Gallery: Go Ahead, Judge These Books by Their Covers

  • Image may contain City Town Metropolis Building and Urban
    Janet Hansen
    01

    BookDesign1.jpg

    Every year Design Observer chooses 50 books to honor for their well-designed covers. This one by Janet Hansen creates the illusion of materiality with just black and white lines.
  • Image may contain Text Handwriting and Calligraphy
    Spencer Kimble
    02

    BookDesign2.jpg

    Handwritten typography has been a major trend over the past couple of years.
  • Image may contain Label Text Nature Outdoors Ocean Water and Sea
    Peter Andersen
    03

    BookDesign7.jpg

    Some of the designs are simple, like this book commemorating 100 years of Alfred A. Knopf.
  • Image may contain Rug Mat and Doormat
    Chip Kidd
    04

    BookDesign5.jpg

    And this Peanuts cover from Chip Kidd, which uses only seven marks.
  • Image may contain Text
    Erik Carter
    05

    BookDesign9.jpg

    Some of them are based on pure wit, like this from Erik Carter.
  • Image may contain Advertisement Poster Brochure Paper Flyer and Text
    Jaya Miceli
    06

    BookDesign6.jpg

    The best book covers tend to buck trends.
  • Image may contain Plant Tree Ornament and Christmas Tree
    Eddie Opara
    07

    BookDesign8.jpg

    Eddie Opara's *Green* is a bold, photographically driven cover.
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