Quote:
Originally Posted by Slite
@MoeJoe: Dude, do you EVER sleep? Seriously, whatwith all your own writing and doing artwork not only for yourself but for others as well...  |
Sleep? What is this weird thing you call sleep?
Back on topic:
The problem with most cover designs is, in most cases, that they try to show too much
Take these two LOTR ring covers.
The first is iconic, it uses the ring, simple circle centered on a black background to give you everything. The second is one of the laziest types of covers there are - the illustrated cover. This is basically just a painting with some text slapped on top. It's brother-in-arms, the photographic cover (shown below) is another abhorrent design trend in modern publishing. They don't tell us anything about the story, not even a hint, and in a lot of cases they commit that cardinal sin of showing us the main characters (shudders). Any book I see with one of these types of covers I immediately bypass. If the publishing company can't be bothered to hire a decent graphic designer to do the covers, then I can't be bothered to purchase one of their books.
What I would suggest, especially for any series of books, is a coherent design motif. A re-usable symbol that will pop out at the reader and appeal to the sense of order and belonging in their mind. A different illustrative cover for each installment will not register with a new reader, especially an ereader who is spoiled for choice. But a strong cover, a coherent 'collection' of covers will register.
These are the covers I did for Jeff Inlo (another MR writer) with a very simple idea of an increasing number of swords for each part of the trilogy.
So my proposal is along those lines. We utilise an unchanging central image (LOTR stylee) and change the text around it, thus giving you a coherent design thrust across the board.
All designs would incorporate the earthfleet logo (including t-shirts!!)
