Workshop: Vector Critique #16
tuts workshop

Workshop: Vector Critique #16

on Jun 29th 2012 with 9 comments

Vectortuts+ is all about helping people turbo charge their skills, and today we have another special community post that will help our readers take their images to the next level. The best thing is, you can be part of it too! Find out more at the jump.

How to Participate:

  • This workshop contributor has offered a piece of work that they would like help with, please keep this in mind when you share your thoughts. The images are not perfect, but they can be with the right advice and some friendly encouragement. (Vectortuts+ reserves the right to delete any rude comments)
  • If you’re better with pictures (let’s face it, most of us are) feel free to take a screenshot of the image using Little Snapper, Skitch or a similar program and paste a link to the annotated image in the comments section with an explanation of the tweaks.

If you want to take part in the next Vectortuts+ Workshop:

Add your work to our facebook photo gallery or submit it via the Tuts+ Workshop form, with a description about the piece and the help/advice you’re looking for. We will chose one to be published on our site as part of the next Vectortuts+ Workshop, if you’re not chosen straight away – don’t worry – your work will be chosen for a future session.

Image Category: Typography

Details:

Designer: Tauseef Nadeem

Details: "what do you think of this book cover?"

Feedback

What are your thoughts on the work above? Critiquing work helps the artist see new possibilities, and it also helps you learn to evaluate art, which will help you take that same analysis and apply it to your own work. Participate in the comments below with your opinions on how to improve the work above.

 
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By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

Kate McInnes specializes in Communication Design and Digital Illustration. Based in Melbourne Australia, she is the Associate Editor of Vectortuts+ and one half of the creative duo McKelly. Find her on Twitter as @bittenbypixels and Blood Sweat Vector.  

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  • http://namangoel.com Naman Goel

    Would be PERFECT without those circles. I’m sure you added them for that extra flair, but really they’re not required. The type looks gorgeous as is. The circles break the nice flow..

    • http://namangoel.com Naman Goel

      OH, And also If this is a book cover, I’d prefer it on a solid white or light grey background instead of the gradient. That is a bit of a personal choice though.

  • Dave

    The font, while interesting, for me is difficult to read. The colors chosen seem to indicate a desire to achieve a 3D look but I’m not sure that it works. If the artists wants to stay with that font perhaps some complimentary color scheme would work better?

    Generally a book cover gives you some indication either through title, type or a picture as to what the book is about or even to just catch your eye. Without knowing what the book is about, it’s difficult for me to say if the font works or not.

  • Jordan

    My thoughts are more around what’s already here and how to improve upon it.

    Some of the blue, non-italic, backdrop sticks out at the bottom of a few of the letters, such as the last ‘E’ in “Divine”, but not on the last ‘E’ of “The”. Being consistent one way or the other would be an improvement in my eyes.

    The only other thing I notice is the dots for the I’s. The background seems to be a faint gray gradient, these dots have a plain white stroke and look to be added afterwards – unless that was the intention. They don’t seem to fit in with the rest of the look.

    I do like the way it seems to jump off the page but remain simple at the same time, great work!

  • tom

    Where to begin?

    I think you need to educate yourself. There are a zillion ways to expose yourself to the art of typography these days, but here’s a good starting point. http://typeverything.com/ Don’t sell yourself short, expect excellence. Jump in!

  • Jesus Bejarano

    i breeze by me:

    the pink/purple color should be more light
    inconsistensy in the e shadows
    the shadows in e from “divine” the vine row from “and” the “ants” from “deviants” could be more polished.
    the circles in the i should have a consistent color and be more smaller.
    call me crazy but i like the background color.

  • http://www.thepixelwizard.com Gary Harding

    I think we would need some background and context to comment on whether or not we thought this was successful or not. How and where will it be used? You’ve setup what’s called a visual language, and we can’t be sure why. In terms of general comments: it’s all the same size, and centered which is considered static and not as exciting as it could be. Also, everything is the same size so I take it all in at the same time and it’s hard to look at because it messes with my eyes. Is this a logo? If so, it’s not visually interesting enough to act as a logo yet as it is. I would suggest you kern (character space) the first word so it’s the same width as the last one, make AND smaller, and then tighten up the leading (line spacing). Or, where do you want the emphasis to be in this logo? Make that the largest size; they don’t all need to be the same size. Again, because there is no context, it is confusing why the dot in the Y of the first word is not the same as the Ys in the word below.

    G

  • Aya

    At the moment it reads effortless, maybe a little too effortless?

    Following the direction of the piece, I would recommend keeping the circle in the top ‘Y’ and axing the bottom two. I’m also assuming that it’s meant to be like a wine glass, Martini? In which case, a little more development of that graphic could be worth experimenting with(introducing a limegreen color would also add a third element, and compliment brilliantly against the purple/pink).

    Another simple trick is to use the create-outlines option on your chosen font, and then get in there with the select tool. Move some edges, combine some of the letters, really go wild with it. It’s effective and also super fun!

    One final suggestion would be to take your text and run it through the 3D perspective option – not permanently, just to see the shadows. When you notice that, you’ll see why the flat blue you’ve used seems so bland: the effect you’re going for would have different tones to it. A simple two-tone gradient would make the world of difference – but don’t limit yourself to just two, of course.

    This is good early stage, with a little research and effort it should be a really intriguing bookcover.

  • Matt

    I think this book cover would certainly be noticeable on the bookshelves… but I’m not sure it would be in an entirely inviting manner. The mainly stark gradient field is a bold choice, but I don’t think the rest of the design pays off that decision. It’s a very simple, clean design… which can work, though I don’t think this one is particularly effective. For some inspiration into minimal, yet incredibly effective design, try looking up some of the work of the great Saul Bass.

    Unless there’s some story-related reason for the illustrative dots in the Y shapes, it seems like gratuitous flourish, and inconsistently done, with the top dot retaining the magenta, while the bottom two adopt the cyan of the drop text.

    You’ve got really powerful descriptive words with “Deviants” and “Divine.” It’s really a bit disappointing that you’d take such a minimalist approach in typesetting them in simple Helvetica (or is that Arial?). Explore the world of fonts. There’s some AMAZING typefaces out there that would serve you well.

    I encourage you to read some of the advice people have given, and have another run at the design. Don’t marry yourself to this design and try to adjust and keep the same core while stubbornly holding onto what you like with this one. Save this design, and then put it aside and explore entirely new concepts. As I said, you’ve got some phenomenal words to work with in the title.

    I hope you’ll share any future concepts or designs for this project with us! It’d be great to see what direction you go!