Concept
DIGGING YOUR OWN GRAVE. Redesign the cover of Jonathon Coe’s What A Carve Up!. Set in the Thatcher era, the novel is intended as a satirical critique of the time. It focusses on the Winshaw family, whose power and wealth allows them far too much political influence and inevitably leads to their
downfall. The concept behind my redesign is that each of the Winshaws ends up meeting an untimely end, which has been ironically choreographed to punish them in the same way they have punished others throughout their lives. In effect, digging their own graves.
Elizabeth Tyrer
Brief #8
OUGD603
Penguin Design Award
Research
Elizabeth Tyrer
OUGD603
Brief #8
Penguin Design Award
Research
As this novel is intended as a satire of the Thatcher era, I wanted to research into cover designs that employed wit and intelligence to deliver the concept. Many use manipulated images and type to subtly nod to themes within the novels.
I also wanted to research into tabloids like the Sun and satirical publications such as Private Eye as Jonathon Coe’s story has a strong focus on the media.
Elizabeth Tyrer
Brief #8
OUGD603
Penguin Design Award
The Development
After rejecting several ideas for the design of the cover, I decided to go with the visual of someone digging their own grave, as this represents what each of the family ends up doing in the novel. I cut out the body so that the image can be applied to each character,
and it also creates a more quirky visual that I felt was fitting to the novel. Originally I had chosen a blue cover as this relates to the Tory era that the novel is set in, but then as I developed the concept I decided that a news paper style cover was more appropriate.
Elizabeth Tyrer
Brief #8
OUGD603
Penguin Design Award
The Design
Using Private Eye as the inspiration, I have designed the cover to play on the concept that each character digs their own grave throughout the novel through their questionable actions and lack of moral code. The cut out image creates visual interest as
well as communicating the dark humour and irony apparent in the writing. The type and layout is designed to look like Private Eye, referencing the media’s importance to the story and also the idea that this would be the cover of Private Eye in the event’s aftermath.
Elizabeth Tyrer
Brief #8
OUGD603
Penguin Design Award
The Design
Elizabeth Tyrer
OUGD603
Brief #8
Penguin Design Award