Studio Brief 2 - Research 1

After coming up with what I wanted the book to be about (information wise), I've research different front covers and double page spreads, which are designed in the style/theme in which I'm designing my book on. My book will be about dangerous cults. With this in mind my book cover and layouts will be designed to convey an eerie, scary and sinister style.

Below are some examples that uses the same eerie style.

What i love about this spread is the text on the far left. Having a small column with text opens up the page a lot. Having a lot of negative space makes for an uneasy sensation. It also looks as if the page is overlaying and covering the information. The negative space also helps focus the users attention onto the right hand side with the image. The black and white image makes the whole spread work together. If the image was in full colour then the whole eerie visage would be lose. Overall the technique with the small column of text is one I'd hope to use in some manner within my book.

I love the vintage look of this book. First of the stock looks very vintage and worn out. The tea stained/slight ting of yellow helps to portray the book as old, worn out and ancient, which is an aspect I will need to apply to my book to give it a bible look and feel. I especially love how wide the margins are. Having wide margins remind me of the bible or any ancient scripts or manuals. I also really like how the image breaks out of the margin, giving the image importance in hierarchy. Overall I love this layout, it works wonders and conveys the look and feel which I'm looking for.

The front cover of a book called 'Mount eerie' from the outside it looks pretty plain. However in contrast the typeface is grotesque, sinister and scary looking. Having this effect on a plain background, makes the typeface stand out and gives it breathing space as anything else in the background could clash and be to overpowering. From just the image of the book, the inside pages of the book looks incredible. The look very energetic and vibrant. The colour choices of reds, greens and dark colours are a perfect match for a book like this.

The binding method of this book 'perfect bound' is the right choice, as it communicates an old fashioned style.

One of my favourite book designs I've came across. Everything about it, from the typeface, layout, grid, stock and cover jacket are all features which would work great within my book. The stock of the book has been ripped which adds a sinister feel of a scrap book. Stock colour is also an off white, this shows ware and tare along with the rips. Type face looks to be typewriter and this use of typeface only strengthened the link between the stock choice and layout. Typewriter gives the feeling of a personal touch.

Jacket adds a decorative feel. Old fashion but still connects with every other aspect of the book.

This book reminds me of a case file or a secretive area 51 documents. Typeface is typewriter. That's the kind of feel and look i want for my body copy. I want my book to look as if it's a secret documents typed on the typewriter and this book showcases a perfect example of that. The Images on the right, is a post-modern layout which breaks the boundaries of the grid. 

This double page spread design is very creepy and eerie. What i love about this design is this black mark/texture in the middle of the double page. It's this marking that requires your attention. drawing your eye and demanding your attention almost like an illusion. The more you look at the blackness the bigger and stranger it becomes. This is perfect to make the user uneasy and uncomfortable.

Really nice front cover. off-centered typesetting, one of the effects that I'm thinking of using within my book. Using text that is off centre and not straight creates the feeling of uncertainty and danger and could play with peoples emotions, especially with the blood mark on the top corner. the book also looks rushed, unfinished and created by someone who was inexperienced, which all adds to the effect. Again typewriter is the chosen font, due to it's sinister nature and personal connection. 

Simple layout but still very effective. The reason i like this book is because the simplistic nature of the stock and the negative space working together. Limiting information but ends up leaving the rest of the space for your imagination to make up the rest of the story.

Post-modern style layout. great to use this style to show movement and energy. As my book will be quite graphic in some parts i can use a post-modern feel to emphasise the type section in conjunction with the images. The blood on this layout works extremely well with the stock and it demands your attention, something which is really effect in order to show hierarchy.