Book Cover Critique Please?

Not necessarily abstract, just less literal. You only need to Google 'The Crucible Book' to see what I mean, sometimes things can be inferred by using right image.
I actually think the Crucible design is the least literal of the two. I looked at the Crucible theatre posters online, and most of them were figures hung from trees or girls dancing around a fire, I wanted to stay away from those sorts of things at the risk of copying.

The Private Lives design, I agree is very literal!

Anyway, thank you for your advice. Always appreciated.

I've decided to put this to one side now. I'll post any new versions if I revisit it. :)
 
I think I will put them on the back burner for now. They're not of great importance and I don't want to get into book illustration really. I just thought the more I could do, the better it looked to prospective employers; but if the works crap then what's the point? :ROFLMAO:

I'd rather stick to something I'm good at, rather than trying to branch out and failing.

Another quick question:
You said you wouldn't put anything in your portfolio if it's not a real job. Well, I have no choice but to put fictional businesses etc into my portfolio because I haven't gotten a job in design since leaving Uni yet. What do you suggest?

(I have a few old briefs from previous tutors that I'll be working on, but again, it would be fictitious)


I wouldn't necessarily scrap them - definitely improve them.

You should really just state that it is college work and projects that you worked on.
At this stage you won't be asked to do anything amazing - they just want to see if you have the basics.

If you don't have real work - then that's fine, we were all that soldier.

  • My first portfolio is filled with fictional work, as that's all I had, a toothpaste brand (with fully functioning mockup box made from normal paper). I had a poetry book that I asked a local poet could I design the book for him and he agreed, and sent me his poems.
  • One of my portfolio pieces was bending a logo around a packaging box, which they were impressed by, it was as simple photoshop technique.
  • Another was a textured leaf that I did in Photoshop using a tutorial from Photoshop Magazine.

I still have it - I should post screenshots of it - when I did it first I thought I was brilliant. But looking back - it's a pile of fire kindling. But got me my first job and showed I had the basics.

My portfolio demonstrated I had the knowledge of:
  1. Booklet making and imposition (as I had a poetry book)
  2. Keylines and die cutting shapes (toothpaste box)
  3. Using photoshop to manipulate images and create unique textures
  4. Illustrator to redraw logos/cartoon characters (I had a Captain America redraw from a comic, picture of comic, plus my redraw beside it)

Definitely book covers are needed - but not traditional novel/plays that publishing houses require. Annual reports, corporate brochures, etc.
Having the book covers would demonstrate your knowledge of how this works, incorporating the spine. But sometimes you have to be careful as there's a score on the front cover sometimes about 5 mm in - and a lot of people don't account for this and have text too tight to it which makes it look awkward.

Having a fictional one in your portfolio is ok - as long as you state it's fictional - it just demonstrates your knowledge and application.


For someone just starting out I'd prefer they have some practical finishing knowledge (how something is folded/printed/laminated/scored etc) than someone who didn't.
But I work exclusively in printing.


If I remember correctly, I split my portfolio into
Illustrator
Photoshop
Quark

And had demonstrations of techniques in each which showed I understood how to make vector graphics, creating keylines and vector manipulation - using photoshop, textures/filters etc. and manipulation - and using Quark for page layout, impositions, and other little things.


This gave my interviewers a clear look at the skills I had learned and understanding of print/design/production.
 
I wouldn't necessarily scrap them - definitely improve them.

You should really just state that it is college work and projects that you worked on.
At this stage you won't be asked to do anything amazing - they just want to see if you have the basics.

If you don't have real work - then that's fine, we were all that soldier.

  • My first portfolio is filled with fictional work, as that's all I had, a toothpaste brand (with fully functioning mockup box made from normal paper). I had a poetry book that I asked a local poet could I design the book for him and he agreed, and sent me his poems.
  • One of my portfolio pieces was bending a logo around a packaging box, which they were impressed by, it was as simple photoshop technique.
  • Another was a textured leaf that I did in Photoshop using a tutorial from Photoshop Magazine.

I still have it - I should post screenshots of it - when I did it first I thought I was brilliant. But looking back - it's a pile of fire kindling. But got me my first job and showed I had the basics.

My portfolio demonstrated I had the knowledge of:
  1. Booklet making and imposition (as I had a poetry book)
  2. Keylines and die cutting shapes (toothpaste box)
  3. Using photoshop to manipulate images and create unique textures
  4. Illustrator to redraw logos/cartoon characters (I had a Captain America redraw from a comic, picture of comic, plus my redraw beside it)

Definitely book covers are needed - but not traditional novel/plays that publishing houses require. Annual reports, corporate brochures, etc.
Having the book covers would demonstrate your knowledge of how this works, incorporating the spine. But sometimes you have to be careful as there's a score on the front cover sometimes about 5 mm in - and a lot of people don't account for this and have text too tight to it which makes it look awkward.

Having a fictional one in your portfolio is ok - as long as you state it's fictional - it just demonstrates your knowledge and application.


For someone just starting out I'd prefer they have some practical finishing knowledge (how something is folded/printed/laminated/scored etc) than someone who didn't.
But I work exclusively in printing.


If I remember correctly, I split my portfolio into
Illustrator
Photoshop
Quark

And had demonstrations of techniques in each which showed I understood how to make vector graphics, creating keylines and vector manipulation - using photoshop, textures/filters etc. and manipulation - and using Quark for page layout, impositions, and other little things.


This gave my interviewers a clear look at the skills I had learned and understanding of print/design/production.

Thank you, some good advice there. I'll definitely take on board what's been said today.

You should post the screen shots, would love to see them. I was looking back on some of my old work the other day, there's stuff I thought was amazing at the time, that now I see was horrendous! :LOL:

I have a few logos/branding projects I'm working on that I'd like you guys opinions on; will post them at some point this week! Look forward to hearing your views.

Thanks again
 
Hi Ajpeacockdesign,
The cover design is a big practice. However, mostly book covers are usually done by the publishing homes. You can't get the real experience until you work for that brand.
Moreover, to get more experience and skillset and for making your portfolio, you should design covers, flyers/signs, etc. Keep practicing pouring your best efforts and for the time being your surprising portfolio will get ready.

Thanks.
Naheedmir
 
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