OUGD503 - Studio Brief 1 - A Brief History of Time (4 Days) - Development

Development 

Cover Thumbnails 

To consider how each of the designs would work across the whole book cover thumbnails of layouts were created. 

Placing the images so that the dots aligned centrally on both back and front of the book would create balance and symmetry within the individual sides and as a whole design. This also would allow equal space above and below the circles to place text within the layout. 

It was considered that the text on the cover use the expansion typography designs as this would reflect the idea of the start of the universe and its end in a similar way to the narrative within the title and photography. Linking the two circles within the photographs with a line could make a physical link between the two reflecting the journey from one to another. Separating the authors name so it is above the circle makes it stand out more, no matter what the size, because of the use of negative space around it. Adding the caption 'The Phenomenal International bestseller' in a straight line creates distinction between the other shorter or shaped text on the cover. Placing this below the authors name allows it to stand out because of negative space and contrast between point sizes, as this will have to be smaller to fit it on one line. Putting the caption below the title stands out because of the contrasting line lengths. The spine could reflect the idea of expansion through a larger point size title and smaller authors name. The progression through time could be created using serif and sans serif typefaces to evoke a sense of contrast like suggested for the cover. Adding the lights from the images onto the spine at the top and bottom would continue the same narrative onto this part of the cover. Placing the 'big bang' image a the top and the 'black hole' at the bottom will mean that it will be seen with the text inn the correct order. 

For the string theory design it was considered that the type would be set to reflect the lines within the imagery for the cover. Text would be positioned in between the lines so that it filled the negative space. Left and right orientating would reflect how the lines in the imagery come in from either sides of the book. 

The light painting design based on string theory would have text on the cover follow the lines of the lights. On the back the blurb would be positioned within the gap between the lines allowing all the content to be fit within the area. This description would be too long to fit on one of the lines within the image.

Typeface Choices and Thoughts for each design

Scanned String theory design

Within the design the 'strings' are quite thin in places reflecting the idea of the 'strings' being filaments. To complement this within the typography a light typeface could be used to reflect the idea of strings. Also a narrow typeface would also work well in creating the idea of thinness within the design.

'From the Big Bang to Black Holes' light photography design

Within this design the idea plays with the concept of chronologies which is seen within the book and more specifically the title 'from the big bang to black holes'. To reflect the idea of history a serif could be used within the title and combined with a sans serif to reflect the modern theories within the book. Setting the type so that its spread out within negative space will reflect the concept of it floating within the universe. Using small point sizes would reflect how the universe started out as a small point in the same way black holes are small in comparison to the universe they sit within. 

String Theory Light Painting  

The design means that type will be adapted to follow the lines of the light painting. There could be contrast between small and larger point sizes to enhance a sense of perspective within the design. To create a hierarchy between two typefaces both bold and regular typefaces would be used. Also using a mix of uppercase and lowercase type would help create distinction within the hierarchy. 

Development 

From the initial starting point it was decided from the thumbnails that placing the authors names at the top of the cover would create a sense of space around it making it stand out. Making the authors name and first half of the title white allows these to stand out the most however the title is still the most important in the hierarchy which is reflected in its size. Placing the caption above the the authors name allows the line length to reduce from the top, this combined with the shape of the title draws the eye into the 'big bang' image. 

On both the front and backcovers less important information uses a colour taken from the images. This allows the text to subtly reflect an aspect of the image and allows these bits of text the be visible however not dominant within the hierarchy. 

The blurb has been shaped to reflect the title shape creating continuity within the design. The spine replicates the use of serif and sans serif typefaces as seen on the cover to reflect the idea of a historical chronology.

The bottom quote on the back cover was adapted the create a more pyramid shaped text block reflecting the other captions and quotes on both the front and back covers and allowing the eye to be drawn towards the 'black hole'.

For the string theory light painting design another light painting image was used on the back cover to continue the complex, multi dimensional reflection of string theory. A solid black spine was considered as a way of contrasting with the brightness of the rest of the design.

The spine was adapted to add a white hazy section at the bottom which ties the spine in with the back and front covers, subtlety through the use of the glow which is seen in the other images. One of the reviews on the back cover was quite long so this had to be put over two line in order to fit within the light streak. The blurb is contained within a section of negative space as this would not have fit within a light streak. 

Text on the front cover was arranged in full lines to reflect the lines within the imagery.

The title was set all in a line however the use of two typefaces differentiates between the two halves of the title creating contrast in font and size. 

On the back it was considered that perhaps the blurb should have larger line spacing as a way of creating the impression of separate strands of lines rather than a block of text, to reflect the imagery.

Moving the barcode up means that it is able to fit between lines rather than overlapping them allowing it to match the placement of other text elements within the design. 

Making the authors name the same as the title rather than in capitals creates consistency within the design, as there were no other uppercase elements, as well as placing these two bits of information as equal in hierarchy. Dropping the second half of the title on to the line below and moving the line along separates the information more effectively whilst also reflecting the layout of line elements within the design, which come in at different sides. Adapting the blurb to justified text emphasises the idea of lines however creates problems with tracking between words on some lines. The line spacing within the blurb looks to spread out and doesn't fit with the rest of the text within the design.

Using white for the title, author and blurb allows these bits of information to stand out moving them to the top of the hierarchy. The use of the grey comes from the background images and allows the other content to be seen however suggests it is secondary to the white. Reducing the line spacing for the blurb and splitting the questions away from the rest of the blurb allows it to fit within the space provided. The questions at the beginning of the blurb are treated as a individual section however there closeness to the rest of the blurb suggest that they are connected. The spine typography reflects that of  the cover, whilst white and grey have been used to create contrast and a hierarchy. Point sizes for type at the same hierarchy level was made the same on both the front and back cover.

Three Covers for crit