The Smashing Book: Vote For The Book Cover Now!
The Smashing Book project is now entering its next phase. Based upon your tremendous feedback, we have finalized the concept and the outline for the book. In fact, the topics have been selected and our writers have already started to brainstorm the ideas for their chapters in the book. The one thing that still remains to be discussed is how the book will actually look like.
And since the Smashing Book is supposed to be the community book, we would like you to decide what design would fit the book best. In this post we present 6 book cover designs that were designed by the community for the Smashing Book Project (see the Book Cover Design Forum). We let you decide what book cover the Smashing Book will have. Please vote in the poll below – it’s your turn now!
Details about the book cover
We have picked out 6 most interesting book cover designs amond a number of drafts suggested in the forum. We think that every design presented below is appropriate for the Smashing Book. However, what cover makes the book look really smashing?
Please notice:
- the book will be a paperback, not hardcover as shown in some drafts below,
- the book will not be available in stores or any retail stores — it doesn’t have to fight for customer’s attention against numerous other books in stores.
- the book should make a really good impression online.
What cover design should the Smashing Book have?
Below you’ll find a brief overview of the 6 book cover designs. You will find more detailed information and preview of each design below, under the poll. You can click on the image for a larger preview. You can vote for multiple designs. Please vote now!
Participants
Here are more details and images of each design. Thank you to designers for participation!
- jokr (1)
- jokr (2)
- briannelsondesign
- motd
- Static44
- mjmonserrat
a) jokr 1
b) jokr 2
c) briannelsondesign
d) motd
e) Static44
f) mjmonserrat
Thank you for participation, folks! And please feel free to let us know your ideas, thoughts and suggestions in the comments to this post! Thank you for your time.
Ryan
April 8th, 2009 9:09 amplease after completion give me one for free
Kwaa
April 8th, 2009 9:10 amThat’s odd, my comment were removed as spam when i edited it and added:
A on the picture is the same as B in the list, btw.
Arnoud
April 8th, 2009 9:10 amI love A and C
Radeksonic
April 8th, 2009 9:13 amC and D look very nice! I hope it’ll be C
Andy
April 8th, 2009 9:15 amC is by far the best, nice and sleek like the site
Andrew Philpott
April 8th, 2009 9:29 amI would really like C if it used the arrow on the “G” in the word “Smashing”.
milder
April 8th, 2009 9:33 amHmm… they all are a bit too cheesy. I had high hopes, especially for a site like this.
jameson
April 8th, 2009 9:37 amI love b – it brings out the British meaning of smashing a little more.
andi
April 8th, 2009 9:37 amI like D, it’s clean, simple, elegant, and timeless
Ron
April 8th, 2009 9:37 amI’m liking C.
Greg
April 8th, 2009 9:39 amC. Simplest design, not too literal, not overbearingly a design book.
Bada bing!
Pandjarov
April 8th, 2009 9:39 amF i just fantastic :)
Eddy Munn
April 8th, 2009 9:43 am‘C’ looks great, very striking. :)
natasha
April 8th, 2009 9:44 amI hope the book has less grammatical errors than this post!
Vince
April 8th, 2009 9:44 amA & B = Definitely not liking both. Especially the two reload icon next together look terrible.
C = Simple, clean. Love it.
D = Mashing book? No Thanks ;)
E = Too much.
F = Is this book only about code? If not, then it doesn’t work.
Winner = C
Matt Gio
April 8th, 2009 9:46 amIm buying it, but only if it’s the cover i picked, which was C.
Axl
April 8th, 2009 9:53 amD, sober, clean…and black.
DKumar M.
April 8th, 2009 9:54 amWell… ‘C’ Looks neat and clean !!
DKumar M.
Saro
April 8th, 2009 9:57 amI love A, B & C. I can’t see how people don’t like these first 2…
kenny rogers
April 8th, 2009 10:01 amabcDefelena
April 8th, 2009 10:02 amC
Israel
April 8th, 2009 10:05 amPlease proof read your posts for grammatical errors…really annoying.
Book Cover = C
masaaa
April 8th, 2009 10:05 amA
Kane
April 8th, 2009 10:08 amF not only looks good, but it’s clever as well.
Even if the book isn’t “only about code”, as Vince correctly pointed out, in the end it all ends up as code. Using the actual code from smashingmagazine.com makes it our own little secret in the bookstore. :)
(oh… and I think you vote in the voting panel above… not the comments here. ;) )
Chris Shiflett
April 8th, 2009 10:08 am“I hope the book has less grammatical errors than this post!”
I think you mean fewer. :-)
Matt
April 8th, 2009 10:10 amC & F
Ian
April 8th, 2009 10:10 amWhy don’t the images for C match up? Which one are we voting on; the one with the solid redish background or the one with the redish background and orange “swoosh” going across the top?
Jeff Daley
April 8th, 2009 10:15 amIt came down to C & E, but C gets my vote.
Great confidence in the brand. But remove the gloss. Flame away, but for a book I want that sweet, solid orange. There is no Book 2.0.
Good entries all!
Brian Nelson
April 8th, 2009 10:19 amHey Ian,
I designed ‘C’ and I had submitted the solid reddish background before they had released the vector logos for the design competition. So, I resubmitted the design with the actual logotype and the orange swoosh in the background. Not sure why they put the first image up there. I appreciate the positive feedback, everyone.
kesavan
April 8th, 2009 10:21 amMy vote goes to D
Abhishek
April 8th, 2009 10:24 amhi… i just love smashing magazine.. i think its an great evolution for the design world… its my bible now… please send me a copy once its released… please please…
tomitzel
April 8th, 2009 10:26 amC
David
April 8th, 2009 10:27 amb !!!
Lou Red
April 8th, 2009 10:27 amB and E are my favorites, but more so B
Tim Ward
April 8th, 2009 10:32 amI think A and F look the most professional. I think the Broken glass (E) is a little Obvious.
Hugo Moreno
April 8th, 2009 10:33 amI really like the C
Jorge Linares
April 8th, 2009 10:35 amI liked F the most, however since the book it’s probably not just about codes the perfect for this book would be C
Ryan Blaind
April 8th, 2009 10:36 amI vote for C. Hands down. Clean, simple, timeless.
Anus
April 8th, 2009 10:37 amI like C and D!
I want it!
khairi
April 8th, 2009 10:42 ami like design ‘A’ – something about the simplicity and muted colors that appears very much appealing to me :-)
Luca
April 8th, 2009 10:45 amI like the f cover
foresth
April 8th, 2009 10:53 amWow, they all look gorgeous.
But my favourite is of course the black (d). Stunning. :)
Justin Sane
April 8th, 2009 10:53 amI go for C… would like A, but the arrowy ‘o’s just don’t do, IMHO.
cheers.
maneesh Prabhalayam
April 8th, 2009 10:54 amI liked
f,
a (but its not that visually appeling),
b,
d
Sinoun
April 8th, 2009 10:57 amC and D are great… but D takes the cake! I love the black, it looks very sleek and awesome… kind of like the “black book” of design. It also stands out really nicely, and would look great on my book case!
Tollboy
April 8th, 2009 11:01 amimo “C” is nice but it would not work as a paperback, it would look a bit cheap. “A” as a paperback though would look great with a matte finish.
cp
April 8th, 2009 11:06 amI vote for C, very smashing design.
puto
April 8th, 2009 11:06 amque llege argentina la concha de tu madre ehhhh amigitoww
Nick
April 8th, 2009 11:11 ama – i don’t like the big reload icon (and the small ones too in “book”)
b – i like it more than a, but still don’t like the small reload icons
c – i like it
d – i like it (if it ends up as “smashing” instead of “mashing” like mentioned before)
e – i’d prefer a non-distorted clean cover like the previus
f – i like it (i’d prefer using different sizes of the font instead of code)
voting order for me: [ c, d, f ] b, e, a – i’m voting for the first three
durnin
April 8th, 2009 11:12 amMan, NOT C. D or F work for me.
stiggs
April 8th, 2009 11:30 amI’d go with “F” or “A” (as a close 2nd)
cnager
April 8th, 2009 11:36 amnot to be a negative nancy, but these designs aren’t that impressive.
i’ll vote C and i think F and A have potential, but the reloads in “book” need to go.
i still love smashmag and will continue to check it about every hour – ha.
Omer
April 8th, 2009 11:38 amC… Absolutely C.
Tiago Sá
April 8th, 2009 11:39 amI vote C, most definitely. Simple and appealing.
bren
April 8th, 2009 11:40 amlovin’ the f
Katia
April 8th, 2009 11:42 amC is just too simple and to evident: deceiving for a creative community… the F proposition cannot be seen very clearly compared with the other propositions, it’s hard to compare!
But as a print graphic designer, the F is the best by far (b coming after)
Jane
April 8th, 2009 11:44 amThese look like yearbook covers :D
william
April 8th, 2009 11:45 amThey are all really good. D caught my eye though.
milus
April 8th, 2009 11:48 amD! The black book
Sue
April 8th, 2009 11:51 amCongratulations to all the designers. I’d be happy with any of them. Well done.
blixen
April 8th, 2009 11:53 amb is best. but without the reload arrow :)
mapero
April 8th, 2009 11:56 amsolution is D :-D.
Realy nice work. Simple Clean and Strong.
gErgin
April 8th, 2009 11:57 amI think B is looking like Pepsi logo and C is inpired by Adobe :)
Jamison Smith
April 8th, 2009 11:58 amI like C and D… .. it would have to be D… but they all look pretty good!
Mel
April 8th, 2009 12:00 pmIf the book should make a really good impression online, the cover “C” it’s the best. I loved all the covers, the designers did a great job but the “C” cover it’s just the Smashing Magazine face! I mean, look that cover… I want this book! And I am pretty sure you want it too! :)
culvi
April 8th, 2009 12:05 pmI really not like WHOA on any of them but F is the best of the rest!
Tony O'Donohoe
April 8th, 2009 12:12 pmI can’t believe there are so few votes for F. It is the only choice!!!
C is ok, but just ok
D is like web 2.0 on a book!
E is tacky and dated
A is boring
B looks like it should be a software box!
F people, F!!!
Peter Skenandore
April 8th, 2009 12:15 pmD is the standout for bookstore shelves and the one I want on my bookshelf.
F works for the back cover maybe markup interspersed with reviews, credits etc.
Paul
April 8th, 2009 12:17 pmA – Nice unique design
B – Looks like the french flag
C – The only design that truly carries the Smashing Brand. Love it!
D – Clean design, would be my second choice
E – Interesting smash concept, probably my favorite design, but it’s just not smashing magazine
F – Does not catch the eye.
C!
Kristina Kerbel
April 8th, 2009 12:18 pmI vote for D! It’s really very nice cover
Sara McAllister
April 8th, 2009 12:22 pmIt would be helpful to know what the concept for the book is before voting on a cover. The fact that a concept has been decided on was mentioned, however, the actual concept wasn’t stated.
John Tarbox
April 8th, 2009 12:24 pmA
Sythe
April 8th, 2009 12:36 pmF shows the design side of SM as well as the technical part. A beautyfull cover in my opinion!
And it will look awesome between my other books!
sophus
April 8th, 2009 12:38 pmB
Matthew McManus
April 8th, 2009 12:38 pmC!!
globetro
April 8th, 2009 12:43 pmI like D. It’s simple and elegant, and I think would be the most eye-catching in a book store.
John
April 8th, 2009 12:44 pmI like D and C
Joop Vos
April 8th, 2009 12:48 pmSM in black is beautiful = D
adrian boioglu
April 8th, 2009 12:50 pmF
Lea Verou
April 8th, 2009 1:02 pmFirst choice: F
Second: D
Third: C
Ben
April 8th, 2009 1:07 pmC is easily the best, but F is second with D a close third.
j2
April 8th, 2009 1:08 pmC would be amazing if the cover was that digital illustration of the Smashing Book – it would be like one of those recursive pictures that doesn’t quite work
chris nara
April 8th, 2009 1:13 pmI love the second version of C.
Jarnesjö
April 8th, 2009 1:18 pmNo doudt about it. I love D! Less is more.
hans
April 8th, 2009 1:20 pmD is the best.
The black color looks precious, sober and clean.
Nice job!
Rakazishi
April 8th, 2009 1:27 pmC is very good and it should be cover for Smashing Book. I’ve voted C and A.
hrvojeb
April 8th, 2009 1:30 pmC – go for it!
Kai
April 8th, 2009 1:37 pmI like option A the best but those two reload symbols in ‘book’ bother me. I think the design would be much better if the typography was kept very clean and minimal, leaving the uniqueness of the pattern to shine on its own. Other than that, I really am not crazy about any of the others.
Smashing Editorial
April 8th, 2009 1:49 pm308 votes were done using the same IP (224.229.79.88) and have been removed now.
Amy
April 8th, 2009 1:57 pmOption C is by far the best, with a few tweaks.
1. Rotate the “S” about 10-20 degrees counter-clockwise. You want to mimic how the “S” would look if its bounding square were level, as it is when confined within a book shape.
2. Use the layout in the “photograph” version of the 2 samples. This means including 2 shades of red-orange and the arrow on the “g.”
3. You may want to test out a version of C using the same gradients as the logo uses. First because it would be a more solid tie-in branding-wise, and second because I think it could look sharper than solid blocks of color — because of the simple design, you can get away with fancy-pants 2.0 type gradients and highlights with this design.
C is clear and strong and will be eye-catching on a shelf. Most of the other designs are too, though D is a close runner-up to C.
Great work briannelsondesign and motd!
dj
April 8th, 2009 2:03 pmCould have went either way, C or D. I thought D was something different, minimalistic, professional, basic. Basic in a good sense, as in, getting back to basics. No marketing hype, no time wasters, but real substance. Also thought it laid out a foundation for future book covers, with perhaps changing/adding to the image/color, a concept similar to O’Reilly colophon. Last choice was, A. Way too busy.
Marc Ambrose
April 8th, 2009 2:06 pmD obviously
midas
April 8th, 2009 2:26 pmA is my first choice. F the second.
Matt Palmer
April 8th, 2009 2:47 pmfor the love of god, it does not need to have BOOK written on the cover. Once it’s printed everyone will be able to work out that it is infact a book.
Keep it at “Smashing” and don’t dumb it down.
If you go to a store and buy a t-shirt with an adidas logo on it, you don’t see “adidas t-shirt” written on it as well. We all know what it is, so get to the point.
No. 3 is the best book cover here, the others are trying a bit too hard and not capturing anything.
hdoug
April 8th, 2009 2:58 pmC… definitely C
matt
April 8th, 2009 3:00 pmC is the best by far.
Therapix
April 8th, 2009 3:17 pmVoted C but D is also nice.
Lise
April 8th, 2009 3:30 pm(a) is much too busy (reminds me of a colony worms …)
(b) Why the color blue?
(d) and (e) . Looks too much like a stamp placed randomly on a page and , please, no need to mention it is a book! We know it!
(f) it does not work for me. Too busy and what is the point of this html code on the cover?
We are left with (c). Clean . ..too bad it also says “book” …remove it and it will be really nice.
I am sorry for being critical. I recognize that designing a book cover is not a trivial exercise .
I have tried …:-(!
R Correia
April 8th, 2009 4:02 pmVoted f it’s original and the code gives it a nice touch, I’m sure I’ll buy this book for my collection, and I’ll love to have one with that cover. Excellent work of the designer in my opinion…
Denny
April 8th, 2009 4:04 pmLove the theme and color feel of C. If we saw that even from a distance we get to know it was great SMASH.