Additional info: Your design will be a full jacket, therefore you will need to create the front cover, the back cover, the spine, and the inside flaps to wrap around the book.
Requirements: You will need to illustrate one of the Gestalt Principles in your design. As part of your preliminary process, you should be exploring ideas for each of the principles through sketching. Your book cover should entice the reader. It should not give away the story. It should show something about the conflicts and struggles in the story.
As usual, you will need to use a formal design process
1. Research -- this is HUGE on this assignment. Start reading every possible thing about this book -- summaries, themes, analysis, conflicts, etc.
2. Brainstorming and sketching. Write down any possible avenue you could go down with these designs. Don't not include something because it seems far fetched. If it comes into your head, write it down. Then SKETCH.
3. Narrow down and start your design.
ABOUT USING OTHER PEOPLE'S IMAGES...
The Book Cover Process - One Artist's Creative MethodYou must CITE any images used. Below are some suggested practices for using artwork that is not your own. Alternatively, you may also use the classroom camera to take photographs of objects that you would like to incorporate into your design [Always the best idea!]
Suggested "best practices" for using the graphic artwork of others
Lincoln Cushing, Docs Populi, 11/30/2007
1. Admit that you are using preexisting art. This happens when you trace, scan, Web grab, or otherwise use someone else's distinctive or substantial design element into your own art. This is often rationalized, and can be a matter of interpretation and judgement. It's one thing to copy a line or a shape, it's another to wholesale lift an entire illustration and use it as your main image. When you do copy something, note where you found it - which URL or magazine article gave it up for you. One easy way to keep track of this information is to drop your citation into Photoshop's "File info."
2. Anticipate the exposure of the piece. Even if you are just making a neighborhood flyer or obscure blog entry, images can spread like wildfire these days. It's always the right thing to give credit when due.
3. Do your research. Where did the image come from? Determining this can often be quite difficult, and many artists (wrongly) assume that it's unknowable. But a little research can go a long way. Start with a few Google Image searches, using various terms that might bring up identical or related pictures. If that fails, turn to other design peers. A final step is to check with art historians - this can include art librarians, authors, and academics who are versed in the subject. An e-mailed attachment query to the right person will reveal who did it, when, and where.
4. Ask for permission. This is probably the hardest step, for many reasons - deadline, difficulty in reaching people, ego, legal concerns - but do it if possible. If what you are doing is respectful and appropriate, you will often find the other artist more than accommodating. Remember, we're a community.
5. Give specific credit on the final piece. This is important for all items, including ones that have drifted into that giant grab-bag we call the "public domain." Don't contribute to our own historical amnesia and cultural imperialism. Say something about where it's from. This can be as simple as a credit line at the bottom in small type.
