Stacy, what a great find! Jessica Hische has got to be one of the more highly recognizable design icons of our generation. (I remember seeing her work for a few magazine covers and articles a few years back and was so impressed by her lettering talent that I had to figure out a right time, budget, and story to commission her for one of our magazine covers and cover story, and indeed we did a few years back--what a talent!).
What's iconic about the cover designs of the era Jessica Hische draws inspiration from is the use of patterns
and typography. Also, the art direction is nicely executed, especially with the choice to adorn the back cover with a quote. Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice are among of my favorites from the classics. I thought that the quote used for Pride and Prejudice was spot on; however, for Jane Eyre, the quote that really stuck with me all these years is "Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am
soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, -
and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and
much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is
now for me to leave you!” Perhaps, this is too impassioned to appear on a back cover?
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The Classics Redesigned Over and Over Again.
While running some weekend errands, I spotted a series of classic books that reminded me of the classics Jessica Hische designed for Barnes & Noble. It made me wonder who did which first, and if one set was designed to compete with the other?
When I first thought about this topic to post, I thought it would be a simple "who did it better?" post, but as I did some online digging, I found that the classic novels such as Little Women, Huckleberry Finn, Jane Eyre, and so on have been designed and redesigned many times as "special editions." So, in addition to the countless editions and reprints, there is now an abundance of current printings of these books on the market.
This has me wondering, do you think this is necessary? Are different publishers putting out these books at as direct competition between each other? And if your favorite classic was produced in many different ways, would you buy each of them just because you love the book and the design?
These 3 books are examples of what Jessica Hische designed for Barnes & Nobel.
They feature bonded leather binding and foil stamping.
They feature bonded leather binding and foil stamping.
These are samples of the books I saw this weekend. They are from the
Word Cloud Classic
series and have a flexible leatherette cover. Like the above books cover designed by
Jessica Hische, they also feature foil stamping. (Unfortunately this photo doesn't do them justice)
series and have a flexible leatherette cover. Like the above books cover designed by
Jessica Hische, they also feature foil stamping. (Unfortunately this photo doesn't do them justice)
When I first thought about this topic to post, I thought it would be a simple "who did it better?" post, but as I did some online digging, I found that the classic novels such as Little Women, Huckleberry Finn, Jane Eyre, and so on have been designed and redesigned many times as "special editions." So, in addition to the countless editions and reprints, there is now an abundance of current printings of these books on the market.
These books are from Pengiun Books' Classic Clothbound series and
are designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith.
are designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith.
This has me wondering, do you think this is necessary? Are different publishers putting out these books at as direct competition between each other? And if your favorite classic was produced in many different ways, would you buy each of them just because you love the book and the design?
Updated: The Masque of the Red Death and Brave New World
I think I'll go with a little Poe for my short story.
And for the Huxley novel, I'll do Island.
And for the Huxley novel, I'll do Island.
Book Selections
Book 1: Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart"
Book 2: Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Book 2: Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
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