Book Cover Design Challenge – Final Critique, Young Guns 2 Ep. 10

How do you design a strong concept? Why is it so difficult to come up with a good idea? Why must your design speak for itself? What makes for an interesting book cover?

In episode 10 of The Futur Young Guns Season 2, Chris critiques the designers' book cover assignment. This is the second round of their design reviews, but as we'll find, it's very difficult to come up with a strong concept and execute it. Who will emerge as the winner of this design challenge?

Want to take on a design challenge? Play along and compare your results. Tag us on IG @thefuturishere with the hashtag #FuturYoungGuns

01:11 – Maitreyee designs: The Hobbit, A Christmas Carol, Dracula.
07:21 – Annie designs: Catcher in The Rye, Fahrenheit 451, The Visitor.
17:10 – Meghan designs: Jane Eyre, The Yellow Wallpaper, The Bell Jar.
25:00 – Anastasia designs: Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, Great Expectations.
30:24 – Monika designs: Romeo and Juliet, Moby Dick.
36:54 – Ria designs: Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, Lolita.
41:55 – The winner of the book design challenge
45:13 – On the Next Episode

Here are the parameters:
• Take 3 classic fiction books
• Redesign covers
• Cohesive set (theme, color, style, etc…)

Judging criteria:
1. Concept (surprise) A-ha moment
2. Convey the main theme
3. Shelf presence (draw the viewer in)
4. Cohesiveness

Thanks to our video gear sponsor SONY. Check out the A6400 camera:

Follow these designers' journey on Instagram:

#GraphicDesign #Portfolio #BookDesign

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—
Host– Chris Do
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[rickylucas]

This was the last video of the series I'm going to edit. Hope you all enjoyed the series!

[BeatrizGarcia-eohd]

The Yellow Paper one from Meghan was incredible, I saw it in the miniature and i was drawn into it right away, the contrast, the type and the odd shapes are a good combination.
I also like Anastasia, I think she was the deserving winner in this one, I really like how she experiment with different techniques and how she balance positive and negative space in order to get a sophisticated product.

[den-yimmoli]

As a bibliophile, a striking imagery that jumps out at me makes me pick up the book. I don't have to solve the 'puzzle' on the cover, but I would like to be drawn and curious enough to get the book home.

[ScientistX]

I'm seriously amazed by how most of them went ahead and did things so creatively and unexpectedly. This was really great.

[BigNostrilCat]

Sorry just gotta go on a limb and say, I think Meghan did a really great job. The book covers spoke to me as a consumer who has never read these titles before. Definitely got me interested to buy a few of them to read!

[clairebarnett]

Not often I disagree with a critique but I have to say I thought Meghan's designs were bang on - as the target market for this design I would have been immediately drawn to the covers and intrigued. It's worth remembering the target market is the key not necessarily the 'design'. Books often have more than one cover in an attempt to reach various target markets - Meghan's would have reached my demographic.

[chiefngoza]

This challenge was so difficult. Well done to the designers for braving through it!

[cejimenez]

At this point is pretty clear that the biggest obstacle for this season’s participants to overcome is not creativity or talent but self confidence. You are good girls! The point is to be better every day. The process is simple yet not easy (those are two very different things). You learn and you grow. Painfully sometimes but rewarding in the end. Keep it up!

[imdxpertm]

Dear Chris, this channel is hard work of your efforts and dedication. If someone/something had upset you just forget it. There are good students who still value your guidance.
Remember the reason why you started this show. Wish we will soon see the passionate and energetic Master Chris Do!

[CP-ceef]

When are you going to hold another challenge? I loved this and would have KILLED IT!
XD

[JoaoSilva-zfol]

The Yellow Wallpaper from Meghan is so strong! I would definitely pick that book if I saw it on a shelf!

[gamingsensei]

In my typography class in undergrad, we had a book cover project but the catch was that we had to design the covers of 3 unrelated books in a way so that when you put all of them side-by-side, they create a greater meaning or concept. The three designs also had to share a visual language or structure so that they seem related.

I ended up picking Animal Farm, Without You There is No Us (Memoir of Suki Kim's experience in North Korea) and the Art of War all with the faces of the dictators spread across the entire back-front cover so that when you read the book, the faces of the dictators are looking out at other people.


My professor also wanted us to distinguish the difference between designing a concept vs illustrating the book. It was one of the most challenging design projects I had in my undergrad career.

[marija]

Meghan, I love the books you chose and have read them! I really like both your first draft and your final designs, I was amazed, so be super confident in yourself, you're really good :)) I agree with the other comments that you should've won

[COYweng]

32:10 that subtle epic background music with serious dialogues of design critique LOL

[michaelaarvidsson]

Meghan, I loved your final designs! so appealing! And Anastasia, well deserved winner! I was so impressed by your creative work with photography. I would love to see more of this style from you! The real painting, and burning of a paper... Just wow! Inspiring!

[scaleded_it]

The winner is the sound effects person with The Peanuts sound effects at the end. That got Me GOOD! But really congrats to all those young women. Really tough challenge.

[fastfutureforwardbychristi]

again, I'm not a designer BUT this is soooo amazing. cause Chris and his team show exactely how to open a mind, how to make it fly and explore. each profession has it's own language and layers. language isn't just words made of letters, language is history, concepts, theories, prefixes, suffixes, language shifts, code switching and much more so as each profession is much more than you see on the surface. design as all other professions where you want to get to a deep understanding need to be understood and explored in many different ways, seen from many different perspectives cause design isn't just a logo, a book cover

[artofplopez]

I completely agree with the decision. On a side note, come on girls! We need to toughen up a bit and not receive constructive criticism so emotionally... You are so talented and Cris is taking you to the next level.

[lowkey]

Anastasia is an amazing designer, as an avid book reader I would have bought both designs because they really speak to me :)

[helldeirch]

I hope Annie continues doing her cute style of design, if she truly masters that, she'll have a great career because clients will come to her knowing they want that style