Penguin Design Award - Book analysis, Initial Ideas & Research
Carrying out a book analysis will give me some key points to develop on from to begin developing ideas on how create a visual representation of the book that meets the prior problem analysis.
Book analysis
Anthony Burges took influence from himself, was a very self indulgent writer.
The original unpublished book was divided into 3 sections and 7 chapters in each = 21 chapters.
21 is the symbol of maturity, a strong concept that revolves around the books content.
The 21st Chapter was erased in publishing though, this chapter shows how the main character changes his life and gets bored of the violence and turns his violent energy into creative actions.
Definition of clockwork orange = queer to the limit of queerness, queer meaning odd.
My definition = Unlimited Oddness.
Set in a futuristic City.
Acceptance of Violent youth culture.
Narrated in "Nadast" a combination of Russian and Cockney.
Gang of teenagers lead by 15 year old Alex. Dim, Pete & George.
Hang out at Korova Milkbar, drinking drug laced milk.
Spend time mugging robbing gang fighting, raping and stealing cars.
Alex gets sent to prison for murder & rape of an old woman they rob and his friend hits him and leaves him to get caught and sent to prison for 14 years.
- Gets abused in prison
- Tables turn and he gets abused in prison by guards and cell mates
- Takes interest in classical music and the Bible
- Interprets its contents as sex, drinking and violence
- Kills a cell mate in a fight
- This leads him to be an experiment for a behavior technique called Ludovico = Brainwashing by making him watch constant violence in turn making him feel ill at the thought
Comes out of prison after 2 years reformed but now defenseless.
- Old victims take revenge on him
- Dim and old enemy Billyboy are now police officers and settle past scores with him with revenge and leav him beaten, he takes refuge at F. Alexander the husband of wife he murdered and raped
- He suss's him out when he recognized the "Nadast" slang
- He locks him in an apartment playing classical music too him after learning about the brainwashing techniques of over saturating him with things he likes in a hope he commits suicide.
- He throws himself out of a window.
- Government discover the side effects of the brainwash technique and revert him back to old ways of violence and he forms a new gang
Initial ideas
Emulate the weirdness & grittiness of the book through abstract patterns and textures through digital and hands on process's.
Show a transition of behavior from good too bad through visual representations playing around with; color, pattern, type, imagery & shape.
Visualize and combine visual elements that represent Russian and Cockney language as this is this is the narrating focus.
Use simple iconography as a means of visualizing iconic aspects of the film, try include all main events to provide a breakdown of the books events as support for the blurb and offer an insight to the books contents. Adopt an aesthetic style (color choice, texture, shape, image making style [traditional & digital transition] etc) that emulates the weirdness & grittiness of the book and make the use of digital process's to emulate the futuristic city setting.
Emulate a brainwashing through visualization of fading (Gradients, color blocks, texture etc) , this could relate perfect using the starting point as something quite abstract and busy to show the violence within the futuristic setting too something quite dull and neutral, this neutrality could represent the milk they drink. A main cause of the violence and behavior so the transition could be viewed both ways, from neutral too abstract to represent how the drug infused milk is a cause of the problems or from abstract to neutral to show the brainwashing of the character turning him from bad to good.
The definition of clockwork orange is ultimate weirdness and oddness, this leaves unlimited opportunity to play around with abstract imagery using digital and traditional process's to create a psychedelic and weird feel which also relates to the use and effects of the drugged milk, adding grittiness through other visuals (color etc) will also help emulate the violence.
Play around with perspective views as a way of showing Alex's changed output on life. Kaleidoscopes, reversed microscope, microscope on molecules as a way of changed perspective on something.
Play around with deconstruction to show the un-orderly life that leads to violent youth culture.
Emulate energy, theres a lot of excess energy what leads to some of the acts in the book. Energy can be emulated through high impact color, type & image application.
Distraction and Bordem, this could operate as a main theme to work from that could offer good visual responses. Bordem is a reason for most of youth violence and could be seen as a distraction from growing up, this distraction then changes into a focus on growing up towards the end of the book. These are all worth exploring.
Pay homage too the original intentions of the book based around 21 a symbol of maturity. Work with the idea of 3 sections and 7 chapters in each section, maybe this could form the structure?
DONT DILUTE THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK WITHIN IDEAS, KEEP THEM QUITE OBVIOUS SO THEY COMMUNICATE ASPECTS OF THE BOOK RATHER THAN A COMPLEX CONCEPT.
- The readers will appreciate considered concepts but it needs to still engage with them and resonate with the content of the book rather than a branched off idea based around some content of the book.
- The cover needs to appeal to the broadest audience possible so maintaining a neutrally versatile and understandable outcome is important.
Based on initial idea generation a number of visual inspirations have been gathered to help spur thoughts on how to place these ideas into visual context, considering the emulation of technology & traditional principles through production, visuals and concepts as a backing thought. (COP FEED)
Julián Villagra
Typographic focus using red white and blue scheme with hits of yellow and green for visual impact.
Abstract concept for a gym, very unique way of presenting this oversaturated mediocre sector.
The abstract aesthetic uses letters, numbers and symbols as main visual points but theres a certain structure and neatness that references the disciplined attitude of gym goers. Considering how to represent aspects of the book with 2 contrasting elements, this would show the transition the main character goes through from bad to good but the in-between elements (Pictorial, color, type etc) represents the main points within the book.
Craig & Karl
To show a transition and shift of behavior this example of a changing brand identity using illustrations, infographics and typographic symbols could inspire ideas to use lots of visual elements to represent a lot of aspects of the book in one high impact outcome with a strong abstract "mashed up" aesthetic that represent the whole feel of the book. The use of clashing colors could also influence the abstract and "queer" feel the book cover needs to represent.
The moving image part would be a nice way of expanding ideas of technology and innovation through book covers, classic output relating to the development of distribution of communication (COP FEED), although not needed for the brief requirements turning still image into a moving GIF would be a good way of placing the transition of behavior into another visual concept.
The main character is going through a lot of emotions, his feelings are all over the place. This design resonates with that idea with a very digital feel, to me it shows a mash up of data and information with a very digital vibe something that can relate to my technology considerations but also the thought process's of the main characters brain. Utilizing multiple angles, shapes, patterns and clashing colors like this example will help resonate this mash up of emotions, maybe even possibly showing a transitional change to emulate when he was brain washed and went from been bad to good.
Expansion of the idea of deconstruction and the transition into something more ordered these example's visualize it perfect.
Deconstructed type and layouts with a digital and futurist feel. Emulates the setting of the book, the mash up of languages (Russian and Cockney) and the transitional change of behavior.
These designs make perfect use of simple and subtly applied:
Neutral and washed out tone with color application.
Pattern application.
Gradients.
Line work.
Minimal type.
Deconstructed layouts.
All these elements could influence how I emulate a lot of the books content for example the use of lines and points could dictate the behavioral journey.
Textures and patterns could emulate the grittiness of the books content.
Gradients could further support an idea of behavior transition.
The deconstructed layout with application of grids and structural visuals could emulate how behavior was erratic but transitioned into something more structured, matured and future oriented. The idea of futuristic settings could be supported by abstract color applications while also emulating the weirdness of the book as the definition of clockwork orange is "queer to the limit of queerness".
Expanding on the idea of sectioning off based on 21 the figure of maturity split up into 3 sections with 7 chapters this idea could influence that with the application of typographic and visual elements that represent the books content. Alternative angles can also show different perspectives, this could show Alex's perspective on life as it changes through the book.
Nice application of gritty textures and clashing colors with deconstructed layouts but maintaining good digestion of typographic information. The greyscale and color application also has quite a digital and traditional vibe relating to ideas of technology and traditional principles, theres a certain energy emitted within these outcomes that could influence ideas on how to communicate the energy within the book.
Deconstructing the actual typography and allowing imagery to do the communicating would be one way of showing altered perspective and the transition of deconstruction to structure to show the change of good behavior to sensible behavior.
Flaneur
Yukiko design of Flaneur has a kaleidoscopic theme to the aesthetic, a kaleidoscope's are something that are known for changing perspectives of the norm into abstract and trippy aesthetics, this change of perception could relate to the progression and change of behavior in the book but could also inspire ideas to show the transition of a sober mind to a drug influenced mind through the drinking of drugged milk. A main contribution to the violence within the film.
Hugh Frost
A main focus of the book is how youth culture transition there energy into violence and such acts, Hugh Frosts designs omit a feeling of energy through these deconstructed layouts and abstract asthetics. A certain sci-fi feel feel could influence ideas of a drugged mine and an altered perspective on life through the strong themes of violence and rape within the book. The use of florescent colors could influence further feelings of drugs and behaviour change but also these bright tones could reference the time the book was written and Anthony Burges self indulgent influences, they also have a futuristic feel something that would reference the futuristic city setting. Another important color theory consideration.
Alternative image and type making techniques within the deconstructed layout can show multiple different aspects of the book and with the deconstructed layout showing how un-orderly life was within youth culture, a transition from this un-order to order could be shown within the design layout to show the transition of behavior from bad to good.
Studio Julia
Creating abstract aesthetics to show the energy and feel of the book can be done 2 ways, using complex type and image making or more simple process's like Julia have done. This more simple approach could relate to the cut and paste methods of design production before the introduction of cyberspace technologies something investigated in my COP thesis. The use of color theory could be used in more high impact ways with these more clean cut deconstructions.
The overall concept of the design is what interests me and really does expand on how I talked about the change of communication from verbal to visual, Julia talks about "The act of reading becomes purley verbal or visual" and how "The articles are ready many times over different perspectives, establishing new connections between them". As there is a strong consideration to the narrating that combines Russian & Cockney language an expansion of these ideas of visualizing language could provide a strong outcome.
Jeremy Leslie
Self publishing through the rise of accessible software and hardware was another subject discussed in my COP investigations and will feed in perfect to these ideas, Jeremy Leslie investigates the rise of independent publishing. A number of difference covers show an abstract visualization of the mags content, using striking visual aesthetics with a supporting concept is what I will take from this. I want to visualize the nitty gritty aspects of the book in an abstract way that would draw the viewers in, these manipulations into abstract patterns would also have a nice technological vibe too them referencing past COP investigations but also referencing the futuristic setting of the book.
Spin 360
Aesthetically the cover of Spins monograph is beautiful but the contrast is what I want to outline to provide further ideas development within my cover design. To show progression of behavior taking influence from the scribbled mess into ordered typographic layouts seen in this 50-50 split would be an effective idea. Using 2 very different image or type process's/making techniques will allow this contrast and visualization of progression.
Studio C&C
To contrast on the simplicty of Spins, Jeremy Leslies, and Julia studio S.A.D magazines visuals have potential to influence the presentation of so many visual aspects with contrasting, supporting and rejecting concepts to show rebellion, progression and literal representation's of some of the books content.
The inside and the cover all share a mash of visuals, colors, typography and image styles (3D, traditional, vector, photographic) all these expand on past investigations into visual mediums and how they change the perception of communication yet the structure is somewhat ordered and feels considered. Experiment with multiple visual mediums in my outcome in this abstract way but also tie them together in some sort of structure to show the progression of behavior from bad too good.
Phaidon
Visually an aesthetic artists book cover needs to support the inside contents of the book, Im not designing the inside layout of the book as its a general reading book the inside will be focusing on legible communication of information. So to maintain this support of visuals on the outside and communication on the inside a strong link between the books content and the visualization on the cover needs to be mad. Phaidon influences the simple use of color and simple shape and typography to support the inside content, expanding on this simple idea of color could influence ideas of using color theory to present the transitions of behavior in the book. The main focus on milk could be used as well using the neutral tones as a color contrast point.
Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja
This cover design relates back to the development of communication writing systems, the the Chinese alphabet reverts back to visual considerations as a communicative tool, contrasting with Roman counterparts focus on readability and legibility. The idea of Chinese alphabet is too be legible imagery that communicates a message, this idea of legible IMAGERY rather than TYPOGRAPHY will be my focus in the cover design, placing aspects of the book into well communicated visuals.
This consideration of ancient communication techniques is contrasted with a very abstract and contemporary visual aesthetic. Playing around with contrasting contemporary and traditional aesthetics will be a focus point in visual developments, be it using traditional communication principles and contrasting it with contemporary aesthetics, or using contemporary communication distributions and contrasting it with traditional design principles. Both exploring the progression of typography as a support from the main concept at hand.
Pattern & Abstract Typography
Tumblr is a great resource for finding contemporary graphic design works, the aesthetic of these carefully contemporary works all have an aesthetic that resonates well with technological and traditional process's to work with ideas from the context of the book and to support expansions of COP.
The main focus when gathering these visuals was on abstract pattern and deconstructed and abstract typography.
Textures could be used to show the grittiness of the mood within book and gradients used to emulate the futuristic and abstract city setting of the book. This example uses colors and tones that have quite a digital aesthetic too them so exploring this kind of color usage would be effective not only to maintain COP influence but too show the futuristic setting of the book.
Altering the perspective of the typography would be one way to support abstract patterns, so the typography supports the pattern but keep important typographic information legible to maintain good hierarchy of information and good digestion and support of the covers content. Playing on the idea of altered perspectives would be one way to show the main characters perspective on life, turning him from bad to good but also during this transition his perspective and aims in life turn too family and future plans.
A futuristic city is the focus of the book. using simple shapes and textures and patterns would be an interesting way of visualizing a cityscape and a good way of stripping back aesthetics so there remains a typographic focus. A main requirement for the Penguin guidelines.
Simple illustrations can carry color and texture very well as a way of emulating the feel of the book and the futuristic setting, taking influence from the simple illustrations here could visualize key points of the book to draw readers in and provide a glimpse of the content of the book as a support for the blurb.
The use of abstract shapes and patterns could be expanded so much, transitioning from visuals & illustrations that clearly connote aspects of the book to completely morphed and abstract aesthetics that don't really represent anything could show the time when Alex was brainwashed and his behavior changed from good to bad.
A - B connotes a transition perfectly as a means of emulating travel and could relate to the change the character goes through with his behavior. The use of 1 color could relate well to drawing in focused attention to key typographic elements within the hierarchy and the color choice could carry considered color theory to emulate the mixed emotions within the book.
Creating a mash up of photographic imagery and combining with made imagery both vector and analogue will show multiple approaches to keep with the feeling of technology and analogue as a main feed point but also this mash up of different mediums would give off a certain energy and show a mix of emotions to show the transition of feelings Alex goes through during the book. (Violent, Brainwashing, Turns good, Turns bad again, Wants to plan for the future) These could all be visualized using different image making techniques eg photographs could represent the past, digital image making could represent his future plans. Each making technique holds a concept too.
To emulate the use of Russian and Cockney language could be represented through iconic visuals like Soviet style typography and the use of color, manipulate this in a digital pixelated way like this example will help emulate a futuristic way. The deconstructed layout here is supported by the pixelation, the squareness of the pixels has a brutal and angular feel that relates well to Russian constructivist a movement worth exploring. The squares feed into the modular grid system used that brings the deconstruction into some kind of order, this relates to the behavior transition in the book from unorganized/bad to organized/getting life together and futue plans/good behavior.
Expansion of the idea of deconstruction and the transition into something more ordered these example's visualize it perfect.
Deconstructed type and layouts with a digital and futurist feel. Emulates the setting of the book, the mash up of languages (Russian and Cockney) and the transitional change of behavior.
Moby Digg
Combining traditional and digital visual techniques is important within these ideas, Moby Digg balance this out perfect with the inclusion of strong color and texture that could hold a lot of meaning that resonates with the books content. There use of analogue brush marks that look to be digitally manipulated contrast and balance well with the minimal type with the brush marks acting as a framework for the positioning of the type. An interesting alternative to using a grid. Play around with image making marks and random arrangements as a frame work for type content to be applied? The random analouge marks could emulate the unpredictable behavior while the structure applied by digital and typographic elements show the structure and change of behavior that goes on as the book progress's.
Cecillia S
These examples by Cecillia S give perfect influence to how simple vector based iconography can work in deconstructed and abstract layouts, the iconography maintains good communication of the books content while the deconstruction could emulate erratic behavior. The use of a limited color palette also draws key focus into visual elements while creating a certain motion within a still printed outcome, this idea of motion could emulate ideas of progression and change within the book. Using alternative type styles could also show the mixed emotions as type as pointed out by Dalton Magg in COP can carry strong or soft emotions, a good way of subtly showing behavior change.
These designs make perfect use of simple and subtly applied:
Neutral and washed out tone with color application.
Pattern application.
Gradients.
Line work.
Minimal type.
Deconstructed layouts.
All these elements could influence how I emulate a lot of the books content for example the use of lines and points could dictate the behavioral journey.
Textures and patterns could emulate the grittiness of the books content.
Gradients could further support an idea of behavior transition.
The deconstructed layout with application of grids and structural visuals could emulate how behavior was erratic but transitioned into something more structured, matured and future oriented. The idea of futuristic settings could be supported by abstract color applications while also emulating the weirdness of the book as the definition of clockwork orange is "queer to the limit of queerness".
Nice application of gritty textures and clashing colors with deconstructed layouts but maintaining good digestion of typographic information. The greyscale and color application also has quite a digital and traditional vibe relating to ideas of technology and traditional principles, theres a certain energy emitted within these outcomes that could influence ideas on how to communicate the energy within the book.
James Hoff - Aluminium
An interesting way of making pattern and relating it to the traditional to digital principles could take influence from these aluminum relief press's, using chemical etching process's to make the initial outcome then digital manipulating the imagery playing around with color, textures and other morphing techniques to emulate the weirdness and grittiness of the book.
Our Polite Society
The use of language is quite a key feature in the book, language and communication is something I explored a lot in my COP and would be a nice way of merging the Russian & Cockney slang narrating style 'Nadast' together. Maybe create a sort of symbolic language using iconography and supporting type to communicate the books content and the given body copy for the cover and blurb?
Deconstructing the actual typography and allowing imagery to do the communicating would be one way of showing altered perspective and the transition of deconstruction to structure to show the change of good behavior to sensible behavior.
Confetti
Nice mash up of textures that have a hands on analogue feel with digital manipulations.
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