Alex Osterwalder

First Book Cover Design Sketches

Watch the short video with Alan, our designer, on his first book cover sketches. Your inputs are welcome. The discussion on the book cover is now OPEN.

PS: The sketches are based on the working title "Business Model Generation". The title is not yet carved in stone...

The initial target customer segments are entrepreneurs, freelancers and entrepreneurial types within corporate structures. Typically they are interested in reading material like Wired Magazine, The Economist and maybe Harvard Business Review. This does obviously not exclude people that don't fit this description...

Tags: alan smith, book cover, book design, design, design thinking

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Replies to This Discussion

Geert van VlijmenPermalink Reply by Geert van Vlijmen on March 20, 2009 at 3:55pm
Hi Alan,
My first impression is that I Like the tag cloud human walking towards you. I can imagine it looking nice However the third "model kit" also appeals to me. Also because it is representing the contents of the book. Meanwhile I will try and think of some suggestions.

Greetsz,

Geert
Alan SmithPermalink Reply by Alan Smith on March 20, 2009 at 4:38pm
Yeah! And feel free to upload any sketches of ideas, and I'll take those and flesh them out for us to chat about. Trying to make this a co-creative process, so all ideas beyond just these three are welcome!
Ola DagbergPermalink Reply by Ola Dagberg on March 20, 2009 at 3:56pm
Nice!
I vote for the last one, tag clouds are not so innovative anymore. The idea with plastic models gives a better feeling of creativity, but with guidance. Which is exactly what this is all about. Ola
Bruce MacVarishPermalink Reply by Bruce MacVarish on March 20, 2009 at 4:17pm
Hi Alan,
Thanks for sharing your thought process and evolution of ideas. For me, I get lots of value from participating in the Hub by seeing how the concepts, chunks and framing of the book emerge.

While I liked all the rough ideas, I found myself resonating with the third one that played on the word "generation". I think illustrating the evolution from the industrial generation to the "disruptive technology" generation to the "business model" generation is compelling. New value creation empowered by new business models is needed for a new generation of growth. Having a cover that reinforces how the book defines the tools for a new generation is interesting to me.

Thank for the opportunity to review and comment
Rory O'ConnorPermalink Reply by Rory O'Connor on March 20, 2009 at 4:26pm
Hi Alan,

it's great to be able to see the thought that has gone into the concepts. This is often lost to clients.

I'd go for the Airfix kit approach. it suggest DIY, which is what I like about Alex's approach.
However, I also like the generational idea - but more genetics (of the business). How about presenting the airfix model as a kit for building the DNA of the new business?

i.e. the family tree, made of airfix parts, that you pick and cross-breed alements from to create your new BUSINESS DNA?

or more a chemistry kit approach with airfix parts that snap together to form the business model

Oh, hang on, thought coming in...this makes me think of your business model as an unstoppable machine. How about showing the parts as an exploded diagram, coming together to firm an unstoppable business model (humaoid or robot?)

Anyway, a lot of ideas spilling out. In the end, I'd pursue the airfix model concept. I think it has a lot of potential to stand out from all the other "me too" trendy business books.

Rory
Alan SmithPermalink Reply by Alan Smith on March 20, 2009 at 4:40pm
HA! Rory the giant machine concept is pretty wacked out, that would be a great one to hand over to a really good illustrator. Good rationale there for the "airfix" model, thanks for that!
Rory O'ConnorPermalink Reply by Rory O'Connor on March 22, 2009 at 6:32pm
If you did want to follow this route, I know just the illustrator - BrenB (http://www.brenb.net). He's a close friend and has illustrated plenty of retro-style robots for an exhibition. They're not on his site, but I'll ask him to post a few for you to see.
Alf RehnPermalink Reply by Alf Rehn on March 20, 2009 at 4:33pm
I like the Tag Cloud Human best, for several reasons:
1. Yes, tag-clouds are not that fresh, but this also makes them recognizable
2. The human form tends to attract us as humans
3. It makes the title stand out, whereas the other ideas tend to obscure it.

I want to like the Model Kit, but I'm afraid it'll look gimmicky and turn people away from the book. It also runs the risk of looking like a home-repair book...
Dave CutherellPermalink Reply by Dave Cutherell on March 20, 2009 at 4:35pm
Hi Alan,
I like your methodology and approach. Your design thinking is very consistent with the overall approach of the book. The two that jump out at me are the human tag cloud and the final one that is a likeness of the model.

The human tag cloud is consistent with the feel of the book and could be made to be very visually appealing. The final one is more consistent with the iconography of the overall model and would provide a more visually reinforcing cover. It seems to me that the visual nature of this book would benefit more from enforcing the 'brand' of the model, than just something that is appealing. Thus favoring the last one. But I am new to this group, so I might be missing a bit of history and be offbase there.

In any case. I love the fact you did a video and involved us in your process. Thanks!!

Dave
Alan SmithPermalink Reply by Alan Smith on March 20, 2009 at 4:44pm
You're welcome for the video, and thanks for sharing your thoughts!

As I've mentioned above I'd love to work with the group on this one. Since it's just one page and usually one idea on the cover, anyone can have a flash of a brainstorm and hit the nail on the head. This is where as a group we can really do better than I or anyone else can on their own.

So feel free to share any images that pop into your mind like Rory did, and I'll work with you on it!
Martin Andres GiorgettiPermalink Reply by Martin Andres Giorgetti on March 20, 2009 at 5:01pm
Alan: I liked very much the last idea, with the model business canvas. It represents, CREATIVITY, TOOLS, PLAY and CREATE new Business Models,

Martin
RodPermalink Reply by Rod on March 20, 2009 at 5:11pm
Hi Alan,
Thanks for sharing your design thinking process regarding the cover of the book. I love the video and shall be referring to it.

With regard to the cover design, my preference would be to have a cover with which people interact and discover the essence or subtext of the book. Since we are generating ideas and noting our preferences, I'll throw out my idea which may sound a bit whacky.

I am 'greedy!' I'd like to have both the Human Tag Cloud and Model Kit on the cover. This could be achieved by having the Human Tag Cloud being presented on a 'twin-flap cover' that functions like a twin-leaf door. The Human Tag Cloud is presented on the outside of the twin-flap (cover) so that it appears like a normal illustration on a book. However, when the twin flap is opened, the reader discovers the Model Kit of the Business Model Canvas. The result would be surprise, delight, and more engagement. This self-discovery of the Business Model Canvas in effect involves the human (person) viscerally generating the business model. Some people might use that twin-flap cover alone to give a one hour talk on the elements and process of Business Model Generation as well as the Business Model Canvas.

That's my 2c worth of ideas. I look forward to hearing more ideas.

Best,
Rod.

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