A Person of Interest
Design by Herb Thornby
Too much of a good thing? I think so.
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
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9 comments:
Cool idea, but the type is boring. Too bad.
There is so much going on that I think the type is best kept simple. The simplicity kept the boldness working to its advantage.
I don't think the idea is bad either, just it's execution. Even putting a lot of arrows pointing to one figure would work, its just that this image is too cluttered. We simply get lost in all the smaller arrows swarming with the larger ones. It's just too visually noisy.
Call me boring, but just the one big arrow would've done.
I missed the person on this cover! Is it just me, or is the trend to have the author's name as big (or bigger than) the title really disturbing?
Her second novel American Woman was a Pulitzer Prize finalist; I'm thinking that warrants the author's name treated as it is.
so true! (obviously I need more coffee).
I think the multitude of arrows is conceptually valid, but the fact that they are all the same arrow hurts the execution. The single style of arrow implies the 'interest' is from one particular voice, which downplays the level of 'interest' the scale and number the arrows play up. A variety of arrows with similar general weight would help enforce the concept that this person is a crucial figure.
Speaking of the figure...normally a person of interest is someone that the authorities have attempted to get information from, but has declined/resisted. Really a prime suspect without the evidence to back it up. Given that, I think the figures posture and color is a bit too innocent, almost submissive, instead of evasive.
Turn the figure around to face away from the arrows and straighten it's posture, and you've got a more dynamic interaction.
I'd also change the bg to white and the figure to black, but that may draw unintentional racial implications.
My $.02. Love the blog.
I agree it would be cool if the person was turned away from the arrows.
Otherwise this cover is nice and bold and I would pick it up. It's a little overdone with all the arrows.
I actually did not notice the person right away. But I am also looking at a 1x2" version of the cover...
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