Book Covers & Designs

There is something about a book cover that makes you either pick it up or overlook it. I’ve always enjoyed designing but it’s not until you’re paid to do a job that it drives you to do better. The books by Mike Watson and Jack Grassby are two examples.

Even before I had a Mac I’d experiment with different media and a photocopier to see what resulted. When the Mac came along the possibilities were endless especially with typography, which I especially enjoyed doing.

Fragile

2005

A book cover for my poems led to this monster. Not that I even published them!
Gravity

2005

Wanted a sequel to complement the first book of unpublished poems.
Shards

2005

Continuing the theme - thinking it was good at the time. Decided I wasn't a poet afterall!
Title Escapes Me

2005

Felt this image would look good as a cover and to me, it did. May use it one day.
First Impressions

2005

Wanted a colourful and clean look for this book that will never see the light of day.
Gravity v2

2005

Decided the blue version too heavy. Wanted a more 'mature' look, just in case I used it.
Magazine Covers

1998

For a college assignment we had to design 6 different magazine covers.
Unfinished Revolution

1999

My first 'pro' cover. Many hours went into this until it was 'right'. Wanted to portray a few things.
Socialist's Guide

2001

Jack's second book. Image is a merging of old propaganda and modern day tech - hence pixelation.
Revolution 21

2002

Some experiments yield good results. Blurred a red rectangle then just played with it.
Postmodern Humanism

2005

Simplicity was the nature of this cover - as was the website.
How Can We Believe

2009

Jack's most recent book. The cover was meant to make you ask - what is it? I still don't know.
I Had a Ward

1996

Done using scraps of paper & a photocopier! My first 'pro' job design on my first Mac.
Better Ward

1999

I wanted the photo to tell the story on this cover. Text was secondary.
Even Better Ward

2001

This cover merged 4 photos to give the impression of a village.

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Book Covers & Designs

2005

A book cover for my poems led to this monster. Not that I even published them!

2005

Wanted a sequel to complement the first book of unpublished poems.

2005

Continuing the theme - thinking it was good at the time. Decided I wasn't a poet afterall!

2005

Felt this image would look good as a cover and to me, it did. May use it one day.

2005

Wanted a colourful and clean look for this book that will never see the light of day.

2005

Decided the blue version too heavy. Wanted a more 'mature' look, just in case I used it.

1998

For a college assignment we had to design 6 different magazine covers.

1999

My first 'pro' cover. Many hours went into this until it was 'right'. Wanted to portray a few things.

2001

Jack's second book. Image is a merging of old propaganda and modern day tech - hence pixelation.

2002

Some experiments yield good results. Blurred a red rectangle then just played with it.

2005

Simplicity was the nature of this cover - as was the website.

2009

Jack's most recent book. The cover was meant to make you ask - what is it? I still don't know.

1996

Done using scraps of paper & a photocopier! My first 'pro' job design on my first Mac.

1999

I wanted the photo to tell the story on this cover. Text was secondary.

2001

This cover merged 4 photos to give the impression of a village.