Having hard time making my mind up on a cover

[Francis]

Hi,

My name is Francis.

I am having a hard time making a final choice for my book cover.

Could you help me by indicating your preferred choice?

In turn, I will help you if you need a feedback from me. That's the only reason why the survey form is asking for your email address so I can contact you back in a near future to ask how can I help you in return.

Follow the link below and choose the cover you like the most.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

The deadline to do this is Fri 1st April 2022 by midnight.

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Francis

[Harald, The Swimmer]

Hello Francis!

I'm not going to do the poll, but I'll respond here...

For me, it's a toss-up between #1 and #3.
– #3 has a tighter link with the subtitle (if that's what it is) and includes the scales of justice.
– #1 is punchier in terms of colors, although it's hard to make out the quality of the illustration.

I think I'd go with #1.

[Gifford]

Hi, Francis,

Having been on the losing end of an employment tribunal case, I think all of the covers are emphasizing the wrong thing. "5 phases" is relatively vague & doesn't really catch my attention the way the subject matter would. I think I'd overlook the "5 phases" title, where I'd definitely buy a book about Employment Tribunal cases (if I were ever involved in one again).

JMHO.

[Paul]

Francis -

I agree with what Harald and Gifford pointed out already, but I'll add my 2¢.

As a designer, I can appreciate the tightrope that your designer walked to make these. It is a really long title, with a lot of text to cram onto the cover. The ideas are all reasonable suggestions. Structurally, they are all ok.

To my eye, the strongest of the four is #3. Although it is dry, I imagine it represents a professional, experience driven approach to the subject.

The other three feel a bit too light-hearted for what I imagine is the gravity of the situation leading to the reading of this book.

Gifford's point about the title is spot on. Emphasizing "5 Phases" may be what distinguishes you from your competition, but that assumes you already have the appropriate reader engaged—an that reader needs to see "Employment Tribunal." You might consider that if you have the chance to do another round of revisions.

To look at each individually, I'll add that I really want to like #2. Greys and blues = serious business, good eye contact, an engaging cover. But the expression on the face of "the employee" just seems off. Maybe it is apropos, the smirk because she knows the five phases… But to me it is just off-putting.

#1 I'd rule out because the cartoon seem inappropriate. Although it is well done. Margins are a bit too tight, too.

And #4, although I like the color arrow motif, the rest just doesn't feel visually cohesive. Like there are multiple messages that are trying to be given—flowchart, group of happy people, moody scales of justice sculpture, … confusing!