Book Cover Design from 1935 to the present day

I have narrowed down my choice from the broad topic of ‘books’ to concentrating on book cover and jacket design. I have found a very interesting book called ‘Penguin by Design. A Cover Story 1935-2005’ by Phil Baines and this has enticed me to concentrate particularly on the changing designs of Penguin paperbacks. Over the past 70 years Penguin has become a national and well-respected icon surviving the Second World War and two recessions. They have been successfully publishing literature since 1935 and despite their ever changing cover designs and even their logo altering on numerous occasions they have succeeded in maintaining a recognisable brand.

Penguin-published books are going to form the main body of my report with a number of comparisons to other publishing houses and their cover designs. I will place my research and outcomes in a historical context and discuss how environmental, political and economic factors have affected the brand (for the better and the worse). I will also consider how topical trends and fashions have influenced the cover designs and how Penguin went on to influence and inspire others.

I must remember to distance myself from a much loved brand and view my research objectively. From a graphic design point of view I am interested in how such time and effort was placed into the exterior of the book and how it actually paved the way for future design roles and technological advances.

Penguin clearly know how important it is for a cover to not just be a protective layer but to attract a viewer and encourage them to buy. The typography and colour scheme has encouraged this by making it very clear from a quick glance what the book is called, who it is by, who published it and which genre it belongs to. They knew very early on that these covers are a clever form of advertising and have taken advantage of this.

I need to continue with my research and to do so, I will read some more books, and view more images of book covers. I think that with time and some careful consideration I can create a useful and interesting questionnaire or survey. I am confident that most people are aware of Penguin and their opinions will help me to understand why Penguin’s popularity continues to grow.

I feel happy with my choice and believe that there is a vast amount of information available to me.

Amy Stapleton