Book Covers

Has Rodrigo Corral ever done a mediocre cover? The guy’s got to be one of the most consistently awesome designers working today.

What I like most about this is that Corral is blatantly proclaiming his own opinion on the matter. I could be wrong, but I don’t think he’s actually interviewed in the book (which is a series of Q&As with successful designers by Millman), so it’s even more awesome that he’s inserting his own take on the issue right on the cover.

— Ben Pieratt, 2008-02-13 10:47:00

What are we looking at here? A wall where darts were thrown? Spots where pencils were thrown into a ceiling? A paste-up board? Buckshot? ...What’s Corral’s blatant opinion?

Seems like a clear statement about the value of perspiration—try, try, and try again. You can contrast this idea with Paula Scher’s famous assertion about almost always hitting the markt with her first idea.

This is one that is growing on me, but I do find it strange that the word “graphic” is set larger than everything other one in the title—why the emphasis? In any event, the book is great: Debbie is a great interviewer (check out her web-radio show Design Matters) and her lineup is fantastic.

If anyone happens to meet her in person, ask her why David Carson is not in the book—it’s a good story…

Probably because as many people already know, David Carson tends to jam out of events last minute…. ;D

I’m not sold on this either. I love Corral, but this seems a bit weak for such a potentially fun topic…

I have to say though, this would not be an easy book to do a cover for. On that note this works and is a fine solution that at least gets you thinking…

There is enough interviews with David Carson. That could fill up a book called “The Accidental Graphic Designer”...

Being a graphic designer myself I don’t really get the cover either and it doesn’t do much for me, and neither does the title. Seems to another one of these Paul Arden arty semi-ironic quasi-selfhelp books. Not really my cup of tea I guess… :) However: the cover could still be a lot more interesting and daring than this, in my opinion.

Don’t get it at first glance. Maybe that’s the brilliance? Thinking Like a Graphic Designer means thinking, thinking, and thinking some more about a subject matter. Analyzing, breaking down, reconstructing, and communicating. The fact that I had to look, and keep looking, to find my own meaning… I like that.

Brilliant cover. Succinct and refreshingly free of cute propaganda about how cool it is to be a designer.

I’m impressed that it aims to speak to true professionals who would understand the crit wall and all the emotional baggage that comes with it.

This cover is boring. The only reason I would like to pick it up is because I would assume it was a interesting read.

The more I look at it, the more I think it sits very flat and devoid of a solid concept. The centered, all caps serif with an oddly sized “graphic” against a blah background of pin holes (people use magnets for crit walls, tape, projectors etc—not to mention this looks like a dry wall that is damaged by too many posters). The only redeeming aspect which is not part of the cover is the pushpin on the spine that Auguste mentioned. For a Corral (if he wasn’t art directed by someone) this seems uninspired.

Thank you mike. You always bring a nice discussion to the table. There is nothing to “get” about this cover. It’s uninspired. Typographically and conceptually flat.

Not all grtaphic artists use Crit walls. To pigeon-hole or try to visually establish that this practice makes for a great graphic artist is not my idea of thinking outside the box. It’s a solution that scratches the surface of the topic. The concept of “Try it again” is not spelled out here vividly—if that is indeed the message of the book. My opinion for the 3rd time mike. Please savor it.

three times over, and your opinion is still invalid. the concept of try it again is definitely spelled out clearly. you’re just thinking too hard. take a break from this blog and go do something else….

I imagine this looks better in person. I like the concept. Some of the stuff Ian is spouting off seems pretty wrong, to me at least.

“Not all graphic artists use Crit Walls”, well not all graphic artists use pencils, computers, the direct select arrow, I’m not sure I see your point. I don’t see this concept as a way to exemplify graphic design, but rather an open invitation to develop your own thoughts on the idea, not unlike a crit wall.

Lastly, I will state that my design school uses push-pin crit walls. So I guess they still get some use.

I just ache for something to make me excited about this title. To make me want to pick it up—or notice it for that matter. The only thing that does that for me is the title. And I don’t mean the way it is set.

Corral does some striking and enticing work—this one is in my opinion not that striking. I understand the concept here. This reminds me of a Paul Sahre piece—and I mean that in a good way. So on a certain level it does enough to sell me on some sort of academic level.

akward “graphic”. makes me squirm in my seat. Wouldn’t draw my interest in a bookstore, if not for the title. Maybe that’s the brilliant part?

It seems really straight forward to me. The book is about THINKING like a graphic designer. Not DESIGNING, therefore the lack of a really great design on the cover works for me. I know that often the ability to shoot down designs/ideas over and over again until you’ve finally found the right design is where the heart of great design really is. Although, I must admit I opened the book and it didn’t have any pictures so I put it down and moved on… hmmm…

Quite lacking. Quite wrong. A design equivalent to a big-budget, star-powered movie flop.

I’m getting really tired of people coming in here, and giving their “grade” to covers. Especially when they don’t have any intelligent reasoning to back it up. Rodrigo is a great designer; that aside, none of us know whether the publisher asked specifically for something like this, or Rodrigo had to design through a committee of people. Either way, no one needs to hear whether someone gives this an “F+” or not. So disappointing.

That is besides the point. We all know that. This about getting at what is wrong with the cover and hoping (against hope) that the publisher is reading this and getting the drift…

I’m getting tired of baby sitters and daddy figures coming here. Just state your piece: Good or bad. Why? Why not? Stop judging the judges, and judge the cover for what it is. No one is saying that Rodrigo is a bad designer for Christ sake!!! The man has a proven record for great work. That does not mean this cover is good.

Not really sure. But life has to move on… How ever should stick to rules of law …things will revert to you back. Self Fitness is important

Not really sure. But life has to move on… How ever should stick to rules of law …things will revert to you back. Self Fitness is important as any thing else

i bought this book… good book… cover seems a little lacking. didn’t buy the book because of the cover, thats for sure. it was more for the content ans interesting content. the layout and interior are beautifully typeset… the message is somewhat vague. i guess i get it, the whole pushpin idea, but there had to be other ways of expressing that idea….

please view my portfolio, and if you’d like email me any comment or suggestions at, www.garybaltazar.com.

Again, in my opinion, this is one of those covers where it is better to se it in person. The production value on this is a lot nicer than shows through here. The whole thing is printed in a metallic silver matte. And while it still has the very plain and almost funny effect because of it’s centered type, bullet hole-like pin holes and oddly larger word “Graphic”, it is also very serious and elegant to behold making it a nice addition to the book shelf.

Favorite interview so far is Carin Goldberg and Milton. The key message so far: It’s all about the work, hard, long hours and finding a joy and inseparability in that work till the day you die. Kinda hard to swallow, but I’d rather be happy in my work, than to be working for the weekends.