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Monday, June 23, 2014

Top Ten Unique and Beautiful Uses of Typography

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is Top Ten Book Cover Trends I Like, and while there are a few trends that I could have featured, in the end I decided I would focus on my #1 favourite cover trend: books in which the title is featured prominently with interesting typography.

I love love LOVE it when the cover designer creates an entirely unique font to use for the book's title and makes sure that it is the absolute focus of the cover. Not only does it bring attention to the title of the novel, but if done well, the unique typography can give you an idea of what the book will be about by setting the tone.

The following are 10 of my favourite examples of unique and beautiful uses of typography. I decided to feature covers that the readers of this blog would likely not have come across to keep it interesting, but there are of course a ton of YA covers with gorgeous typography that I love, as well. Enjoy! And let me know which one is your favourite!











36 comments :

  1. I love these covers! They're so interesting - my favorites are Always and Forever and One Thousand and One Nights.

    - Kritika @ Snowflakes & Spider Silk

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  2. I'm a massive fan of gorgeous typography and these covers are full of it! I shall definitely check out some of these books.

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  3. Yes, I agree! Just as creative and informative as an image.

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  4. Wow these covers are amazing! I especially love The Dream of Perpetual Motion Cover, it looks awesome, I would defiantly put it in a frame! :)

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    1. They are definitely frame-worthy aren't they?

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  5. LOVE THESE AYLEE!!!!! All-type covers just make me happy, I think they're every bit as gorgeous and creative as those with beautiful photographs or illustrations, but I think a lot of times type isn't given the same amount of consideration as an image which is a shame. I think Always & Forever and Five Other Lies is my favorite:)

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    1. TOTALLY AGREED!! I do wish more focus was given to the title and less to the image of a girl in a dress sometimes.

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  6. These are very cool. I like this trend as well. I LOVE the cover of Zoo City. I want to read it now and I don't even know what it's about!

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    1. To be honest, I haven't actually read any of the blurbs for these. I feel like you can figure it out just by looking at the titles! Zoo City must be a horror, it's so freaky.

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  7. Gorgeous list! I remember the first time I saw David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day and the chalkboard look of that cover is what drew me in. Typography should never be underestimated!

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    1. I had to look that one up on Goodreads - not very artistic, but I like it and it draws me in, as well!

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  8. That's a lovely, lovely list! Now I wanna read them all, though my favorite is A Long time ago and essentially true! looks so pretty

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  9. It's new to me, but A Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True is a lovely work of art! It's got this perfect old-fashioned feel to it, and all the details are fantastic :)

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  10. I've never heard of ANY of these books, but I can happily agree with you that the typography on these covers are GORGEOUS. Although, some are so unique, I can't even read the title properly. But still interesting to look at! Awesome post, Aylee!

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    1. It's true, some are difficult to read, but I like that even those ones draw you in to get you curious in the title!

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  11. Oh Aylee, this is such an incredible list! I love the covers you've picked and don't think I had heard of ANY of them, but Zoo City in particular... wow. That's a mighty fine cover! Some of these truly look like pieces of art!
    I did have some trouble reading some of the typography and titles, but really they're all incredible! Excellent post!

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    1. Thanks, Romi! And yeah, I would totally frame some of these if I could. It's true, some are difficult to read, but I like that even those ones draw you in to get you curious in the title!

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  12. Oh wow, these are some awesome ones. I really like Zoo City. I think black and white is pretty striking if done well, and that one definitely fits the bill.

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  13. I like some of these, but I have to admit that I find a few of them just too overwhelming for me. With the font being the only focus, it gets a bit difficult to read sometimes. I do love interesting typography though, but I think I'm more of a fan of having a bit of space around the writing, too. For example, I love Zoo City's cover, but I do find the No Country For Old Men one very disorienting because of the way they've aligned the text, and One Thousand and One Nights is the same for me. My eyes have no idea which way to look next. :P

    I love that these covers try something new, unique and fresh though because it really is refreshing seeing covers that aren't all about pretty dresses, couples kissing, and things like that. :P haha

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    1. I do see where you're coming from. I think for me, I actually really LOVE that feeling about these covers because there is so much to take in and to look at that I find I can stare at them for ages and never get bored. They just sort of draw me in. But I can totally see that for other people, that effect might actually be quite disorientating!

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    2. That's true! It does give you lots to look at, so I can definitely understand why you love them. They're also just so unique, which is always refreshing when it covers to book covers! :) Ya, exactly! I think that's what happens for me. I see so much that I just want to hold the book super far from my face to try and see it all! haha

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    3. Yes, I think a lot of it is that they're just so unique for book covers that I instantly respond positively to them. They're just striking! But they're no good if you can't take them all in at once.

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  14. Amazing covers! Zoo City is my favorite of the lot!

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  15. These covers look really interesting, Aylee. I love the font of The Dream of Perpetual Motion.

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  16. Ahhhh OMG PRETTY! I love love love looking at different fonts and typography! Especially when they make it so that the font actually reveals a bit about the plot. I shows they put real thought into it and the book nerd in me appreciates the effort LOL I'd certainly never seen any of these covers you've featured here but they are all stunning!! I think my favorites (it's so hard to choose) are Zoo City, Eating Animals, A Long Long Time Ago and The Dream of Perpetual Motion ♥ Thanks for sharing these Aylee ^^

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    1. Yes, agreed! I love it when they've clearly put a lot of thought into the look and feel of the cover and convey that perfectly with just a font! I always appreciate the effort!

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  17. I love typography covers. They're just so eye catching. Zoo City and Up A Tree in the Park...are probably my favourites

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  18. I love typography covers too! I have no idea why. Maybe cause it's just so bold and stands out so much more. Great picks, Aylee!

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  19. I like that you focused on one thing you like :D I have never seen any of these characters before, to be honest. My favorite one is the A long, long time ago & essentially true :)

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  20. I hadn't seen any of these before. They are gorgeous and elevate the book cover to artwork.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  21. Oh so beautiful, thanks for sharing. I love a good cover with good font, I feel like it is simple yet it says something about the mood the book has.

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  22. Every one of these covers are beautiful!

    My personal favorites are Zoo City and The Dream of Perpetual Motion. So pretty!

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  23. I think my favourite is The Dream of Perpetual Motion, it really is interesting. I find that I like when the font... or typography rather, is whimsical and flowy... maybe... I don't know. I really like font of Leigh Bardugo's novels. Do I know what I'm talking about? Not really.

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    1. haha, I DO know exactly what you're talking about! The Grisha Trilogy probably has my favourite title font of all time.

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