Revamp of The Wave - feedback and suggestions welcome

[Nathan]

I really like all of these to be honest. It's hard to pick. But to be super-critical, the first three Riding the Wave books with the checkerboard waves and the comet striking the Earth do appear to me as dated. My first impression if I saw these books in a bookstore would be that they're 10, maybe 20 years old. They are still great designs, but that's what comes to mind for me.

I love the ouija board cover, although I'm not sure what it's meant for as there is no text, but it's colourful and striking. Is it meant to be a back cover perhaps? (The fingers have jagged edges, but I'm guessing that won't be there in the final copy. Also, I'm not quite sure what to make of the sphere above the left finger.) The grunge design with the birds is lovely too, although I don't know if it suits the subject matter. I think the last Riding the Wave design is absolutely fantastic. For me, this is my favourite hands-down. I love it.

I have to ask, what is the symbolism of the bird?

Both Hacking the Soul covers are really great, the second cover being the most appealing and intriguing. The Soul Hackers covers, although nice designs in their own right, look dated and I would probably avoid them in a bookstore as they seem like cheap New Age books, despite the sub-title. I think JonnyRadar's designs are really nice too. All of the designs are great, but I would steer clear of the checkerboard Riding the Wave and the Soul Hackers in a bookstore had I not known anything about them. All up, great work!

If you don't mind, I can pass these images along to my literary agent to get his opinion. It's his job to know about this sort of thing and he'd be able to give a more informed opinion than I can. :)

 

[aragorn]

I also like more simplistic covers, like Wave1B. I second anart on the notion that a more "new ageish" cover could attract more attention, but it could be put down more easily by a "serious" researcher type. I guess it depends on what kind of peoples attention one wants. Or should one apply "any publicity is good publicity" here, dunno.

I really liked Johnny's idea of 'a wave book' in the corner, it gives a continuity. 'A wave book' will be one of the most important brands of the future, have a 'wave book' and a smile

 

[ana]

I like these:

I think JohnnyRadar's soulhackers is visually striking

 

[manitoban]

I like the red cover for the first book - the third image. Really striking and the words really stand out. Second choice would be the bird image.

For the Soul Hackers, Maybe it's just me, but the images with the people in it looks kind of too new agey? I prefer the bird image, fwiw.

 

[Jacques]

I personally like this one the best but anart's choice is second.

Soul Hackers: The Hidden Hands Behind the New Age Movement
This volume deals primarily with the problems inherent in channeling, as well as the New Age movement. It tells the story of the New Age church Laura was involved in, including reiki, wicca, rituals, and the motive behind the movement: mind-programming via greenbaum and alien influence. The general theme is that you create your own reality based on the objectivity (or lack of) with which you approach life. If you believe in nonsense, your life will reflect that.

This one is, by far, my favorite of these choices.

I have to agree. I really like this one. =)

I like this one too.

And I definitely agree with anart that there should be some continuity in the cover designs so that it looks like it is a series and not just stand alone books.

Those are my choices too and i agree with the comments.

 

[Stuart]

I thought I'd chip in with some ideas, so here's a rough draft for the soul hackers cover - not sure about the fonts etc, but it's just a draft. I'll do some others in different styles in due course. :)

 

[Marcus-Aurelius]

I like JR ideas for "Soul Hackers" and "Stripped to the bone", books with such concepts will always catch my attention. For "Riding the Wave", Wave1H.jpg is my favourite.

 

[JEEP]

I'm very impressed with JonnyRadar's depictions. Alike but different - you can tell they go together but cover different areas of the same overall topic - the Wave.

I like this one a lot, too:

 

[Mike]

These two are my favorites and I like the idea of having 'A Wave Book' on the front. JohnnyRadar's are also quite attractive. The yellow/gold just goes wham! read me since someone might equate the light, soul and going into the light when dying together.
I also like the picture above my post, but don't like 'Riding the Wave' non-horizontal.

 

[anart]

I also like the picture above my post, but don't like 'Riding the Wave' non-horizontal.

I tend to agree with this - I really like the image on that cover, but I really don't like the way the title is at an angle and laid out on blocks that way - it looks dated. That background image with the title in the circle and that font in the circle, of the first one you listed, would work better. But, with that said, I also think JR's designs are really good.

 

[mkrnhr]

I also like the picture above my post, but don't like 'Riding the Wave' non-horizontal.

Yes, maybe the title could be put horizontal and the tiles (the squares) remain non-horizontal.
Also the text "The truth and lies..." in another police.

 

[Psalehesost]

JonnyRadar's designs look nice and clean - and finally makes for a choice for the second book that I think actually suits well. The one for the first is also nice, though I still prefer the background image (as opposed to title layout, etc) of this one.

 

[Keit]

Also, if any of you graphic artists are struck with an idea, try it out and post it here for feedback!

Cool! Fwiw, I came up with some contributions for idea fuel :)

Very good! Clean, and yet sophisticated. Also, there is a common theme, including circles. Good job. :)

 

[Aliana]

Quote from: anart on Yesterday at 12:42:47 PM
I also think a more thematic approach - with a theme running through all covers would be a much better way to go - rather than completely separate themes for each cover. Visual identity is huge - there should be a common visual thread - touchpoint - running through each and every title. Yes, each book is different - but that theme - that Wave - runs through them all and there should be some sign of it on each separate cover, if even in the background. OSIT.

I agree - I think continuity is important - if you have a visual image of a certain author's work in mind - and you are browsing through a bookstore - even though you do not know there are other books in that authors' series - you will immediately be drawn to something that resembles that book. With that in mind, I am wondering if SHOTW should also have a cover in future that has some parallel or resemblance to the Wave books. Also - is there any plan to incorporate the FOTCM logo anywhere - or is the plan to keep that completely separate? Also like the idea of the covers as pieces of a puzzle!!!

FWIW - I like JohnnyRadar's designs - but also Wave1H - I was wondering if the Riding the Wave title could be made "wavelike" - without the boxes? I am not a graphic designer...so not sure how that would work.

 

[Chu]

Very good! Clean, and yet sophisticated. Also, there is a common theme, including circles. Good job. :)

I tend to agree with Keit. JonnyRadar's designs are my favorite so far. The other ones looked a bit too used already, although they were pretty.

As to the idea of a puzzle, I think it's great! I would suggest that the covers are of the same style but with variations, like JR did on his three designs, and that it's just the spines together that form the "puzzle". When someone gets the whole series, they would see the puzzle come together. I think that would look really cool on a shelf, and maybe it'd attract people to it. ;)
Perhaps the design of a Wave, maybe with a little bit of each book, or something nice that our artists can come up with.

FWIW