title: Authors of the Storm

Authors of the Storm

A bit of an odd post this time around.

Natalie Smith’s portfolio was sent to us by a good friend of ours, and we like it so much we thought we’d throw some attention at it.

View her work here. Be warned, however, as it’s a .Mac site, and therefore really annoying.

The impression I get from Smith’s portfolio is that she’s got a ton of talent that she’s still getting the hang of. There’s an abundance of clever ideas and wonderful visual puns, but without solid executions to really push them into greatness. (For instance, the digitally-set author’s name on Pillars of the Nation drives us bonkers.)

All in all, it seems fairly obvious that she’ll be a designer to keep an eye on in the coming years.

That said, I certainly hope the un-requested portfolio review isn’t in poor taste. Especially coming from a guy who’s hardly a captain of the industry.

— , 2008-01-02 08:03:00 -0500

I love the cover of the The Derrida-Habermas Reader, and am all about stealing it.

— Jack Shedd , 2008-01-03 08:40:00 -0500

I wish more people would show off their spine designs, as she does here – so often its an afterthought that I’d bet most jacket designers leave them out.

And for the record, its nice to see a university press (I think?) hiring such talented designers.

— , 2008-01-03 09:06:00 -0500

I am biased instanty, thanks to her use of ‘lagniappe.’

I particularly like The Derrida-Habermas Reader… and I agree about the author’s name on Pillars looking out of place.

— Jac , 2008-01-03 09:10:00 -0500

I am biased instanty, thanks to her use of ‘lagniappe.’

Haha, yeah, we said the same thing.

— , 2008-01-03 09:32:00 -0500

Yeah, the Derrida-Habermas reader is So Hot. Not digging the storm cloud for some reason, maybe the hand-drawn lettering is a bit undecided or the shape is a bit blobby, or it clashes with the photographic nature of the picture, who knows? Love pillars of the nation.

— , 2008-01-03 11:38:00 -0500

Nice to see a univeristy press post. Great work! Jill Shimabukuro (Design Manager University of Chicago Press) deserves a lot of credit for the high standard she has set for cover design.

— David Drummond , 2008-01-04 04:26:00 -0500

Well hopefully Jill reads the blog and will want to send along more talented folk to cover? Someone feel free to pass it along.

— , 2008-01-04 04:38:00 -0500

Oh yeah, the PW reviews were picked up by the LA Times. Neat.

— , 2008-01-04 05:20:00 -0500

Overall, Ms. Smith has a good, formal typographic sense. I’d like to see how her type works with covers that are more pictorial/photographic.

*I like seeing the spines in cover designs as well, but the spine for “Authors …” looks like it belongs on a different book.

— Tim Belonax , 2008-01-05 13:36:00 -0500

AotS is probably my favorite post in a long while. Love the hand-drawn lettering, the way the shape is a bit blobby, and especially the way it clashes with the photographic nature of the picture.

— PF , 2008-01-06 01:28:00 -0500

I like her work, but the ones you posted here are not my favorites. Although that “Pillars of the Nation” cover is to die for. Girl’s got skills.

— C Wys , 2008-01-06 13:19:00 -0500

the The Derrida-Habermas Reader is nice.

— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-01-07 03:34:00 -0500

I think she works for this guy: http://www.isaactobin.com/

Both great designers.

— , 2008-01-09 07:04:00 -0500

Natalie and I are actually colleagues at UofC Press. We both work for Jill Shimabukuro. Thanks for the kind words. – Isaac

— Isaac Tobin , 2008-01-10 08:35:00 -0500

Oops, I’m sorry.

— Guinn , 2008-01-12 09:31:00 -0500

As a freelance designer for the University of Chicago Press, I have had the pleasure of working with Natalie. It was a treat to finally see her work. I am particularly taken with her minimalist solutions, i.e., “Secret History of Emotion”, “Soft Weapons”, “Oppenheimer”, Derrida-Habermas”.

— , 2008-02-12 02:46:00 -0500

Just found out the Authors of the Storm jacket was selected for the AIGA 50 books / 50 covers show. Thanks very much for post.

— Natalie Smith , 2008-05-15 09:29:00 -0400

bravo. love the spine on this baby…

— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-05-19 06:53:00 -0400

Natalie, I have always been proud of you! I know that what ever you put your heart into will come out GREAT. Keep it up! Love, Uncle Paul

— , 2008-07-06 22:38:00 -0400