THE RENTED
ROOM
The cover of a novel is just as important as the text. It is the first thing the reader sees. It has to draw them in. Get them interested.
Module
Think
Weeks
1 - 3
BRIEF
The outcome for this brief was to create a jacket cover for the novel, The Rented Room, written by Emile Elliot.The brief included the synopsis of the book to which I pulled out all of the important information and adjectives that describe the tone of the book. This helps me when coming to brainstorming because it helps to create an image.
I had never designed a cover for a novel before, but I have created multiple covers for design books such as two Studio Journals, a Graphic Design Manual and my 10 Graphic Designers book from past modules. However, those covers were simple and didn’t have a design on them, only the titles for the books. So, when I received this brief, I was excited.
RESEARCH
Jim Stoddart
Jack Smyth
Jim Stoddart has been the Art Director at Penguin books since 2001, and is responsible for design in the Penguin Press division. I initially decided to research him because the novel I am designing for, if real, would be published by Penguin Books. But looking into him, I came to like his style and technique. Because I want to design an abstract cover, I believed his work would be great to pull inspiration from.
Jack Smyth is a Freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator based in Dublin, Ireland. I have admired his work for some time now as he can be both abstract and literal. I find it difficult to be abstract and overthink too much. So his abstract work inspires me greatly. His work also features experimental typography. His creative use of typography will help me when it comes to the title and information on the novel cover as I don’t want it to become an afterthought and become forgotten.
EXPERIMENTAION
Initial Ideas
These were my initial ideas that I sketched out. My first plan when reading the brief was to have the apartment door as the main focus, as it will be in the centre of the design. The door will be open, revealing the dark, derelict inside, where you can see the cracks in the walls and the secret note. I wanted to play with the shadows in beyond the door because the only light will come from the outside flooding in. I didn’t have a plan for the outside of the door but I knew it shouldnt take away from the main subject.
Experiments
I decided to start experimenting with mark making digitally. I mixed using a pencil tool and then the blend tool. I did this to bring an eerie and haunting feeling to come to life. I was also inspired by “an aged scrap of paper peeps out a crack in the wall”. This was achievable, not only by the marks, but by the colours, yellow, greens and blues as well as the blacks and greys.
DEVELOPMENT
I started out with a sketch.
I wanted to continue with the sketched look along with the old paper.
Furthermore I continued to soften the pencil strokes with a blender tool to create an eerie, dreamlike feeling.
I continued to play around with different pencils and then decided to experiment with brush strokes as I think it looks more finished. I also decided to include the shadows on the walls from old picture frames, from the synopsis.
I added more shadows for added depth and to make it seem more unsettling.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
I played around with different layouts. I didn’t want the image I had designed to be hidden too much by the text and logo. So, I decided to put the title, author and logo on the lower half of the page.
I also decided to play around with the typography. I wanted it to stand out against the dark design. So, I went for orange as it contrasts well. I experimented with different filters and effects for the type, including drop shadow, inner glow, bevel and imboss, and satin.
Also on the front cover, I decided to add a quote from the daily mail to further authenticate the book.
On the back cover, I decided to go simple with only white typography.
On the spine, I kept the typography colours and effects from the front. I made it small enough to fit onto the small spine.
FINAL PIECE
EVALUATIVE SUMMARY
When initially receiving this brief i was excited as I hadn’t created a design for a novel before, only basic covers for my work from other trimesters such as Studio Journals, 10 Graphic Designers book, and a Graphic Design Manual.
This project started with an atmosphere in mind more than a clear image. I hadn’t given much thought to layout or what the cover would look like. The synopsis is the only piece of information we were given to pull from as the book doesn’t actually exist. So, when I started, I knew I wanted to capture a suffocating atmosphere that the synopsis describes.
Before I started designing, I researched artists and found inspiration from Jim Stoddart, who I looked into because he is the Art Director for Penguin Books. Though I enjoyed looking through his designs as they are simple yet effective. However, it was Jack Smyth that I think I pulled the most information from. His work is eerie and unsettling I struggle with abstraction, so having his work to reflect on was helpful.
I wanted to hint at the story’s tension without revealing too much. I wanted to emulate the physical decay of the room paired with the psychological unravelling the synopsis suggests. I did this by using muted tones and old, oily textures. Every element was used to reflect the novel’s claustrophobic mood, and maybe the characters sense of being watched, haunted and showing that they’ll be slowly consumed by the room.
The title ‘The Rented Room’ was an experiment. I had been playing with different filters and effects on Illustrator and thought the combination of drop shadow, inner glow, bevel and imbues and satin. I do like the look of the title, but stepping back and looking at the finished product, I think it looks out of place. I think the orange contrasts too much and it is all you see However, that being said, I do like the orange letters on the spine. I think it looks interesting, so that is why I decided to keep the orange on the front too.
Overall, I think my goal of grabbing the attention of the reader has been achieved, especially with the title being so bold. That is what you see first, then your eyes will be drawn to the haunting image behind. Looking back, I would’ve liked to put more effort into the back cover as I didn’t give it too much thought. I also think more research would’ve been beneficial especially when coming to balancing all elements and making them cohesive.