There have been many truly iconic book covers over the years.
Here are just a few of my favourites:
“To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee.
“The Godfather”, by Mario Puzo.
“The Hobbit”, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
“Jaws”, by Peter Benchley.
“Jurassic Park”, Michael Crichton.
Whether it’s the crooked tree on the cover of “Mockingbird”, or the menacing image of the shark beneath the lone swimmer of “Jaws”, a striking cover definitely catches the eye.
It’s not only the use of imagery that makes a it stand out, but also the use of colours and typography, too.
Together, they combine to promote and ultimately sell a book to the reader.
The Fiction Design
The same approach applies to fiction in the “Friend”, too.
Our talented Design team makes sure each story intro has its own identity, with the colours chosen complementing the accompanying illustration.
Also, the shape of an illustration will affect the positioning of a story title and write-up on the page.
Write-ups will always be unique to a particular story, written to draw the reader in and encourage them to read on.
The words chosen for the title will have an impact, too.
The title has to complement the illustration. For example, there may be rainbows aplenty in a story, but if one isn’t shown in the illustration then there’s a good chance it won’t make appear in the final title.
My favourite layouts are for our “cosy crime” long reads. The portrait design resembles a book cover, with the illustration spanning an entire page.
This often makes for a stunning effect, highlighting an array of colours and moods.
Before they see a word, the reader can form an instant impression of a “Friend” story’s visual identity.
And it’s our hope that the designs will enhance the reading experience, just like all those iconic book covers do.
Did you know the team also review their favourite books and latest reads? Take a look here — you might see something you like!
Alan Spink I am a member of the “Friend” Fiction Team. I enjoy working closely with writers and being part of the creative process, which sees storytelling ideas come to fruition. A keen reader, I also write fiction and enjoy watching football and movies in my spare time. My one tip to new writers is “write from your imagination”.
