Penguin: Marber grid research

fig. 1

Figure 1 shows some examples of the covers that that continued to use the Marber grid, despite not being part of the crime series. 

Top left - The handprint works well as it looks like it has been placed onto an orange book. The background and image work well together.

Top right - Using the whole image to then form the whole background has worked well. The larger title works effectively and is eye catching. 

Bottom left - Using the cream background within the image works well to allow the image to not look forcefully placed onto the book cover. 

Bottom right - The black background is acting like more of a frame rather than part of the image in this book cover. The image is bold and works well, but I think I would prefer to have more of a flow in my designs as I think that the image and background should compliment each other. 

fig. 2

Figure 2 shows the designs by Olly Moss who designs book covers for some of his favourite video games. The designs are all based n the classic Penguin Marber grid. The main themes were made into an iconic graphic to form the recognisable attribute of the designs. This is something I will apply to my designs. I would like to develop a bold graphic image for each of the books to have as the main cover. 

fig. 3

Figure 3 shows an example of where the Marber grid has been used for something other than a book cover. The use of the Marber grid for The Economist works well to organise the information well, but also emphasise certain aspects more than others. The magazine has stuck to a limited colour palette which is something I may need to decide to use. The designs are very visually capturing considering the magazine is known more for its academic purposes. 

fig. 4

Figure 4 shows how this traditional grid system has been applied to contemporary graphic design. The modern aesthetic is achieved by the use of abstract images, neon colour palette, contrasting colours, shapes as the illustration, bold and simple visuals, and sans-serif typeface. I will look at the existing book covers and see if there are any shapes that I can make contemporary. The meaning of colours would be interesting to help portray the meaning/plot of the book.