A book cover is significant for bookworms just as an album cover is meaningful for record collectors.
Not only do they reflect the story within the book or the overall mood of the record, they also represent the personality of the artists, musicians, and the designers behind the cover art. Some people would browse through bookshops looking for eye-catching covers as a way of discovering new authors. Same goes for music junkies who want to explore and hear new songs and musicians.
If that’s the case, then design definitely plays a vital role. The old saying states that we should not judge something by its physical appearance — but a good-looking cover art is so irresistible that you can’t help but pick it up and eventually buy it.
While most people settle for digital downloads these days, nothing beats the feeling a devoted fan gets when flipping through a beautifully-designed CD booklet and seeing the album cases arranged in a shelf. By comparison, there is no greater sensation for a bookworm than to actually sniff and leaf through the pages of a brand new book.
Listed in this post are SOME of the outstanding book and album covers of 2014 in terms of their creative design, vibrant artworks, and aesthetic uniqueness.
Best Book Covers of 2014
Design by Rachel Adam.
Design by Peter Mendelsund.
Design by Peter Mendelsund and Oliver Munday.
Design by Chip Kidd.
Design by Oliver Munday.
Design by Isabel Urbina Peña.
Design by Rodrigo Corral and Tyler Comrie.
Design by W. H. Chong.
Design by Gabriele Wilson.
Design by Charlotte Strick.
Design by Pablo Delcan.
Design by Oliver Munday.
Best Album Covers of 2014
FKA twigs: LP1 – Design Jesse Kanda.
Amy Kohn: PlexiLusso – Design by Non-Format.
Rustie: Green Language
Sharon Van Etten: Are We There
Feadz: Instant Alpha
St. Vincent: St. Vincent
Swans: To Be Kind – Design by Michael Gira.
Strange Hands: Realm of Dawn – Design by Lucas Donaud.
Glass Animals: Zaba – Design by Micah Lidberg, Boat Studio, and Dave Bayley.
SBTRKT: Wonder Where We Land – Design by A Hidden Place.
Iceage: Plowing Into the Field of Love
Arca: Xen – Design by Jesse Kanda.
Either in physical or digital form, this list only proves that the value of a cover art and the role of designers will forever be essential. Did we miss your most favored book and album cover of 2014? Feel free to share them with our readers through the comments box below!
[via NYTimes.com & Pitchfork]