OUGD406: study task 1 book analysis

The Penguin Random House Student Design Award is an opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in design to experience real cover design briefs first-hand. I should aim to visually explore the narrative and ideas found within the book, through the context of the Penguin random House competition. the books and categories are:

• Adult Fiction Cover Award: To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
• Adult Non-Fiction Cover Award: In Cold Blood (Truman Capote)
• Children's Cover Award: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (Sue Townsend)

I have chosen 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4'  by Sue Townsend. The idea is to bring this much-loved classic to a new generation of readers. The design should ensure that this original and hilariously funny book remains a must-read for every child.

I will need to consider:

• have an imaginative concept and original interpretation of the brief
• be competently executed with strong use of typography
• appeal to a contemporary readership
• show a good understanding of the marketplace
• have a point of difference from the many other book covers it is competing against

About Sue Townsend and the book:

Susan Townsend, (2 April 1946 – 10 April 2014) was an English write. She was best known for creating the character Adrian Mole She was born I Leicester the eldest of five sisters

She attended Glen Hills Primary School, where the school secretary was Mrs Claricotes, a name she used for the school secretary in the Adrian Mole books. 

The book is written in a diary style, it focuses on the struggles of a teenager who believes himself to be an intellectual. The story is set in 1981 and 1982. It refers to some of the historic world events of the time, such as the Falklands War and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana as well as the birth of Prince William. Adrian is also a big critic of prime minister Margaret Thatcher, naming her as one of his worst enemies. Apart from the funny events described in the diary, a lot of the book's humour comes from the narration of Mole.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ was also a British television series based on the book. It started in 1985 and starred Gian Sammarco, as the title character Adrian Mole, Stephen Moore as Adrian's father George Mole and Julie Walters as Adrian's mother Pauline Mole. I watched the first 3 episodes to gage a better understanding of Adrian and his daily life. This lead nicely onto using 10 adjectives to describe the novel.

10 adjectives to describe the novel:

funny

awkward 

misfit 

curious 

confused

intrigued

honest 

opinionated

dazed

secretive