OUGD503 / STUDIO BRIEF 01 / A CLOCKWORK ORANGE / PAST COVERS

It is beneficial to explore what has already been created for the publication, in order to avoid repeating any design decisions that have previously been on shelves. A Clockwork Orange is a notorious and iconic book title that has also been created into a film, therefore many will pick this title in the Penguin Award brief. It is essential that I attempt to be as unique as I can, and think outside the box.

This cover depicts a caricature of a character within the book, also accompanied by a quote. Overall this cover is quite messy and grungy, as a result of the effects of the illustration with charcoal. The cover effectively communicates that the book is a horror and contains uncomfortable themes, but others may also view it in a humorous way because of the silly facial expression. The illustration appears grotesque because of the unrealistic proportions. Alongside this, the title utilises a variety of different type, from blackletter to sans serif. As a result, plus the muted tones this cover in my opinion looks outdated. Since it is important to attract the next generation of young readers, the cover must play an important part and not repel them in fear that the book will be old and uninteresting.

Contrasting with the previous example this book cover is bolder, exercising use of bold vivid colours that allow the shapes of the illustration to all stand out. The majority of the page is red, communicating a sense of danger and also effectively grabs attention alongside the other colours against the jet black elements. The hat and the eye are both iconic features of the main character Alex. The eye also cleverly communicates the 'clockwork' aspect within the title of the book. What I do not like about this book cover is that it looks very garish and childish, and the themes within the book do not really fit this criteria. A scarier cover that makes the reader uncomfortable would be more effective in my opinion.

This book cover is a lot more classy, using calm tones and featuring the glass of milk which Alex drinks in the opening scene of the movie adaptation. The use of photography brings a realistic side into the cover, along with the classic serif text communicating that this book is an iconic publication.
The book cover however does not tell the reader much about the story, which may be a positive, however it is beneficial for the reader to know that this story contains scenes of violence and horror.