Penguin Books is
a British publisher founded by Sir Allen Lane by 1935. Famous for its revolutionary
change in cover book design, Penguin Book is considered as a pioneer in setting
high standards in design which remain timeless. Penguin changed the publishing
through its high quality, cheap paperback which was affordable to audience who
was interested in reading serious books.
From the
beginning design was essential thing which made them recognizable. Penguin
chose a simple design which was clean and strong using limited color palette.
The book cover consisted of three horizontal bands (it can be regarded as a
horizontal grid) where upper and lower was in particular color while central
was white. The name of the author along with title was in white central part,
printed in Gill Sans. In the upper part was a cartouche with “Penguin Books”. The
color palette included orange and white for general fiction, green and white
for crime fiction, cerise and white for travel and adventure, dark blue and
white for biographies, yellow and white for miscellaneous, red and white for
drama; and the rarer purple and white for essays and belles-lettres and grey
and white for world affairs. The initial design was by the young office junior
Edward Young, who also drew the first version of the Penguin logo.
The most significant era of Penguin book was a post-war period when german typographer and designer Jan Tschichold redesigned 500 Penguin books, establishing a set of significant rules of design principles. Tschichold believed that clarity, rather than beauty, was the highest form of book design. Reader’s attention would be refocused to the meaning of the text rather than arbitrary, which he saw as a visual clutter. This all made him advocate of standardization. Tschichold designed a template for all Penguin books with determined positions for the title and author’s name with a line between the two. He unified the design of the front, spine and back and redrew Edward Young’s Penguin symbol.
Allen Lane expanded a business establishing Pelican Book imprint which was designed to educate rather than entertain the audience. Pelican continued to publish books for the next 50 years, often written by authors of specialized academic books. In 1940, Puffin Books as a children's imprint began to publish a series of non-fiction picture books.
Since Penguin Book cover design became iconic and marked the history of graphic design, I will show 20 inspirig book covers which portray how Penguin was changing over time. I will start from the beginning of what is considered as a company trademark.
This is a design created by Edward Young and it represents a forerunner of what is considered as its iconic design. Horizontal grid layout with limited color palette, black and white illustration in the white central section. Serif title is centered and larger than a author's name in sans serif which gives a visual dynamic. In lower yellow part is Penguin logo. This designed was later refined by Jan Tschichold who set the significant standards that changed the history of book art.
This is from Penguin Specials collections designed which published opinions and investigative journalism on current events. The design changed although they still used limited color palette. The title was in bold Gill Sans, author's name was also bold and distinctive. Upper sections was separated with orange bands while logo remained in lower part.
This book was published after the Second World War in 1946 and this design lasted for a two decade with 72 books published. Patterned background and framework illustrations with a title set in bordered box were very different from previous Penguin covers. It was designed by Gwen White.
The Abram Games collection was a first full cover Penguin design. Title and author's name was in upper part along with logo which was positioned right. Although it was very appealing design, Lane decided to stop this project after 30 covers due to increasing cost of full color print.
I really like this cover. I think it is an amazing illustration which demonstrate intelligent use of negative space forming the illusion (man and woman's face). Bright colours are in contrast with dark background and everything is simple and striking. Title and author's name are in Gill Sans, placed in upper section. Abram Games even signed it in lower left corner marking this cover as his own work of art.
This modern cover design aimed a young population. Penguin continued with full cover design hiring a talented illustrators such as John Griffits. Violet sky and black surface of earth are in contrast with this orange rocket. I like the details on a sky and how this illustration creates visual dynamic along with upper light section where titles and author's name were placed. Logo was positioned in lower light part.
It was one of the first use of photography in Penguin cover design which was fresh and creative thanks to young artist Alan Aldridge who was willing to make radical change with all elements.
This book was published after the Second World War in 1946 and this design lasted for a two decade with 72 books published. Patterned background and framework illustrations with a title set in bordered box were very different from previous Penguin covers. It was designed by Gwen White.
The Abram Games collection was a first full cover Penguin design. Title and author's name was in upper part along with logo which was positioned right. Although it was very appealing design, Lane decided to stop this project after 30 covers due to increasing cost of full color print.
I really like this cover. I think it is an amazing illustration which demonstrate intelligent use of negative space forming the illusion (man and woman's face). Bright colours are in contrast with dark background and everything is simple and striking. Title and author's name are in Gill Sans, placed in upper section. Abram Games even signed it in lower left corner marking this cover as his own work of art.
This modern cover design aimed a young population. Penguin continued with full cover design hiring a talented illustrators such as John Griffits. Violet sky and black surface of earth are in contrast with this orange rocket. I like the details on a sky and how this illustration creates visual dynamic along with upper light section where titles and author's name were placed. Logo was positioned in lower light part.
Another simple and stunning design created by Romek Marber. I like the use of colors, it has that dark mysterious sense and it is very eye catching giving a hint by good visual communication. Typography is also simple which is in harmony with a rest of design.
I like this design because of good juxtaposition of elements. It is an example of something simple but effective where two elements convey the message on a first sight.
At my opinion this is one of the best cover design. The main focus is on very striking typography which goes very well with proper use of color combination.
This is strong design in its all simplicity. Harmonious use of colors of a lips comes on fore thanks to dark background. Placing the title in the way it is makes whole artwork even more interesting.
This an interesting, rich and vibrant illustration placed on a black background. Title and author's name in white are in upper part of a cover.
The cover for a Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream is unique and distinctive from everything previous; from watercolor dynamic illustration on a central part of the cover to the Elizabethan era lettering for author's title. I think it looks great.
Legendary book requires legendary cover design which consists of bright colors whose use was a characteristics of the sixties era. Title and author's name have the same font size. This design is one of the most famous and it is still popular today. Designed and illustrated by David Palham.
New King Pinguin collection had an exciting illustrations as its target was real book lovers. This is an illustration of a John Clemenston which is rich in details and resembles to collage art. Typography is centered in upper part of the cover.
Another iconic book with not less iconic design. I like the overall appearance where every element is in form of illustration, including typography.
This stencil art design is completelly different and unique and suits well to its purpose if we have on mind that this is a Nick Cave's book. Penguin logo is left out.
This modern design uses Futura for author's name and Mrs. Eves for a title. Typography is placed in lower black section and above in white band is Penguin logo. I love the illustration, especially abstract background which resembles to dark forest.
This modern design uses Futura for author's name and Mrs. Eves for a title. Typography is placed in lower black section and above in white band is Penguin logo. I love the illustration, especially abstract background which resembles to dark forest.
This is complex collage illustration which consists of various elements that stands in good harmony along with interesting typography. This is modern design which emraced the new trends but remained unique in its appearance.
This small retrospective reflected on publishing and design evolution of one of the the most significant company in book design.
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