Design a boring book!
Can you put your audience to sleep?
I’d like you to try.
Design the cover of a book that you’d keep near your bed to read and fall asleep. Bland. Benign. Unengaging. Your assignment is to not arouse the reader in any way. No thought-provoking titles, no glorious colors, no gripping images, no edgy layouts. The opposite, in fact.
Can you do it?
Your cover will require:
1) A title. Subtitle is optional
2) Photo or illustration
3) “Author’s” name
Size is not important. I’m using 5?x 7?, so you may as well stick with that.
You’ll have to deal with five elements: type, color, image, layout — plus what the words actually say. Your cover must include every element.
There’s a tongue-in-cheek quality to this, so have fun with it (which does not mean make it funny, because that would be arousing). Here’s an example to get you started:
Post your cover(s) in our new Graphic Design Tips & Tricks group. You’ll have to join first. I’ll be selecting a few for critique and comment. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Media Communications freelancer
6 年I keep coming back and thinking about this challenge because it is so fun. And so when I came across this story in Adweek's newsletter today about IKEA's "Sleepiest Print Ad Ever" I thought I would share the link just for fun. Since it adds white noise, maybe there will be a version of this challenge one day that will deal with digital non-static covers. https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/ikea-created-the-sleepiest-print-ad-ever-complete-with-scented-ink-and-white-noise/
Agro Designer
7 年Hi, this is my book cover redesign using Vienna Secession Style of the Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo. I have been watching Graphic Design Tips & Tricks at Lynda.com, and I was wondering if can I have some critiques of my design. Thank you so much for the attention!
Partner at Christopher John/The Printworks Inc. - CJPW
8 年Sorry but must change course here ... John -- been emailing Before&After for months, no response. Was a subscriber for years until .... nothing. Please advise what happened? Loved every issue, was a boon for my design searches ... hope you are well!
Your Multilingual Clarity Consultant for visual and verbal communication
8 年Indeed interesting. I remember you posted a similar idea with B&A some years ago and I followed it with great interest. Will do so now too. Won't manage this time to come up with a design myself.
Teacher and Designer at Clark County
8 年John, I think you broke one of the rules on your example (funny=stimulating). I laughed as soon as I saw your cover!