Eric C. Wilder on Designing The Devastation of Silence
Eric C. Wilder is a freelance cover designer. He, along with designer Cherie Chapman, is co-founder of Chapman & Wilder, a studio specializing in book covers, interior layout, and marketing across all genres. Here he details his process for designing the upcoming English translation of The Devastation of Silence, by João Reis. To be published by Open Letter Books later this year. Translation by Adrian Minckley.
Along with materials and direction from the publisher, I was afforded the opportunity to discuss the cover creative for this book directly with both the author and translator. It was agreed that the overall drive of imagery should convey a certain “gallows humor.”
The story’s setting takes place in WWI, where a captured Portuguese Expeditionary Corps Captain is taken to a German prison camp. I did an image search on the PEC and other related imagery. From that I found two images in particular that had, what I felt was a certain quality of gallows humor. One image of PEC in training, learning how to throw grenades. As the soldiers stand in formation you can make out one of the men turning to smile at the camera. The other photo I found was of people wearing cumbersome looking gas masks, that presumably stifle speech and render them virtually silent, who if they didn’t wear them would suffer a horrific death. You can see these images in cover layout here:
I wanted to see if there was anything in presenting a cover without the images. So I designed an option that emphasized “Silence” using military tones in elements and color. The red cross turned diagonal with greens and grays felt good in expressing the setting and the literal devastation of silence, but none of the humor.
So, I set about trying to match the feeling of the first two designs with that of the third design. In this fourth cover there is play between the title and the photograph. I took the image of the people in gas masks and placed them at the bottom of the image area with the weight of the word “SILENCE” pressing down upon them, nearly pushing them off the page. I designed the word “DEVASTATION” to appear thinner / weaker / distressed in comparison to “SILENCE.” Though it’s first in the title, and bigger, it should carry less emphasis. The abundant negative space above the type also added to the weight of the title on the page. The colors I selected had a grapefruit-esque sour to it that had a good feel to it.
Final cover
The publisher agreed with this direction. I’m very satisfied with the way the design turned out and grateful for the opportunity!
Editor, artworker and lifelong bibliophile.