Design and audience
October 4, 2015 7:22 PM Subscribe
Hi, parents of young children. I've been commissioned to design and format a series of small books aimed at you and your kind. How do you want it to look?
The focus of these book is fun activities at home to increase your child's (age 4-7) mathematical reasoning. The books are aimed at parents, not children. The pictures/diagrams are also for parents, not children. The way the books are written, the parents will read the books to themselves, and then later, without the books (for example, while shopping) do the activities.
The author (who trusts my professional judgement, who's worked with me before and tracked me down to use me again) believes that bright or primary colours are the way to go. I think that parents of that age group of children tend to be given publications that look like they're designed for the child, not the adult. I think that this sometimes reduces not so much the seriousness of the topic (because we all know math is fun - c'mon, it is too!) but to me, that sort of design seems to condescend to parents, and assume their tastes are like those of a child. (I'm also not convinced that kids love primary colours either, you know, I didn't, but then I like maths).
So Part A, as a person who works or lives with smallish people, what's your opinion of book covers like this, and this?
Part B, if you agree with me, how would you explain to the author the reasoning of using a more sophisticated palette?
(No, I'm not thinking of using dark brown and navy, but the palette I do have in mind, is clearly not what is normally considered appealing to children.
Yes, I am aware that ultimately, it's my client's decision, and I'm not precious about such things, but other clients have expressed their delight at the results when I use my professional judgement, instead of doing what they expected, which is often stereotypical.
Yes, I will aim to make the design eye catching and interesting and non-threatening, because it is, after all, about maths, and people are scared of maths.)
The focus of these book is fun activities at home to increase your child's (age 4-7) mathematical reasoning. The books are aimed at parents, not children. The pictures/diagrams are also for parents, not children. The way the books are written, the parents will read the books to themselves, and then later, without the books (for example, while shopping) do the activities.
The author (who trusts my professional judgement, who's worked with me before and tracked me down to use me again) believes that bright or primary colours are the way to go. I think that parents of that age group of children tend to be given publications that look like they're designed for the child, not the adult. I think that this sometimes reduces not so much the seriousness of the topic (because we all know math is fun - c'mon, it is too!) but to me, that sort of design seems to condescend to parents, and assume their tastes are like those of a child. (I'm also not convinced that kids love primary colours either, you know, I didn't, but then I like maths).
So Part A, as a person who works or lives with smallish people, what's your opinion of book covers like this, and this?
Part B, if you agree with me, how would you explain to the author the reasoning of using a more sophisticated palette?
(No, I'm not thinking of using dark brown and navy, but the palette I do have in mind, is clearly not what is normally considered appealing to children.
Yes, I am aware that ultimately, it's my client's decision, and I'm not precious about such things, but other clients have expressed their delight at the results when I use my professional judgement, instead of doing what they expected, which is often stereotypical.
Yes, I will aim to make the design eye catching and interesting and non-threatening, because it is, after all, about maths, and people are scared of maths.)
A. Both images are kind of bad. At this point the visual styles they employ are achingly conventional and overdone, especially in the early-childhood-education realm. To my eyes, they scream "low-effort" or even "clip-art".
B. I'm the sort of person who might consider buying those books, and if I were browsing, I'd mostly want the cover design to speak implicitly to some sort of educational/intellectual credibility-- something that suggests "This book distills the latest research in cognitive development" as opposed to "Hi, we're kindergarten teachers, here are some cute activities we put together!". To me, that means an interesting or even a clever cover, but with a design style that's in line with today's yuppie aesthetics-- like this, maybe? Actually, if you look down at the "Customers Also Bought" line from that Amazon page, all the books there are in a similar smart-parenting vein, and all employ a fairly uniform aesthetic that is decidedly not the one used in either of your design examples above.
posted by Bardolph at 8:27 PM on October 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
B. I'm the sort of person who might consider buying those books, and if I were browsing, I'd mostly want the cover design to speak implicitly to some sort of educational/intellectual credibility-- something that suggests "This book distills the latest research in cognitive development" as opposed to "Hi, we're kindergarten teachers, here are some cute activities we put together!". To me, that means an interesting or even a clever cover, but with a design style that's in line with today's yuppie aesthetics-- like this, maybe? Actually, if you look down at the "Customers Also Bought" line from that Amazon page, all the books there are in a similar smart-parenting vein, and all employ a fairly uniform aesthetic that is decidedly not the one used in either of your design examples above.
posted by Bardolph at 8:27 PM on October 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Cover 1 looks like it's targeted at children, cover 2 looks a high school Sociology textbook put together halfheartedly by publishing company staff writers.
I don't think it's really the palette so much as the design that makes those covers look unappealing. Primary colors actually make a lot of sense in a book that uses diagrams to convey mathematical knowledge.
posted by contraption at 9:02 PM on October 4, 2015
I don't think it's really the palette so much as the design that makes those covers look unappealing. Primary colors actually make a lot of sense in a book that uses diagrams to convey mathematical knowledge.
posted by contraption at 9:02 PM on October 4, 2015
Response by poster: I wish I could be clearer when I write questions. These books are written by academics for parents. The children are not meant to engage with the books at all. There is nothing in the books for kids. No worksheets, no examples, no number lines. It is aimed purely at parents. (I have the text to the books already, I've read them, these are not meant to be used in the company of children).
There are no marketing issues, because these books will be given to parents. But as always, even if I don't have to worry about marketing, I do want to engage the parents, because the parents who engage with the material in these books will help their children develop mathematical understanding. So, when parents receive information about how to engage with their kids, how to care for them, how to parent... do they want books designed to look like they're meant for children, or meant for adults?
posted by b33j at 10:51 PM on October 4, 2015
There are no marketing issues, because these books will be given to parents. But as always, even if I don't have to worry about marketing, I do want to engage the parents, because the parents who engage with the material in these books will help their children develop mathematical understanding. So, when parents receive information about how to engage with their kids, how to care for them, how to parent... do they want books designed to look like they're meant for children, or meant for adults?
posted by b33j at 10:51 PM on October 4, 2015
I would totally be in the target demographic for a book like that and neither of those covers is particularly appealing. The second one (Improving science) is OK subject-wise but very dated in style.
I would think that the sort of confusion that has come through in this thread (is this book for kids, adults, or kids and adults?) is something that's likely to be an issue for a lot of potential buyers, and you would want to make it clear from the cover that this a book for parents, NOT kids.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 11:45 PM on October 4, 2015
I would think that the sort of confusion that has come through in this thread (is this book for kids, adults, or kids and adults?) is something that's likely to be an issue for a lot of potential buyers, and you would want to make it clear from the cover that this a book for parents, NOT kids.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 11:45 PM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Yes please, clear signal that book is aimed at adults not children.
HOWEVER I don't think that's incompatible with bright or primary colours. Using bright colours in design (web design and interior design at least) seems pretty trendy at the moment. I think the trick is just to use them sparingly as accents.
Nobody would think this or this are aimed at children, for example. (not holding them up as paragons of design, but I think they make my point).
posted by emilyw at 1:19 AM on October 5, 2015
HOWEVER I don't think that's incompatible with bright or primary colours. Using bright colours in design (web design and interior design at least) seems pretty trendy at the moment. I think the trick is just to use them sparingly as accents.
Nobody would think this or this are aimed at children, for example. (not holding them up as paragons of design, but I think they make my point).
posted by emilyw at 1:19 AM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: Whoa, the second one is a huge throwback to the 90s, and looks really Magic School Bus.
I think it would be easier to have a cleaner aesthetic that looks really modern, aka modern minimalism that has a large title, a smaller subtitle, and a focal point. Something that a frustrated parent who is worried about their kid would want to pick up, and be like "Oh!! I can read this and learn instantly what to do!" Maybe taking an accent element from one of the more childish covers, but making it a focal point? A math problem gone haywire?
posted by yueliang at 1:19 AM on October 5, 2015
I think it would be easier to have a cleaner aesthetic that looks really modern, aka modern minimalism that has a large title, a smaller subtitle, and a focal point. Something that a frustrated parent who is worried about their kid would want to pick up, and be like "Oh!! I can read this and learn instantly what to do!" Maybe taking an accent element from one of the more childish covers, but making it a focal point? A math problem gone haywire?
posted by yueliang at 1:19 AM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: I (not a parent, but have taught young children) totally agree with your thoughts on this, b33j. Here's an example of a book cover that would be (is!) confusing to me. Is it a workbook that parents can use with their kids, or is it purely "how-to"s for parents? I can't tell, but it definitely looks like a kid's workbook. The only way I know it's for parental use at all is that it begins with "Teach your child..." but the design fights the notion that it's primarily for parents. Same with this.
Dorling Kindersley has a series of books that are guides for parents that can be purchased in addition to the workbooks for kids, and these are clearer to me. They opted for bright colors and fun font usage, but the overall design is more sophisticated, definitely not childish, and seem a much clearer presentation of the books' purpose, while still not seeming intimidating or boring at all. In contrast, this example of one of their workbook cover designs is obvious to me that's it's definitely for kids.
posted by taz at 3:10 AM on October 5, 2015
Dorling Kindersley has a series of books that are guides for parents that can be purchased in addition to the workbooks for kids, and these are clearer to me. They opted for bright colors and fun font usage, but the overall design is more sophisticated, definitely not childish, and seem a much clearer presentation of the books' purpose, while still not seeming intimidating or boring at all. In contrast, this example of one of their workbook cover designs is obvious to me that's it's definitely for kids.
posted by taz at 3:10 AM on October 5, 2015
Neither of those books are appealing to me as a parent, and both of them look like they are targeted at children. I have a number of books about [subject], which is meant to teach the parent how to teach the child something. They all are designed to look like they are for adults. In addition, all but one of them have photographs of children on the front cover. Some of them use bright primary colors and some use more mature colors, but very definitely they look like something an adult would read, not a child.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:01 AM on October 5, 2015
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:01 AM on October 5, 2015
Here's a trend I've noticed: books for kids to use with parents' help have illustrated covers. Books for parents to use about their kids have text and a photograph. (See this link for anxiety books: books for parents feature a kid, a kid's feet; books for kids have art: http://www.amazon.com/Freeing-Your-Child-From-Anxiety/dp/1452657033)
I think the cover is a good indicator of how complex and wordy the book is. In your examples, I'd buy the school bus one because it looks like it'd be better laid out on the inside, whereas the group of people cover leads me to think that the text inside will be dense and have lots of sidebars. Parents are short on time, so they want to read things that are well organized. If the cover hints at that, all the better.
posted by xo at 6:07 AM on October 5, 2015
I think the cover is a good indicator of how complex and wordy the book is. In your examples, I'd buy the school bus one because it looks like it'd be better laid out on the inside, whereas the group of people cover leads me to think that the text inside will be dense and have lots of sidebars. Parents are short on time, so they want to read things that are well organized. If the cover hints at that, all the better.
posted by xo at 6:07 AM on October 5, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for all your help. They're coming along swimmingly well and I'm very pleased. I've decided to use a palette, based on this image, so it's going to be bright enough for the authors, but sophisticated enough for parents. The drawings/diagrams I do will be crisp glossy-looking vector based images that are clearly not aimed at preschoolers, but at adults. The cover will draw on those images (I don't know how yet) and the text for the cover and title page are a blocky sans serif. Finally, the main body font is not so small as to make older eyes water, and nor is it a comic sans-y type that seems to be used for kids a lot.
posted by b33j at 6:33 AM on October 5, 2015
posted by b33j at 6:33 AM on October 5, 2015
Response by poster: Recent comment from the authors:
Quite amazing to shift from looking at your book to the ones we did up – feels like a kindy* drawing versus Rembrandt!!
(*Kindy is kindergarten/preschool)
So yeah, I'm pleased. They're pleased. It's all good.
posted by b33j at 9:13 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Quite amazing to shift from looking at your book to the ones we did up – feels like a kindy* drawing versus Rembrandt!!
(*Kindy is kindergarten/preschool)
So yeah, I'm pleased. They're pleased. It's all good.
posted by b33j at 9:13 PM on October 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
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