Conceptual Brief

As well as the brief for the cover of the book, we were also given a second brief to design a book giving an indication of what the book was about. This brief was more difficult than the first as firstly you had to balance time for both briefs and you also had to concentrate on something quite different to the first brief. It took me a while to come up with an idea. After going back on my research I found that the 19th century was the time when oriental culture was introduced to Europe. Instead of focusing on the art of this culture I looked at the more darker aspects (as Jane Eyre is very dark in places). I found that the chinese used to torture their wrong-doers with sharpned bamboo through their hands. I thought about using something like this in the project and replaced the single bamboo with a bed of toothpicks. Between the toothpicks themselves is something intruiging. To reach it, the viewer must reach through the bed to get to the object. they know what they are doing, it is not forced on them. This is exactly what happens in Jane Eyre itself, both Rochester and Jane hurt themselves to get to something that they want.

Graphics Final Cut!

This is the final design for my book cover. I kept the previous versions to record my development of the concept. Jane is given a necklace from Rochester and she contemplates on whether she should wear it or not. This is because it will basically seal the deal with Rochester it is confirming that she is in fact his. There is a lot of danger with this, as Jane is independent and does not want to be restrained anymore in her life. This is why I chose a necklace of bombs.

This is the final design for my book cover. I have changed quite a lot about the cover, as I wasn't totally happy with it. I liked the concept, but not the picture and the bombs. So I decided to scrap the picture for another and I think it works better, as the darkness behind the figure emphasises the spark. I kept the font of the text but changed the colour to contrast with the background. For the back cover I decided to make it a neutral colour, like the skin on the front. I matched the text colours together with the front to make the cover flow better. For the spine I used a section of the picture. I liked how the chain splits the spine in two, and the spine itself is both light and dark. 

Here's the pigeon who keeps appearing on the windowsill of the graphics room..he was even bold enough to come in the window today and give us all a fright!

Just started using photoshop this weekend. Patience was needed in the bucketful by those who were showing me the different techniques (thanks guys by the way!) and its a wonder I wasn't shouted at! Bookcover making takes a long time for photoshop beginner!
Some of the covers I have made so far....

Week 2.. Brief No. 2

This week we got the second brief of our vis/com ranking project. Using the research we complied from the week before, we have to design a book cover for chosen books. This means drawing up thumbnails of our ideas with the intention of developing then further down the line.