Books for Book Lovers, Part 1
Trade Editions
Over the past few years, I’ve been growing my book collection with the goal of having a variety of book covers, genres, and structures. They’re fun to read and make amazing references when I’m designing or binding a book.
This series will look at books—mostly from my collection—from a design perspective, what goes through my head when I’m in a bookshop browsing books. I’ll offer insight into aspects of the book like cover design, binding, typography, illustration, and page layout.
This series is not an ad or a recommendation list, merely a look at books through a designer’s eye. In the series, we’ll cover trade books, non-traditional reading experiences, fine craftsmanship, antiques, and artist’s books.
This first part is all about the trades.
Trade books are what we’re most familiar with when we think of books. Trades are books intended for broad consumption and can be in a variety of genres.1 They come in either paperback or hardcover jacket/laminate with sizes typically around 6” x 9” in the USA. The binding is either sewn or glue bound (perfect binding), with the latter being a popular and affordable option.
When looking at the design of covers, in the back of my mind is always a reminder that these were created based on briefs and feedback outside of the designer’s control. Book covers may go through multiple rounds of concepting and revisions with editors, marketing, sales, production, and others offering insight into their individual goals and metrics that the cover needs to meet. The designers distill all of that information into something that reach those goals while remaining beautiful, creative, and interesting.
Non-Fiction Books
The Decay of Lying by Oscar Wilde
Published by Penguin Books UK, Penguin Great Ideas Series | Design by David Pearson & Felix Koeberlin | Paperback, Perfect bound
I was introduced to the Great Ideas Series while in the UK, they are beautifully designed by David Pearson in a primarily typographic style. The printing of the cover has a letterpress-like texture, but I can’t find anywhere that confirms they are letterpressed. Here’s a great interview with David from PRINT magazine where he offers insight into his body of work, technique, and design philosophy.
There is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone
Published by Crown NY | Design by Anna Kochman | Hardcover, Dust Jacket
Non-fiction book covers can be hard to design, an easy approach is to rely on a photograph or make it very literal. This cover caught my eye at a book fair, I appreciate how it represents the topic in an abstract way and doesn’t play on emotionality. The heavy black border bars us from the wide open city, separating us from the rest of society.
Fiction Books
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
Published by Spiegel & Grau | Design by Violet Dine, Rodrigo Corral Studio | Hardcover, Dust Jacket
The idyllic saturated colors catch the eye and the unique title composition guides you all around the cover. It’s the distorted figures on the picnic blanket and dock that drew me in to the story. It’s a world that feels misleading, artificial, and troubling.
Henry Henry by Allen Bratton
Published by Crown NY | Design by Jaya Nicely | Art by Kris Knight | Hardcover, Dust Jacket
The isolation of his facial expression away from the context of the body draws you in, and the color story is sheer perfection.
So Far Gone by Jess Walter
Published by Harper NY | Design by Milan Bozic | Hardcover, Dust Jacket
The color and style remind me of a mid-century ad, a style I’ve always loved. The forest and color-matching between the ominous sign and title tell me there’s danger and an adventure up ahead. Either way, it’s a trip I’m down to take.
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions | Design by Ray O’Meara | Paperback, Perfect bound, French flaps
Minimalism is the most misunderstood design style and the most technical. The fewer visual elements playing off of each other, the more precise each element needs to be. These editions are expertly executed. The Klein blue and custom typeface from O’Meara are chef’s kiss. These editions function less as representations of the story and more as expressions of the publisher’s curatorial identity—similar to Penguin’s orange classics.
The interior of the book is also worth highlighting. The margins are generous and the page composition feels more like what you’d see in a classical book than a modern trade.
Fantasy & Romance Books
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Published by Tor Books | Design and cover art by Will Staehle / Unusual Co. | Illustrations by Joel Daniel Phillips | Hardcover, Dust Jacket
I love fantasy. You can have a lot of fun when you have only your imagination to limit you. The designers and artists had a fun one with this book! The cover is gorgeous, from the burning letters to the crown as the lower jaw. There’s such an intense atmosphere and story it creates without telling you much about the book, which is what I love in a cover. When opening the book and seeing those gorgeous endpapers made it an instant buy. The interior of the book extends the world, allowing the experience to continue beyond the jacket.
The Song of Achilles & Circe by Madeline Miller
Published by Bloomsbury UK | Design by ?? | Hardcover
I love myths and I’ve loved these retellings. I wasn’t much of a fan of The Song of Achilles original covers or subsequent covers, they never felt like they captured the tone of the book just right. These editions by Bloomsbury are gorgeous and subtle. With the classical ornamentation and elegant illustrations, they elevate the books and position them as modern classics. My one complaint is the binding appears glued rather than sewn, which is disappointing. Also, I can’t seem to find who the artist/designer is for these covers—they’re not credited in the book—so if you know, tell me!
Trade books set a baseline for what most readers encounter. These are the books that fill our shelves and that will make up a large majority of projects for book designers.
The next part of this series moves up in complexity and experimentation, looking at coffee table books and cookbooks that rely on more sophisticated printing techniques and layered design solutions.
https://publishdrive.com/glossary-what-is-a-trade-book.html