The Joy of Monochrome
It would be an understatement to say that the world has become saturated with colour. Clothes, adverts, packaging, book covers, everything has become more vibrant, wanting to catch your attention. Every year, designers hunt for that perfect shade that will make their cover stand out from the crowd. Colour giants Pantone have their long-running Color of the Year (2020’s was Classic Blue, in case you were wondering).
The year 2020 has seen some of the most flamboyant designs yet, with Waterstones' Book of the Year shortlist featuring a riot of colourful covers.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. A technicoloured cover can draw me to it like the proverbial moth to a flame. But as covers get more vivid, the buyers' senses can become overwhelmed. They can't see the books for the rainbow.
Which is why monochrome can be a refreshing change. The use of a clean black and white spectrum can convey simplicity, nostalgia and sophistication. It can transport you back to a different time. Whilst colour can indeed enhance a design element, it can just as easily detract from it. With monochrome, the design can stand out proud and unobstructed. Of course, there are some concerns to think about when considering such a pared-back palette. You don't want your cover to feel too stark, boring or cold. The following examples I've found of black and white covers have all followed different design directions: photographic, illustrative and typographic. But they all have one thing in common: a wonderfully successful use of monochrome.
Editor, artworker and lifelong bibliophile.