Do you have a book jacket that you prefer above all others? Take a moment to consider this question. If your response is yes, what’s the motivation behind your choice? Are you drawn to the typography or the color combinations? How do you feel about the artwork and the overall tone of the designer’s creative choices? When shopping for a book, does the cover design play a part in your purchasing decision-making process? Now, review the expression
you can’t judge a book by its cover
do you think this quotation rings true for you?
Before I go to sleep at night, my eyes settle on the pile of books stacked against the wall closest to my bed. Every night I am drawn to the same publication-Transcendent Kingdom. This particular hardcover was composed by one of my favorite female authors, Yaa Gyasi.
Gyasi’s cover art is sublime. The illuminated jacket illustration is based on a photograph by Jose Luis Pelaez. Designer Kelly Blair’s book cover purveys simple elegance. I am fond of Blair’s use of contrasting pink and black hues. Her bold gold typeface hints at prosperity. In a similar fashion, Blair’s deckled edges provide the illusion of superior craftsmanship. Categorically, Kelly Blair’s book cover beautifully accentuates Yaa Gyasi’s eloquent narrative.
Below you will find a montage of artistically rendered book covers. Do they appeal to you? Which one resonates with you the most? If you had to pick a cover that visually corresponds with the author’s title which option would you choose? Is there an extraordinary book cover that you would like to share from your collection? Feel free to post a thumbnail, or reveal the title of your favorite book jacket in my comments section.
