Cut Paper Classics
06/19/2024
When I started Odgis + Co in 1985, one of my earliest assignments was to design a series of book covers for Vintage Books, a division of Random House. These covers were for well-respected classics that were being reprinted in paperback; they all contained powerful subject matter.
This was in the pre-digital era. I took a minimalistic approach. Given the notoriety of these titles and authors, I used type as imagery and worked with cut paper to symbolize the topic. The covers were abstract representations of the content, with color playing a crucial role in reflecting the writers' attitudes and intentions. The balance of scale and form, with the composition extending past the edge of the cover, intentionally created dynamic tension. My goal was to give the viewer a glimpse of what they would experience while reading the book.
This was in the pre-digital era. I took a minimalistic approach. Given the notoriety of these titles and authors, I used type as imagery and worked with cut paper to symbolize the topic. The covers were abstract representations of the content, with color playing a crucial role in reflecting the writers' attitudes and intentions. The balance of scale and form, with the composition extending past the edge of the cover, intentionally created dynamic tension. My goal was to give the viewer a glimpse of what they would experience while reading the book.
