final crit

Here is the final book cover design which was presented in a group crit. 

The design aims to communicate the disorganised nature of a diary, through collaging items that are notable to extracts in the book for example the toilet paper, safety pins and corn flakes and also using handwritten type to provide the cover with personality and to mimic the way Adrian would write in the diary. Primary colours have been used to ensure the book appeals to a wide audience, further to this red has been used for the title drawing from Adrian’s choice of socks within the book. 

The notes i got given from the crit were for miner adjustments to the design such as lowering the opacity of the last part of the blurb, or slightly adjusting the positioning of type, other than that the feedback i received was overall very positive. 

One suggestion mentioned adding some cornflakes from the back cover to the front as the judges see the front cover first - i will do this. 

Another comment was that there should be illustration on the front cover where there is space on the toilet paper; i disagree with this, adding more illustrative elements will make the cover too chaotic, and apparently quite a few other people did too...

Another note was that the authors name on the spine is too faded- i will adjust the opacity and ensure it's visable. 

Feedback based on the requirements: 

imaginative concept + original interpretation? - 

"individual because it's original" 

"enticing and interesting" 

competently executed with strong use of typography?- 

"handwriting style is really effective" 

"professional // really clean" 

"love this typeface" (one used for 'the secret diary'

"collage nature works really well" 

"love this element, sets your design apart from the others" (talking about corn flakes) 

"everything works so well together, really well executed"

"perfect type choice" 

appeal to the broadest possible audience for the book?-

" aimed at the right age range as it isn't too childish" 

"i would buy this book based on the cover" (19 year old) 

requirements not discussed in crit: 

• show a good understanding of the marketplace
• have a point of difference from other books that it will be competing against in the market
• be able to sit on the shelves of a supermarket or ebook store as easily as it sits on those of more traditional bookshops 

Having looked at existing covers i believe i've created a design which is appropriate for todays readership whilst also looking like it belongs within the expected genre; due to the use of illustration and hand drawn type, along with the light use of colours.

The collage approach i took is something that i haven't seen done before, but i believed it would be an effective yet contemporary way of indicating the style of the book whilst not being cliche. 

The fact that the cover is made by hand makes it appropriate for traditional bookshops where as the use of light colours makes it quite a commercial cover which would work well in a supermarket, with the bright colours standing out on the shelf. 

Adjustments i will make before submission; 

move the barcode 

add cereal on the front 

make 'Sue Townsend' more visible