Cover Me Voyageurs

[Lord Bob]

I quite like #2. #4 is my least favourite, although #3 looks like a discount publication by some BC minor soccer association.

[Razcle]

I actually like #2, I find the graphics for #1 look a bit fuzzy making the image seem second rate. 3 & 4 are what you may have used back in the early 80's as impact images, but no one would pick them up today (unless they were at Value Village buying it 4th hand)

[ssk]

Design

I don't mean to be offensive, but, I don't like any of them. If I was browsing at a bookstore, I wouldn't pick any of them based on the cover.

#1 has a very 90s-I-just-learnt-Photoshop look. The gradient and italic text is completely unnecessary, and generally looks low quality.

#2 is very bland, and looks like a work publication. Spacing and proportions are all messed up.

#3 This is the most palatable to me, but, the design looks dated, and in the way it's dated (has a very 70s look) doesn't seem appropriate for the timeframe covered. Maybe if it used a different typeface, and fixed the spacing of the year.

#4 I'm repulsed by this design.

Function

Think about hierarchy of information – on most of these, 'Westcoast Reign' the most prominent item on the cover, but, I doubt many people would instantly know what that means. Look from the perspective of someone browsing at a bookstore. What information would they gather from the cover at first glance?

#1 Westcoast something. Not obvious what the people in the pictures do. Is that a basketball on the bottom right?

#2 Westcoast something. Ooh, Kinder Surprise with British flag. Stripe uniforms – I guess it's something about old-timey sports

#3 Oh, soccer. Between 1892 and 1905. In the West coast. By some guy named Robert Janning. I said this design is the most palatable to me because it's the most functional, and I have a bias towards utilitarian, functional design.

#4 Some new-agey cult. Pass.

[Robert]

In order to have my book reviewed in the next issue of BC BOOKWORLD it is necessary to send my manuscript files to the printer a couple of days sooner than I had originally planned. Since there has been only one reply in the last six days, it seems that this thread has run its course. I have therefore decided to go with the first cover as it was the one that up to now has received most the favourable responses. Thanks to all who took part.

[alberta white]

You're welcome

[LVJ]

ROBERT
Congratulations on publishing the book. I'm working on publishing a comprehensive list of Canadian books on soccer - if you send me purchasing info, I'll include it.
Regards
Les lesjones@ca.inter.net