Talk:
The Subtle Type: The Power of Simplicity in Contemporary Book Cover Design
with Janet Hansen
There is an inspiring history of book jacket design at New York publishing house Alfred A. Knopf, but the new climate of social media and online thumbnails has created a modern challenge. Regardless of the content of the book, many publishing houses are leaning into a new trend—the result is a sea of covers with screaming type. With only seconds for a cover to engage a reader, there’s now an ironic power in subtlety.
Janet Hansen, a senior designer at Alfred A. Knopf, will discuss how she integrates old typographic approaches into contemporary book jacket design and why it’s important sometimes to let type breathe, go minimal, or allow the art to shine based on the content of the book. She will showcase a range of covers in subjects including opioid addiction, feminism, war, immigrant journeys, and more.
This talk is scheduled as part of the main Typographics conference schedule. You must register for the Typographics conference to attend.
About Janet Hansen
Janet Hansen is a senior designer at New York book publisher Alfred A. Knopf. In addition, she works for a number of clients including New Directions Publishing, the New York Times, and Farrar Straus & Giroux. Her work has been recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the New York Times, the Type Directors Club, and It’s Nice That.
