THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS - book cover research

So that I am able to create a successful book cover design for this brief, it is extremely important to see what is already out there and available for purchase. I am going to look at a mixture of old and new covers so that I can see how they developed over time. I will be creating a more contemporary cover, however, the more traditional designs may inform my practice. 

Michael Hague

At first glance, it is evident to the viewer that this book cover is quite traditional. It was published in 1980 and has quite a dated feel to it. The illustration on the front is extremely detailed, however, making it quite cluttered and busy. The colours used are extremely reflective of the story, displaying the beautiful English Countryside, as it follows quite a classic theme. This is then further reference through the use of a serif typeface for the title. Although not a cover that would be published today, it is remiscent of old story books, which can sometimes really appeal to potential purchasers. Sometimes the more traditional approach attracts adults to purchase the book for their children as they feel it is a better reflection of what they would have read previously. 

Rachell Sumpter

This book cover design is extremely unique. After finding it online, I researched into it further, and found that it was all hand stitched. This is a much more contemporary approach to the narrative, and is contextually unique, therefore it would appeal to the modern day consumer. This approach is reflective of Toad's character, depicting an event from the book, which has allowed the integration of text into the cover. The brief stated that they wanted a design that could work as a cohesive whole, front and back, as well as something that stood out on the shelf, which this does effectively through the use of the bright red scarf. This is the type of cover that would really encourage purchase, and create intrigue, making the customer want to find out more about this mischievous character.

Ernest H. Shepard

Again, this book cover uses quite a traditional approach to the story and to the aesthetics. It uses quite a muted colour palette, that is calm and not as hectic as the cover by Sumpter. The positioning of the trees draws the eye up to the illustration of Toad Hall, which reflects the narrative. It also allows for a space to place the title text, which has taken a traditional approach also, using a hand drawn serif type. It is rather sweet how the badger's nose reaches out and connects to the title, bringing all of the aspects together into a cohesive cover. I believe that this is a successful front cover, as it really tells a story, and manages to feature all of the characters, whilst not becoming too busy or hectic. The colours also add to this by creating a clear representation of the location of the story.