Since we are knee-deep in designing our photo books, I thought it would be àpropos to include a link to a site I learned about in another class called, The Book Cover Archive. Though we are still a ways from finalizing cover designs, it never hurts to start getting inspiration. After spending far too long browsing the homepage of The Book Cover Archive, I came upon a graphic designer I wanted to look a little more into for inspiration: Rodrigo Corral. The first design I noticed of his was actually one he Art Directed, The Musician’s Handbook.
First of all, I was drawn to the black, white and yellow. Secondly, I was drawn to the familiar Billboard Chart and, since knowing it was a book and not a magazine, etc., it piqued my interest. What is this book about? That is the sign of a good book over, aside from general aesthetics: does it pique your interest? Do you want to pick it up?
Rodrigo Corral’s work is mostly bold colors and well-chosen imagery. He does a great job picking one main element to do most of the “talking.” This following book, which everyone knows, A Million Little Pieces, is an example of that. It is such a clever, quick, and simple way to show “a million little pieces.”
Or, in the case of the following book, Look Both Ways, Corral ties two elements together to convey, appropriately, the link between art and words.
I particularly like his use of color and/or negative space. For example, in this book series, The Best Creative NonFiction; Volumes 1, 2, and 3, he cleverly uses the same four colors that give a nice overall design to the series. I really like that the colors are bold, yet simply placed on white backgrounds in, relatively, elementary fashion.
Another favorite of mine, in the same vein, is the following book, No Longer Human. I like, for one, his use of pink, black, and white: colors which, often, are not very “human” (and just look great together) and, for another, the simple and elegant shape he uses as the only element on the cover. The shape does not look outwardly like a human, but since the title of the book is “No Longer Human,” it suggests that maybe it is a human after all. Genius.
Overall with book covers, I find myself drawn toward designs that are simple in concept and executed in a way that catches your eye. I believe Corral’s designs do just that. I’ll leave you with a half a dozen more of Rodrigo Corral’s covers. Enjoy.
