Eric C. Wilder on Designing Transgression and the Aesthetics of Evil
Eric C. Wilder is a graphic designer with over 20 years experience. He is one half of design studio Chapman & Wilder, former publisher of Spine Magazine and producer of Spine Podcast. Here he talks us through his process for designing the cover of Transgression and the Aesthetics of Evil.
When the brief came in from Ani Deyirmenjian at University of Toronto Press it included a picture of an engraving of Tigris, at the Foot of Paradise, by Gustave Doré, from 17th-century English poet John Milton’s Paradise Lost. It’s an interesting image.
After doing a little research on it I found this, in an 1887 review of Dore’s work by Edmond Ollier, Masterpieces from the Works by Gustave Doré:
“Foiled in his first attempt to establish himself in Paradise, on which occasion he is repelled by Gabriel, Satan determines to embark again on the same enterprise, and chooses for his means of approach a gulf “where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise,” sank underground, and pursued its way until part “rose up a fountain by the Tree of Life.” The Fiend plunges in with the river, and with it rises again, involved in mist and foam. (“Paradise Lost,” Book IX.) We see him in the illustration contemplating the gulf previous to throwing himself into its winding, subterranean ways. The solitary figure in the midst of so savage and wild a scene is very tremendous; and the craggy rocks and tumbling waters seem impressed with all the terror and sublimity of unregulated Nature.”
Something I also noticed about the engraving, is the angle it created, if you draw a line connecting the outcropped rock, Satan, and the falls of Paradise. They form a perfect 60 degree angle. Pretty fascinating.
In the first option I played a little bit with pushing the depth of the image between the foreground and background, keeping the background in hot red, and pushing the rocks and rapids out using a different color. I also played up the significance of “Evil” by having the letters set within the space of “craggy rocks and tumbling waters… of unregulated Nature.” I also thought framing the background in flames added to the appeal of the look.
The second and third options were attempts at keeping key elements of the image while making greater presence on the type. And really playing up the word EVIL.
The approved cover ended up being very simple in execution. It is also very deliberate. Hot red over the image. The white type of “Transgression and the Aesthetics” framing the silhouette of Satan. “Evil” set on its own line completing the 60 degree angle between the outcropping, Satan, and the falls. I am very pleased with how it turned out and I am grateful for the opportunity.
Final cover
Editor, artworker and lifelong bibliophile.