As near as I can figure, this was designed by Kristian Bjornard, an MFA student at MICA.
I can’t tell if this is a stock photo, or a custom photo that just looks stock, which is unfortunate. Either way, a nice concept for a title that could have easily gone over the top.
Nice work Kristian (all things assumed)!
—
, 2008-08-20 08:25:00 -0400
Love the texture of the fishnets, but I wish the angle of the title text lined up with the perspective of the book.
Agreed-it makes me NUTS that the book is angled but the text isn’t. Really a shame-would have been so easy.
—
, 2008-08-20 11:05:00 -0400
Love it. I kind of agree about the title text being in perspective, but I still think it works. However, considering it’s not in perspective with the book, the “Essay by…” looks weird down there.
Cool concept though. Nice show, good type.
—
, 2008-08-20 12:08:00 -0400
cheap and unemotional. Not sure what you mean by “looks stock” ben.
The obvious thing is to make the text perspective match that of the book. I think this is more interesting. It almost gives the cover an extra layer. It lets the book shape settle into the background a bit more giving it a bit more subtlety.
—
, 2008-08-20 12:40:00 -0400
I don’t think you ned to have the title be on an angle for the idea to work. It’s smart.
ditto to jules… the text below is on a parallel perspective with the book, makes the contrast between elements more recognizable in an odd way…
plus when u read the title, the net kinda’ absorbs the text thus making it feel blurry… its like when ur drunk. i guess librarian gets sexier when ur drunk… beer please!!
nice that the book is not a floating icon- it’s grounded w real shadows on a desk (contrast w Superdove). this makes it more visceral instead on conceptual, which complements the title, and god we know how useful a desk could be for a sexy librarian (i think i just realized why i work in publishing).
love the concept. the fishnet wrapped tightly around the book like a sexually restrained librarian, with the edges just almost busting through it, but not. i have no idea what the narrative is about, but this cover makes me think of the movie Secretary.
the browns are great in setting the drab sort of scene that a library desk job involves, and allow the black and white book to pop more and silently scream danger.
i can stand the title perspective either way. there is a delicate off-center-but-centered-ness to it as the pages of the book force the title to be a little left of center, yet are centered themselves. i would say that i think the entire image could be bigger on the page so there is not so much space around the book.
—
, 2008-08-20 13:35:00 -0400
If I saw this in a store, I have a feeling I would pick it up. Could it be better? Maybe!
I do kinda like how the title feels like a third dimension separate from the book. At the same time I do wonder what it would look like if it were in perspective.
I think this works very well – perhaps a different color pallette or a desaturation of the yellows would make this look less “stock”. But the idea is terrific. I also like the title/author flat the way it is. I suppose it could either get bigger and break the bounds of the book, so that it’s more obviously on its own layer, or get much smaller.
Wait, Ellen Lupton is publishing books now?? The woman is unstoppable! I’m really impressed with how she’s used “class-sourcing” on so many of her recent projects (inviting her design students at MICA to contribute to her books and websites). Exciting to see that she is expanding the role of designer to designer/author/and now publisher.
oh i like Ian’s idea. How about a super sharpened pencil w teeth marks in it?
Hamish… Danielle Steele? i guess you have not seen one recently. which is not a bad thing.
—
, 2008-08-21 10:34:00 -0400
Arthur. I’m so serious man…
I find this baby boring and a tad lacking in the spice it needs to carry it for me. A book wrapped in pantyhose is not enough to communicate the emotion. There needs to be a human element…
I’m not saying this would not grab my attention. I’m saying that once I picked it up I would be annoyed by the unfinished, floaty feeling it gives me… and then I would put it down.
I think it’s very smart concept. It’s little cliche to have the image of “sexy librarian” to communicate emotion. It’s not the only way… Last thing I want to see on a book cover is some woman’s leg in pantyhose. It would be tricky to find a really good photo without looking cheap. I really do hate when I see a book cover with woman’s legs. Because no book is just about woman’s legs. (example: http://beyond-school.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/lolita.png)
I do agree with the perspective thing… Because of the way the book is positioned (the angle is bit weird, but maybe that’s the way designer wanted?) it’s conflicting with the title…
Typography could’ve been better…
But I LOVE the concept!
—
, 2008-08-21 13:50:00 -0400
What is this – fish net or snake skin – text is very flat and not going with the texture
Anyone care to explain “Critical Edition’? Do first editions (this came out in ‘06) now come with built-in reading guides? Has everything turned into a DVD menu?
I think you also have to understand who the publisher is. Now if you know about Ellen Lupton and the type of work she does, I kind of doubt that the cover will have some sexy, full-bodied female librarian…reading a book.
—
, 2008-08-22 18:00:00 -0400
This does nothing for me. I feel totally indiffrent to it. It is in fact hard typing about it, as I am so indiffrent to it.
And I think indiffrence is probably worse than hate in the world of book covers.
The angle of the text is distracting, and, in my opinion, should have been skewed to match the angle of the book. It’s also a bit tough to read against the busy texture of the fishnets. I know it’s been said already, but I’ll nail it home again—good concept, poor execution.
It’s like when you’re brainstorming and about 2 minutes in you think, “how about fishnets? ‘Cause fishnets are sexy, right? Fishnets!”
So while this has Simplicity going for it, I’m not sold on Brilliance. Smart, sure. But it could be about anything sexy. It doesn’t speak specifically to “librarian”.
If I were the AD I’d ask the designer to hang onto this idea, which is fine and all, but keep pushing it into the realm where people go “holy crap that’s brilliant”. Because, like, otherwise why are you working on that MFA again?
I think a book wrapped in fishnets is a pretty awesome solution for a book about a sexy librarian. I think this concept could have been executed a lot better, but I find this cover to work well enough. It’s cute. I want to squeeze its cheeks.
The book being in perspective and the main type block set over it w/ out changing the perspective plays a trick on my eyes. It’s like the main block is in perspective to a vanishing point on the right, while the book and the “essay” line are on a point to the left.
—
, 2008-09-03 04:46:00 -0400
Do it for real or don’t do it at all. Come on Kristian we know you’re better than this.
—
, 2008-09-17 06:24:00 -0400
Is this a lie? I have never seen librarian who is sexy. I have not read the book but it could comedy book.
Overall, I think it’s a great concept, but I agree with the need for a human element, like the pencil or glasses concept mentioned earlier. I also don’t mind the floating text, but I don’t like that the white lettering gets visually lost in the fishnet. I think this image could be made a pop (even with a small hint of red) with just a little tweaking.
There is a case study of the design of this book in Ellen Lupton’s latest book, Indie Publishing. It shows the evolution of the concept from start to finish.
Sexy Librarian
As near as I can figure, this was designed by Kristian Bjornard, an MFA student at MICA.
I can’t tell if this is a stock photo, or a custom photo that just looks stock, which is unfortunate. Either way, a nice concept for a title that could have easily gone over the top.
Nice work Kristian (all things assumed)!
— , 2008-08-20 08:25:00 -0400
Love the texture of the fishnets, but I wish the angle of the title text lined up with the perspective of the book.
— jules , 2008-08-20 09:16:00 -0400
good idea, poor execution
— , 2008-08-20 10:51:00 -0400
Agreed-
it makes me NUTS that the book is angled but the text isn’t. Really a shame-would have been so easy.— , 2008-08-20 11:05:00 -0400
Love it. I kind of agree about the title text being in perspective, but I still think it works. However, considering it’s not in perspective with the book, the “Essay by…” looks weird down there.
Cool concept though. Nice show, good type.
— , 2008-08-20 12:08:00 -0400
cheap and unemotional. Not sure what you mean by “looks stock” ben.
— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-08-20 12:31:00 -0400
The obvious thing is to make the text perspective match that of the book. I think this is more interesting. It almost gives the cover an extra layer. It lets the book shape settle into the background a bit more giving it a bit more subtlety.
— , 2008-08-20 12:40:00 -0400
I don’t think you ned to have the title be on an angle for the idea to work. It’s smart.
— Michel , 2008-08-20 12:49:00 -0400
ditto to jules… the text below is on a parallel perspective with the book, makes the contrast between elements more recognizable in an odd way…
plus when u read the title, the net kinda’ absorbs the text thus making it feel blurry… its like when ur drunk. i guess librarian gets sexier when ur drunk… beer please!!
— monkey , 2008-08-20 13:23:00 -0400
nice that the book is not a floating icon- it’s grounded w real shadows on a desk (contrast w Superdove). this makes it more visceral instead on conceptual, which complements the title, and god we know how useful a desk could be for a sexy librarian (i think i just realized why i work in publishing).
love the concept. the fishnet wrapped tightly around the book like a sexually restrained librarian, with the edges just almost busting through it, but not. i have no idea what the narrative is about, but this cover makes me think of the movie Secretary.
the browns are great in setting the drab sort of scene that a library desk job involves, and allow the black and white book to pop more and silently scream danger.
i can stand the title perspective either way. there is a delicate off-center-but-centered-ness to it as the pages of the book force the title to be a little left of center, yet are centered themselves. i would say that i think the entire image could be bigger on the page so there is not so much space around the book.
— , 2008-08-20 13:35:00 -0400
If I saw this in a store, I have a feeling I would pick it up. Could it be better? Maybe!
I do kinda like how the title feels like a third dimension separate from the book. At the same time I do wonder what it would look like if it were in perspective.
The colors work really well.
— Arthur , 2008-08-21 04:46:00 -0400
awesome, hysterical
— , 2008-08-21 06:31:00 -0400
I think this works very well – perhaps a different color pallette or a desaturation of the yellows would make this look less “stock”. But the idea is terrific. I also like the title/author flat the way it is. I suppose it could either get bigger and break the bounds of the book, so that it’s more obviously on its own layer, or get much smaller.
— Tal , 2008-08-21 08:41:00 -0400
A pair of sexy librarian glasses sitting in front of the book would add a human quality to it all which I think is lacking.
— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-08-21 09:13:00 -0400
I hope you are kidding Ian. Overdone maybe?
— Arthur , 2008-08-21 09:58:00 -0400
Wait, Ellen Lupton is publishing books now?? The woman is unstoppable! I’m really impressed with how she’s used “class-sourcing” on so many of her recent projects (inviting her design students at MICA to contribute to her books and websites). Exciting to see that she is expanding the role of designer to designer/author/and now publisher.
— Maia , 2008-08-21 10:22:00 -0400
Low brow. Lacks sophistication. Odd choice of colour palette. One step above a Danielle Steele cover.
What is going with the “Essay by…” line, floating at the bottom.
— Hamish , 2008-08-21 10:27:00 -0400
oh i like Ian’s idea. How about a super sharpened pencil w teeth marks in it?
Hamish… Danielle Steele? i guess you have not seen one recently. which is not a bad thing.
— , 2008-08-21 10:34:00 -0400
Arthur. I’m so serious man…
I find this baby boring and a tad lacking in the spice it needs to carry it for me. A book wrapped in pantyhose is not enough to communicate the emotion. There needs to be a human element…
I’m not saying this would not grab my attention. I’m saying that once I picked it up I would be annoyed by the unfinished, floaty feeling it gives me… and then I would put it down.
— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-08-21 11:23:00 -0400
I think it’s very smart concept. It’s little cliche to have the image of “sexy librarian” to communicate emotion. It’s not the only way… Last thing I want to see on a book cover is some woman’s leg in pantyhose. It would be tricky to find a really good photo without looking cheap. I really do hate when I see a book cover with woman’s legs. Because no book is just about woman’s legs. (example: http://beyond-school.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/lolita.png)
I do agree with the perspective thing… Because of the way the book is positioned (the angle is bit weird, but maybe that’s the way designer wanted?) it’s conflicting with the title…
Typography could’ve been better…
But I LOVE the concept!
— , 2008-08-21 13:50:00 -0400
What is this – fish net or snake skin – text is very flat and not going with the texture
— nksoni , 2008-08-21 17:16:00 -0400
Anyone care to explain “Critical Edition’? Do first editions (this came out in ‘06) now come with built-in reading guides? Has everything turned into a DVD menu?
— , 2008-08-22 00:55:00 -0400
For more info on this book (published by Ellen Lupton, inspired by an art exhibit, printed on demand by Lulu) see:
http://www.elupton.com/index.php?id=289
http://www.sexylibrariannovel.com/
— Isaac , 2008-08-22 03:30:00 -0400
I think you also have to understand who the publisher is. Now if you know about Ellen Lupton and the type of work she does, I kind of doubt that the cover will have some sexy, full-bodied female librarian…reading a book.
— , 2008-08-22 18:00:00 -0400
This does nothing for me. I feel totally indiffrent to it. It is in fact hard typing about it, as I am so indiffrent to it.
And I think indiffrence is probably worse than hate in the world of book covers.
— boblet , 2008-08-23 12:00:00 -0400
The angle of the text is distracting, and, in my opinion, should have been skewed to match the angle of the book. It’s also a bit tough to read against the busy texture of the fishnets. I know it’s been said already, but I’ll nail it home again—good concept, poor execution.
— Ryan Scheife , 2008-08-25 04:23:00 -0400
what is sexy youman ?
— , 2008-08-26 03:08:00 -0400
It’s ok.
It’s like when you’re brainstorming and about 2 minutes in you think, “how about fishnets? ‘Cause fishnets are sexy, right? Fishnets!”
So while this has Simplicity going for it, I’m not sold on Brilliance. Smart, sure. But it could be about anything sexy. It doesn’t speak specifically to “librarian”.
If I were the AD I’d ask the designer to hang onto this idea, which is fine and all, but keep pushing it into the realm where people go “holy crap that’s brilliant”. Because, like, otherwise why are you working on that MFA again?
— Christian in NYC , 2008-08-27 06:37:00 -0400
I think a book wrapped in fishnets is a pretty awesome solution for a book about a sexy librarian. I think this concept could have been executed a lot better, but I find this cover to work well enough. It’s cute. I want to squeeze its cheeks.
— C-Dog , 2008-08-29 05:38:00 -0400
N/A
— , 2008-08-30 01:26:00 -0400
The book being in perspective and the main type block set over it w/ out changing the perspective plays a trick on my eyes. It’s like the main block is in perspective to a vanishing point on the right, while the book and the “essay” line are on a point to the left.
— , 2008-09-03 04:46:00 -0400
Do it for real or don’t do it at all. Come on Kristian we know you’re better than this.
— , 2008-09-17 06:24:00 -0400
Is this a lie? I have never seen librarian who is sexy. I have not read the book but it could comedy book.
— Jam , 2008-09-24 21:56:00 -0400
Is there any book on Exercise bike to give me some guidence about a bout pros n cons of exercise bikes
— exercise bikes , 2008-09-24 21:59:00 -0400
Overall, I think it’s a great concept, but I agree with the need for a human element, like the pencil or glasses concept mentioned earlier. I also don’t mind the floating text, but I don’t like that the white lettering gets visually lost in the fishnet. I think this image could be made a pop (even with a small hint of red) with just a little tweaking.
— Jeff , 2008-10-24 05:48:00 -0400
There is a case study of the design of this book in Ellen Lupton’s latest book, Indie Publishing. It shows the evolution of the concept from start to finish.
— B , 2008-12-13 09:57:00 -0500
who cares. It’s a bad cover.
— ian b shimkoviak , 2008-12-16 13:30:00 -0500
copver al git buguse
— yapay havuz , 2009-12-03 09:17:58 -0500
olm reklam ver aq
— garlica , 2010-01-20 07:28:36 -0500
biber hapi
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rent a car
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— red pepper , 2010-01-28 06:12:00 -0500