1) The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle 2) Norwegian Wood 3) Kafka On The Shore
4) The Elephant Vanishes 5) Dance Dance Dance
The Learning Outcomes are as follows-
Create complex and original imagery using specialist software.
Exploit potential of specialist software.
Produce creative and effective design work using software applications.
Prepare image, graphic and text files for output.
Produce a comprehensive portfolio that shows the creative application of specialist software.
Before we delve into the depths of dust jacket design, lets go over a few of the old technicals-
And so back to business,heres some info on the author himself-
One of the most commercially successful and influential writers of contemporary Japanese jun-bungaku (“serious literature”), Murakami is a best-selling novelist and prolific short story writer who has extensively translated works of modern American fiction into Japanese, including the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Raymond Carver, Truman Capote, John Irving, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Many critics recognize Murakami as a spokesperson for the shin-jinrui (“new human beings”)—the affluent postwar generation that typically shuns traditional Japanese values in favor of the appeal of American popular culture. In his fiction Murakami has consciously diverged from the mainstream of jun-bungaku.Murakami writes in a new style of Japanese prose, which juxtaposes and merges distinctly American motifs and diction with such traditionaljun-bungaku themes as love, death, and the self. Combining metaphysics with the cinematic devices of film noir, Murakami's fiction frequently alludes to commercial brand names and cultural icons of the United States. Much of his work has been noted for its surreal qualities, blending bizarre plot twists and unique narration styles in a fashion that nevertheless retains an air of plausibility. Those of the shin-jinruigeneration have bought millions of Murakami's books, prompting both popular and critical attention from a global audience. Although some critics have characterized Murakami's novels as slickly packaged consumer products, several others have compared Murakami's literary achievement to the works of Ōe Kenzaburō and Kōbō Abé, whose writings from an earlier generation similarly changed the Japanese language.
Taken from Source: Contemporary Literary Criticism, ©2002 Gale Cengage (enotes.com)
As you may have noticed,I have shown examples of his books that are quite similar in colour. Now, Im not going to go for this colour scheme at all, but rather, a similar style... With a little flair thrown in for good measure. I like the simplicity of each one and the bareness makes the onlookers eye concentrate on whatever image or type is being shown....
Before we delve into the depths of dust jacket design, lets go over a few of the old technicals-
My God, I did not realize that a book had so many different parts to it! I thought- cover, spine, pages, back cover... I suppos that goes to show what i know about books! Also,I must apologize for the poor image quality, It was a hard one to find!
Knowing terms such as these could always come in handy when discussing business with clients.
One of the most commercially successful and influential writers of contemporary Japanese jun-bungaku (“serious literature”), Murakami is a best-selling novelist and prolific short story writer who has extensively translated works of modern American fiction into Japanese, including the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Raymond Carver, Truman Capote, John Irving, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Many critics recognize Murakami as a spokesperson for the shin-jinrui (“new human beings”)—the affluent postwar generation that typically shuns traditional Japanese values in favor of the appeal of American popular culture. In his fiction Murakami has consciously diverged from the mainstream of jun-bungaku.Murakami writes in a new style of Japanese prose, which juxtaposes and merges distinctly American motifs and diction with such traditionaljun-bungaku themes as love, death, and the self. Combining metaphysics with the cinematic devices of film noir, Murakami's fiction frequently alludes to commercial brand names and cultural icons of the United States. Much of his work has been noted for its surreal qualities, blending bizarre plot twists and unique narration styles in a fashion that nevertheless retains an air of plausibility. Those of the shin-jinruigeneration have bought millions of Murakami's books, prompting both popular and critical attention from a global audience. Although some critics have characterized Murakami's novels as slickly packaged consumer products, several others have compared Murakami's literary achievement to the works of Ōe Kenzaburō and Kōbō Abé, whose writings from an earlier generation similarly changed the Japanese language.
Taken from Source: Contemporary Literary Criticism, ©2002 Gale Cengage (enotes.com)
As you may have noticed,I have shown examples of his books that are quite similar in colour. Now, Im not going to go for this colour scheme at all, but rather, a similar style... With a little flair thrown in for good measure. I like the simplicity of each one and the bareness makes the onlookers eye concentrate on whatever image or type is being shown....
Here are some perfect covers for inspiration:
The above examples are beautifully illustrated and the images are clear and simple,yet provides a peek at the storyline withheld inside....Here are some I like that have a little more colour in each one, but still holds that slight simple feel to them.
The sample just above (White Settlers in Tropical Africa, Riddles in Mathematics) as you see are two covers created by the same designer as can be told by the similar colours and styles. The reason I have include these two is because i must design these covers to fit into a series together..
Bearing this in mind I set off to research some book series, to see what tied the volumes together so they would be recognized as belonging in a group together....
As you can see, what ties these books together is quite simple; Font and imagery.Also the colour schemes in each series are exactly the same.i.e The outwards glow from the images in the Alex Rider books, or the faded, old look each Christopher Fowler volume has.
This series of books was published by Boston Review with the MIT Press, and won awards at the AIGA BoNE show awards 2009. I have included them in my research because of the tiny details that bid them together: The same big spine cover,(regardless of colour) with a blandness that contradicts the illustrations on the front, the font used, and the positioning of the words "Boston Review" (top right corner), and the authors name (bottom right corner).
Below is a series of books that are connected only by the lettering colour, size and placement.Simple yet so effective in linking them together...
And finally, The series that I like so much, (no,not the content), thatI had to put them up here...
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