Reading Rainbow

Book cover design has truly become an art form thanks to amazing designers who incorporate beautiful illustration and custom typography. I have noticed recently that many publishing houses have commissioned designers and illustrators to redesign new editions of classic novels. Of course, it helps that these are some of my favorite writers and novels, EVER. Among my favorites are the Penguin Classics Wuthering Heights, The Scarlet Letter, and Pride & Prejudice (obviously) designed by Cuban artist Ruben Toledo. Toledo incorporated his distinctive fashion illustration style to reinterpret modern versions of these book jackets.

Attention: Broken Record Allert! Guess who, in addition to being amazing at everything, has also redesigned covers for Barnes & Noble Classics? Yup, Jessica Hische. Seriously, I need to meet her. Hische referenced the look and feel of old fashioned leather-bound books (like those Ron Burgandy might have in his "rich mahogany"smelling apartment) with a modern twist with typography. I really love the details on the spines of the books, which include Huckleberry Fin, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Jane Eyre (Ahh), Wuthering Heights (Ahhhh), and Pride & Prejudice (Ahhhhhh). Like really? She is my long lost big sister.

Illustrator and cartoonist Jillian Tamaki also created a unique series of book jackets for the Penguin Classics The Secret Garden and Emma (quite possibly my favorite two books OF ALL TIME), as well as Black Beauty using embroidery. How amazing!

Not exactly reinventing the classics, Roberto de Viq is another designer whose work has graced the cover of many a novel. Classics in the making, in my opinion ;)

 

She does it again! Pretty "b" by Jessica Hische, Daily Drop Cap.