nicely fits across the spread with regards to the spine.
- An amazing modern design with a completely different feel to it compared to its competitors. Would definitely catch the attention of the judges
- The cover on the left considers the history of Penguin's covers whilst still proposing something more fresh. This one and all the samples beneath show how the design for the children's fiction book category is widely filled with this quite illustrative and playful approach which isn't a style I tend to attempt...
Judges’ Comments‘I was immediately drawn to the clever idea of using the language as the only device on the cover’ Alexandra Shulman
‘With so much symbolism and iconography attached to the story it is refreshing to see an approach that looks at the book in a different way’ Richard Bravery – Senior Designer, Penguin General Books
‘We loved how this brought Burgess’s remarkable language onto the front of the cover. It’s a clever, intellectual solution and that seems right for this book. Also a fantastic piece of design’ Joanna Prior – Managing Director, Penguin General Books
‘So good to see a typographical solution, almost the only one submitted - I love the simple confidence of the design and typography’ Jim Stoddart – Art Director, Penguin Press
Adult Non-Fiction 1st Place -
Explanation of Work
"Caitlin Moran is taking definitions of feminism that exist today and starting a new conversation about being a woman that needs to be had. I wanted this cover to reflect what the book represents as a whole, as Moran shares her fresh take on what has begun to feel like a dated and overlooked topic.
This new cover pulls design elements from feminist non-fiction novels of the 1970s and 80s but looks as though Moran took her own pen to it and pulled out everything we didn't know that we needed to know about it."
Judges’ Comments
‘It’s as if Caitlin herself, had taken a pen and underlined the most important words and phrases. Bold, clean and refreshingly simple’ Suzanne Dean – Art Director, Vintage
Judges’ Comments
‘It’s as if Caitlin herself, had taken a pen and underlined the most important words and phrases. Bold, clean and refreshingly simple’ Suzanne Dean – Art Director, Vintage
‘Pure, clean and very impactful’ Jason Smith – Art Director, Cornerstone
‘Zachary has produced a very confident package which is influenced by classic design but feels cool and relevant’ Richard Ogle – Art Director, Transworld
‘I love the confidence and assertiveness of this design, it looks like it really means business’ Tracey Thorn
Adult Non-Fiction 2nd Place -
Explanation of Work
- Being a woman is expensive. Bras, tampons, razors, handbags, childcare and Brazilian waxes are just a handful of necessities.
- This inspired the design response – a receipt disclosing an assortment of items that foreshadow the contents of the book. While this stays true to the purchases of Caitlin and that of modern women in general, it also hints at the gender stereotype of shopping to represent the book’s feminist themes. I then played with the visual language of the receipt to ensure it is humorous, connoting that the book is often very funny."
Judges’ Comments
‘It reflects the content/vibe of Caitlin Moran's book perfectly. It made me laugh and visually it's intriguing. I can imagine myself picking up this book curious to read what is on the receipt. And I would be glad that I had as I think it's super fun and cleverly done. You get a good laugh in before you even open the book which does justice to Moran's witty and fun novel’ Sanna Annukka
Judges’ Comments
‘It reflects the content/vibe of Caitlin Moran's book perfectly. It made me laugh and visually it's intriguing. I can imagine myself picking up this book curious to read what is on the receipt. And I would be glad that I had as I think it's super fun and cleverly done. You get a good laugh in before you even open the book which does justice to Moran's witty and fun novel’ Sanna Annukka
‘Very clever, graphic and visually appealing design, makes me want to pick it up and take a closer look. Clean design with a great sense of humour’ Jason Smith – Art Director, Cornerstone
‘A very simple, smart idea which looks confident and assured but allows for the message of the book, laced with some humour, to shine through’ Richard Ogle – Art Director, Transworld
Caitlin Moran’s comment
‘A thrillingly punchy runner-up - I’m going to be honest with you, darling - you could sell this idea TOMORROW. Seriously. Let’s face it - there are BILLIONS of chatty books about modern feminism now, and your design would elevate any of them to the top rank. Perfect visual explanation of the cost of sexism, AND it looks brilliant. LOVELY turquoise. You have triumphed here love’
More Examples of Previous Winners which I can consider and be inspired by..
- What feels a very basic layout in terms of Graphic Design has actually proven very successful. The simplicity of reflecting the labels that get plastered on women nowadays is enough of a justification to make this cover work very effectively for the judges.
- A beautiful cover design which really makes the most of collage design in conjunction with nice coloured geometric layout and clean typography.
- A perfect illustrative cover, which nicely fits across the spread with regards to the spine.
- The cover on the left considers the history of Penguin's covers whilst still proposing something more fresh. This one and all the samples beneath show how the design for the children's fiction book category is widely filled with this quite illustrative and playful approach which isn't a style I tend to attempt...
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