Thanapshere Book Cover

Case Study

This case study explores the design process behind creating a book cover for Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Thanasphere.

The cover design incorporates a graphic element that provides a subtle yet meaningful hint at the central themes explored within the book. This visual not only captures the essence of the story but also engages potential readers in a way that sparks curiosity. In addition to this thematic representation, the overall design is carefully crafted to prioritize both readability and visual clarity, ensuring that the cover is not only aesthetically appealing but also accessible and easy to navigate.

Disclaimer: This case study is a qualitative descriptive research project intended solely for educational purposes. It is not affiliated with Kurt Vonnegut or Penguin Group in any capacity.

One challenge encountered during the development of this project was ensuring optimal line spacing and maintaining an appropriate line length. This was important to ensure a comfortable reading experience and make the text easy on the eyes.

Exploration:

  • What grid should the cover follow?

  • What font choice would best fit the theme while still being modern?

  • What kind of graphics should be used to emphasize the book’s theme?

  • How should the testimonials be placed/designed on the back cover?

Findings:

  • The book cover follows a simple grid that allows for balanced text and greater readability.

  • The final selection for a font is Verdana, a modern font used for easy readability.

  • The graphic on the front cover is an optical illusion to emphasize the book’s emphasis on illusions.

  • The testimonials on the back cover are italicized to make them noteworthy and are in their section to highlight them.

The book cover has been displayed on two separate mockups to showcase the design of both the front and back covers, as well as the spine.

Mockups:

Credits to:

  • Book Mockup by Mockups-Design:

    • https://mockups-design.com/

  • Front Cover Graphic by pikisuperstar on Freepik:

    • <a href="http://www.freepik.com">Designed by pikisuperstar / Freepik</a> Designed by pikisuperstar / Freepik