Saturday, September 11, 2010

Book Cover Design

Just finished my latest homework for my Publication Design class, and thought I'd share it with you all on the blogosphere. The assignment was simple; choose any existing book and redesign the cover. This one was fun--and pretty fast & easy, too!

I chose the book Red Harvest, by the great Dashiell Hammett. It's probably my favorite of his novels and if you are not familiar with it, and you claim to be a fan of hard boiled crime fiction, I suggest you buy a copy NOW! (shame on you!) This book was first published in 1929, and has had many printings with different looks. Including these:


For my version, I wanted something modern looking, but still "pulpy." Here's what I came up with...



What do you think? I kinda like it!

4 comments:

mmclaurin said...

I like noir the feeling a lot. the typeface looks familiar-is that something you've used before? Or an I mis-remembering? Anywy, it's a winner. And you have inspired me to take the book out of the library (me cheap) on Monday!

Steve Buccellato said...

Thanks, Marcus! Are you referring to the "Red Harvest" typeface? Actually, I have used it before on the title of that Rotary biography. The font is "Neutraface" by House Industries. Though, here I have distorted the letterforms a bit.

The book is awesome--you'll love it!

A bit of trivia: Red Harvest was the basis of Akira Kurosawa's film "Yojimbo" (and therefore, also the Sergio Leone version "A Fistful of Dollars.")

Don Hudson said...

Great design, but you could have added the 'Dashell' on the cover.

Steve Buccellato said...

Yes, Don, I could have, but I chose not to! And it's spelled "Dashiell," btw! ;)