In the digital space I've been looking at a lot of trends too re your these seem recent comment. And there is this resurgence of the 90s/early ots design, ugly maximalist, and some trends I even see be called "anti-design" design. (Digital dada resurgence?!?!? This art history nerd can't help but wonder)
Honestly kinda here for all of it. I'm tired of the pre 2020 design trends of minimalism, bring on the contruscted chaos!
I liked pondering all these examples. Thanks for gathering them. Related to your third footnote, do sales relate to how often a book cover changes over time? Like a series of experiments? If it’s “too ugly,” they will commission a new cover to basically try again?
Even when a book cover isn’t “ugly,” there’s often a new design for the paperback. To my knowledge this is usually about sales—maybe the hardcover didn’t sell great, or maybe even if it did, the publisher might want to rejuvenate sales by making the paperback look new and fresh.
Later redesigns happen if a book has been around and in print long enough. Often an author’s catalog will get “repackaged” so that they all look like a series.
While it’s not an ugly cover per se, I’d say the most unusual I have is Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. It aligns very well with the story though so I like it.
Well, you did a good job of explaining why I find book design so bad that I regularly go to ebay to buy old books. The idea that a designer’s job is to convey an IDEA represents, to me, a lack of faith in design. Beauty is not enough in this philosophy of design; it must be redeemed by the idea. It’s just a trickle down effect of the academic, political attack on aesthetics. To me it’s as passé as Dada.
Thanks for elaborating! I really appreciate your take here. I don’t know if I agree or disagree—I think it might depend on the book—but you’ve given me lots to think about.
I liked your post, though, Nathaniel. I really did. It got me thinking too. I just wonder if design, like many occupations now, serves the designer. After all, these are all cool to talk about in an interviewer, when one is trying to sell oneself as a designer, but the public—I don’t know if they are well served by it. Anyway, I’ll look forward to more of your writing. It’s clear and to the point.
Thanks Chris, I really appreciate that. Especially since I’m trying to explore different aspects of books and design without being dogmatic. One thing I can agree on is that good design is often getting out of the way—but you’re right, that doesn’t happen much in cover design (interior is another story).
You may appreciate my recent post about whether or not book covers matter. At any rate, thanks for reading and providing food for thought!
More more more!!!
In the digital space I've been looking at a lot of trends too re your these seem recent comment. And there is this resurgence of the 90s/early ots design, ugly maximalist, and some trends I even see be called "anti-design" design. (Digital dada resurgence?!?!? This art history nerd can't help but wonder)
Honestly kinda here for all of it. I'm tired of the pre 2020 design trends of minimalism, bring on the contruscted chaos!
I liked pondering all these examples. Thanks for gathering them. Related to your third footnote, do sales relate to how often a book cover changes over time? Like a series of experiments? If it’s “too ugly,” they will commission a new cover to basically try again?
Even when a book cover isn’t “ugly,” there’s often a new design for the paperback. To my knowledge this is usually about sales—maybe the hardcover didn’t sell great, or maybe even if it did, the publisher might want to rejuvenate sales by making the paperback look new and fresh.
Later redesigns happen if a book has been around and in print long enough. Often an author’s catalog will get “repackaged” so that they all look like a series.
Gotcha. Thank you!
Such a fan of all of these. Thanks for putting this together! Gonna share with my students :)
Well that just made my day 🙂 but don’t blame me when you get a 1000% increase in projects with Comic Sans.
Thanks for reading!
I’m interested to know if certain ugly covers *attract* more readers than maybe the text itself would pull.
I’m sure that’s true! It probably depends on the reader. There are lots of different reasons to use an “ugly” cover, too.
While it’s not an ugly cover per se, I’d say the most unusual I have is Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. It aligns very well with the story though so I like it.
I LOVE that cover! But I haven’t read the book. Adding it to my list
Cleverness. Sigh.
Not a fan, I take it?
Well, you did a good job of explaining why I find book design so bad that I regularly go to ebay to buy old books. The idea that a designer’s job is to convey an IDEA represents, to me, a lack of faith in design. Beauty is not enough in this philosophy of design; it must be redeemed by the idea. It’s just a trickle down effect of the academic, political attack on aesthetics. To me it’s as passé as Dada.
Thanks for elaborating! I really appreciate your take here. I don’t know if I agree or disagree—I think it might depend on the book—but you’ve given me lots to think about.
I liked your post, though, Nathaniel. I really did. It got me thinking too. I just wonder if design, like many occupations now, serves the designer. After all, these are all cool to talk about in an interviewer, when one is trying to sell oneself as a designer, but the public—I don’t know if they are well served by it. Anyway, I’ll look forward to more of your writing. It’s clear and to the point.
Thanks Chris, I really appreciate that. Especially since I’m trying to explore different aspects of books and design without being dogmatic. One thing I can agree on is that good design is often getting out of the way—but you’re right, that doesn’t happen much in cover design (interior is another story).
You may appreciate my recent post about whether or not book covers matter. At any rate, thanks for reading and providing food for thought!