GBG 2004 cover

Am I alone in loathing the cover of the 2004 GBG?

It is surely the most inane and unimaginative cover in all the 31 years of the GBG. OK, so every car brochure and lifestyle ad features groups of

30-year-olds permanently laughing (or should that be "sharing a joke"?). But did CAMRA have to follow suit? The picture does not even begin to suggest either the sort of pub that CAMRA applauds or the variety of people you might hope to find in it, rather the opposite. That doesn't mean I want the beard-and-beer-bellies thing, just that I am sad to see CAMRA falling into line with the most boring cliche in modern marketing. It really is a very dreary cover (even worse than last year's pretty young thing improbably holding a pint glass at a silly angle).
Reply to
steve
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I don't buy the GBg for its cover, but for its coverage.

Reply to
The Submarine Captain

Surely the whole point of a book that is available nationwide is that the cover should appeal to the general public and entice them to buy the book. Cover design *is* important.

I'll play devil's advocate.

The cover of the 2004 GBG has a headline of small white text on a blue banner, which is very cold. Then it has larger white text on a grey background, also very cold. The pints of beer in a warm colour alongside the grey-scale photo of three people imply to me that only grey people drink warm beer.

Regards, Dave

Reply to
Dave Exton

I think the point being commented on is that you clearly implied the cover style is not important. Quote: "Maybe changing the cover style will get a few new punters, maybe not, most likely its not an important effect."

No disagreement there. Once they are 'hooked' on the content then repeat sales are likely. It is the content, both its usefulness, accuracy, clear readability and attractiveness that will help encourage repeat purchases. Unfortunately I believe other guides in the same market have a much more 'popular' appeal - perhaps explaining why the 2003 GBG is still on the shelves in my local Ottakers.

Exactly. But design on a successful book needs to follow through from earlier editions. Good effective design is not just a case of picking a one-off 'snazzy' pic and putting a title on it. It is a very fine balance so as not to put off previous purchasers while attracting new ones. Without addressing the latter, sales will fall or at best remain stable.

I do feel Peter was right to pick up on the 'ad-clones' which have been a feature of many of CAMRA's campaigns of recent years. They verge on the naff, looking to be straight out of a standard picture library selection. These people just don't look real, rather they are the image-makers' plastic representations, over-used by those who struggle for good ideas and looking for the easy way out. They are the ad worlds equivalent of 'keg'. Even the use of a tint on mono is old hat in the design world.

I don't think Peter was implying that.

John B

Reply to
JohnB

Of course, but don't forget that what is off-putting to one person is going to turn on someone else.

Too simplistic. The "rules" of good design are constantly being rewritten largely because so many brands have become so popular on the back of what would once have been considered "poor" design practice.

Reply to
Brett...

In message , Brett... writes

...and most of the GBG's market is likely to be repeat purchases, where the cover is irrelevant, people are buying for the content. Maybe changing the cover style will get a few new punters, maybe not, most likely its not an important effect.

Reply to
Paul Shirley

In message , Paul Shirley wrote

Doesn't that imply that the campaign is failing to attract new people?

Reply to
Alan

I fear you are right. Some radical design thinking should always be considered where you wish to increase sales and to reach a wider audience. I am of course assuming that is what is wanted. Unfortunately the GBG designs do not do that and it has become more of a handbook for the already 'converted'. I would class the present covers as mediocre while the inside is as drab and uninspiring as a trainspotters book

The cover is the most important part of a book design. It's what attracts a potential reader, catches the eye, whets the palate for what is within. It must entice the customer to pick the book up and explore the content.

John B

Reply to
JohnB

But to attract new purchases, surely it needs an eye-catching cover. And I would have thought a striking pub exterior (whether urban or rural) would be much more striking than an anodyne group of ad-clones.

--

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"If laws are to be respected, they must be worthy of respect."

Reply to
PeterE

In message , PeterE writes

You (and others) seem to miss the point I replied to (the point I agreed with) ;(

If the GBG is a sticky purchase punters need to be attracted just once, they then buy (or choose to avoid) the *content* in later editions. Varying the cover style exposes the guide to a new set of eyes every year. We've done pictures of beer, bars, barmaids, cosy coal fires and I'm sure there are 'heritage pub' covers. Maybe this one will appeal more to the youngsters drinking in their stylish fashion bars. Or do you want just CAMRA stereotypes to have any interest?

Reply to
Paul Shirley

No as the two aren't mutually exclusive.

Reply to
Brett...

JohnB wrote: .

Beauty is in the eye...

Reply to
Brett...

Absolutely not if you are at all interested in attracting new readers.

Stated as fact but IMHO completely wrong for the 21st C. As I see it... For the vast majority of existing readers, the cover is immaterial. New readers are going to come from a wide range of backgrounds and has been repeated here, are not all going to be turned on by some formulaic cover. I'd like to see Viz given a go one year.

Reply to
Brett...

Wrong. There needs to be a balance between keeping some element of style and introducing new ways of presentation. That does not mean copying what has gone before. To ignore that fundamental element of design where a product is already reasonably successful will increase the risk of losing the established market.

Format, extent, colour, material all have parts to play in this as well as image and typography.

Tell the book trade and publishing houses. They won't agree.

Agreed.

Agreed. The present one fits that to a T

Fine if you are willing to take the risk of alienating the existing regular purchasers. Do your market research and seriously propose it.

Then watch the sales figures.

John B

Reply to
JohnB

steve3/11/03 4:53 PM

No

I do not own a copy, but saw it today.

Time was when a GBG cover would have been a prestigious, high profile, competitive design challenge for an intelligent young designer. This is unfortunately what passes for a creative idea these days. Looks like it was designed by a committee of certified accountants - and probably was. It won't win any creative awards.

It might be mildly amusing to hear a qualitative discussion group of younger drinkers discussing the cover and its unsubtle banality. Better still, I suggest that next year the publisher puts out the design task say to the young graphic students at UK colleges. Let a competent panel choose the winning design and offer a 500 quid prize, or better, award a free real ale every day for a year.

CR (old curmudgeon)

Reply to
Chris Rockcliffe

Chris Rockcliffe wrote: "

Old curmudgeon, possibly, though I wouldn't think so from your sensible, informed comments. Your idea is excellent, but probably too innovative for CAMRA to adopt it.

Reply to
Stephen

"certified accountants"

I like that.

Reply to
Jeff Pickthall

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