Hatrack River Forum: Advice with Work:

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Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

For my job, I have to help out with a small business, do lots of odd jobs. My current task is to design a cover for a test (the company makes tests.)

Any advice? I do have some artistic skills; just that I'm not really sure how to go about this.

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

Just ask them about colours I reckon. Not really sure how I'd do it. I'd go for something simply or something.
Black and white
Dark blue
Something that looks serious
And not pink and orange for the love of holy things.

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

Look at the competitor's covers to see which ones you like best, and get ideas about the look from them.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

No! Do not look at the competition's covers until you come up with an idea for yours. It will absolutely taint your own ideas of what a test cover would look like, and prejudice your thinking on what you would want to achieve.

Think about the message and tone you wish to convey first, and think about what colors and layouts best convey those messages, and settle on a few options. Only then should you look at your competitors' covers to see how they implemented those decisions, if at all, and figure out why they took other approaches.

Do not attempt to reverse-engineer graphic design. It produces ugliness.

Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :

If my educational career is any evidence, making test covers ugly is more the rule than the exception.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Copy the cover of Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

In great big words Don't Panic

Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :

The important thing to know about test covers is that funny is out, and understated boredom is in.

Pale industrial pastels are your background palette, and all black text is your only option.

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

I don't know about that. Check out the cover* that's on this quiz. The name of the quiz is in the bottom right corner.

*Caution -- some might find the cover offensive, but it is no worse than you would find in the checkout lane of the supermarket.

Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :

Tante, how much do you know about his g-spot?

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

[Blushing]

Gee?

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

She knows he likes it. [Wink]

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

Make sure it has sufficient information to identify the specific test - including the edition, version, valid dates, and whatever else uniquely identifies one of your products.

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

Thanks a lot for the advice! I especially liked the idea to not look at other products until I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do. Interesting idea, that.

Anyway, thanks all, and I'll let you all know if it turns out nice or not [Smile]