Penguin unveils cover designs for new Essentials range

Words: Emily Gosling
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Date: 3 August 2015; News
Graphic Design

Penguin has unveiled covers for its new Penguin Essentials range, each of which is created by a different artist. The range draws together books the publisher deems to be “some of the most important books from the last 100 years, with covers designed by contemporary artists so that they feel fresh and unexpected, appealing to a new generation of readers.” The artists behind the new range include Rol Overwekk, Jan Van Der Veken and Oliver Hibert.

A book cover for “In the Country of Men” by Hisham Matar. The illustration features a symmetrical, geometric composition of diamonds and starbursts in red, green and cream. A quote from The Times at the bottom describes the work as “extraordinary, brilliant, glowing with emotional truth”. — Above
Left
Christopher Worker: In the Country of Men
Right
Jan Van Der Veken: Perfume

A book cover for Perfume by Patrick Süskind. A black perfume bottle at the bottom releases a plume of white scent that swirls around several reclining figures and the bold, orange title “PERFUME”. A small circle at the top reads “the story of a murderer”. — Above
Jan Van Der Veken: Perfume

A collage book cover for E. M. Forster’s “A Passage to India”. The design features layered vintage ephemera, including a botanical illustration of white flowers and a faded architectural sketch. — Above
Left
Ali Campbell: A Passage to India
Right
Attak: Asylum

A book cover for “Asylum” by Patrick McGrath. A distorted, red-tinted face is layered over a splattered lime green background, with the title written in bold, red brushstrokes. A quote from The Times at the top reads “Brilliant, utterly gripping”. — Above
Attak: Asylum

A collage for a book cover featuring a shouting child wearing a black bicorne hat and a yellow and black military jacket. A red rosette pinned to the hat reads “Keith Waterhouse”, and the title “Billy Liar” is written in bold black type. — Above
Left
Rol Overwekk: Billy Liar
Right
Oddds: Foe

A blue line illustration for a book cover titled “Foe” by J. M. Coetzee. The design features a sailing ship, an anchor and two skulls, all framed by a nautical border resembling a map. A ribbon across the centre reads “A superb novel” New York Times. — Above
Oddds: Foe

A colourful book cover on a black background features a stylised hand with an eye in the palm. Bold, bubbly typography reads “Hideous Kinky” and “Esther Freud”. A small black banner across the top reads “ ‘Just open the book and begin...’ Spectator”. — Above
Left
Oliver Hibert: Hideous Kinky
Right
Ricardo Valiente: The History of Love

The book cover for The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. The word “LOVE” is rendered in large, 3D block lettering that runs vertically down the centre against a red and blue gradient background. — Above
Ricardo Valiente: The History of Love

A collage of weathered, hand-painted signs and posters. A large white sign at the top reads “THE MOSQUITO COAST” by “Paul Theroux”. Other signs feature phrases such as “Banana Boat”, “Jeronimo Real Estate” and a quote from “The Daily Telegraph”. — Above
Left
Colt Bowden: Mosquito Coast
Right
Aitch: Moon Tiger

An illustration for a book cover titled “Moon Tiger”. A surreal face is composed of a cobra, a blue flower, a palm tree and a setting sun against a starry black background. A yellow banner at the bottom reads “Penelope Lively” and includes a quote from the Sunday Telegraph describing the work as “kaleidoscopic, one of the best”. — Above
Aitch: Moon Tiger

Further Info

www.penguin.co.uk

About the Author

Emily Gosling

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Emily joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in the summer of 2014 after four years at Design Week. She is particularly interested in graphic design, branding and music. After working It's Nice That as both Online Editor and Deputy Editor, Emily left the company in 2016.

Penguin unveils cover designs for new Essentials range

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