The cover of J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, the first novel after her hit series Harry Potter.

Thinking of a book cover dominated trough typography brought many examples to mind. However, the most applicable one was that of J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy. 

Simplicity is what describes the cover best as the theme of the story is thought to be projected well through the cover. By using rugged and curved lines in the title and author’s name as well as the title’s text itself, it brings back a kind of nostalgic feeling due to the nature of the typeface being connected with times past. This effect is drawn out more with the continuation of a line drawn from the last letter of the word the and into the large curving “C” that makes up the word “Casual.” With the closeness of the text as well as the position of the text on the piece they could be said to be acting as planes as well as they take up a block of space but read left to right as a line. With the control of text taking up the positive space and the negative space being occupied by the flat rectangular background, it continues to project a simple theme. With the differing white texts on opposite ends and a black check-box in the middle, it creates a sense of visual balance through symmetrical placement. Another thing to note is how the color palette consists of few colors and is used to further project the idea of an old-timey themed idea with the use of these light and vibrant, yet flat values.