Help me choose a cover
My first book Happy Hour is 9 to 5 is coming out in Portuguese soon and I need your help to pick the cover.
Here are the three suggestions that they’ve cooked up:
2:
3:
What’s your favorite and why? Please write a comment.
You can read more about the book here. It’s already out in English, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch and Danish.
Get my book in Chinese Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 10:59 am
[...] Help me choose a cover [...]
Will Knott Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 11:01 am
I’d suggest going with number 2
Sadly its the least eye catching but…
1) suggests you’re promoting drinking at work
3) just looks painful (yoga or gymnastics)
Katz Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 11:06 am
I would go for 2 too! Looks more professional and as Will said cuts the booze and the strenous exercise option out! :)
Kåre Mulvad Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 11:18 am
Yep, go with number 2
Number 1 is my second…
Julian Russell Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 11:30 am
I also prefer 2. I like the smile in the clock and the hands becoming (for me) an extravagant moustache.
I agree 1 looks like he’s drunk and 3 is, despite the highkick a little lifeless.
Michael Herzog Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
1 is… special. More time for AA meetings? ;)
2 is very clean, you can’t go wrong with that.
3 is also good, but has interesting proportions. o_O
Karrierebibel Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
I would take #2: clear, simple, focussed and smart
second: #1
#3 looks old fashioned.
Serene Journey Said,
February 11, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
I actually liked the 1st one but agree that the drink may be a problem.
The 2nd one is my next choice but I find the whole 3D thing hurts my brain – maybe I have a sensitive brain today :)
I don’t think of “happy” for the 3rd image – instead I have Austin Powers saying “Kung Fu Kick” in my head.
I need another coffee.
Cheers,
Gwynn
rick zhu from china! Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 1:46 am
Hi Alex!
I like the first cover!
The second is OK.
The last one is so so.
Benjamin Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 3:01 am
Alex -
I saw “Help me choose a cover” and my first thought was that you wanted advice going undercover as a spy.
Seriously.
Time to switch to decaff.
Karl Staib - Work Happy Now Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 4:03 am
I would choose number 2. It’s fun and it’s gender neutral.
I hope it sells like hotcakes!
Bay Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 7:21 am
I would also go with 2 – for all the reasons others have so eloquently expressed. It is bright, and eye-catching, gender neutral and does not suggest either the need for booze to make you happy or a parody of a goose-step a’la Monthy Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks!
Congratulations and may the royalties pour in – and pay for your wedding! :)
Alexander Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 10:28 am
This is awesome input – thanks, everybody!
Selfcoachingcards Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 10:46 am
Hi Alex,
number one looks like an alcoholic :)
Number two looks happiest, due to the colours.
What catches my eye in both 2 and 3 is that the happy hour seems to go from 3 to 9 or from 9 to 3 :)
I would go with number 3 and extend the red letters of Happy Hour until 5pm. (Or maybe the portuguese version doesn’t say “from 9 to 5″? Then it might be irrelevant.)
And if the acrobatic figure would resemble more the “happy jump” of your English cover (and yourself on the top left of your website here), it would be more “you” I think.
Just to make things complicated. :)
Anja
Jessica Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
Number 2 is my vote. Number 1 is too drinking-centric, and number 3 has crotch shot that freaks me out. :)
Mike Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
I choose number 2 because it is simple and has nice colors.
I feel that 1 and 3 further advocate the male dominated society and since your book can apply to all that would be my suggestion. Unless, of course, you go with Selfcoachingcards’ suggestion of putting yourself on the front.
Just my 2 cents :)
Aurora Said,
February 12, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
I’m going to have to buck the trend, and say I prefer #3, hands down. #1 looks dated and simplistic…and yes, I don’t care for the alcohol implication–it’s too overt. #2 is a frenetic and and (to me) completely unappealing design–it feels “all over the place”–it took me some time to even realize that there was a “happy face” there. If I saw that cover on a book, I’d put the book down, before even bothering to try to figure out what it was.
#3, however, is a tight, inverse triangular design, where every part reinforces the idea of “happy hour”–the hour…the man’s hands being part of the clock–and a man in a suit, kicking up his heels in joy. (As a former actor, his kick seems quite normal–something I’d expect to see a man doing on stage, to show ebullient spirits, so I didn’t think itl looked painful at all. ;))
I suspect what would REALLY be germane is how Portuguese business people react to the cover, as opposed to how a female American artist reacts! :)
Jenn Said,
February 13, 2009 @ 3:44 am
#2.
–It’s clean, therefore happiness at work can bring order.
–It has simple, happy colors, reflecting that happiness at work is simple. Primary colors remind us all of youth, where we were allowed even encouraged to play often. Playful = happy
–The tag line is at the bottom, not on the top… page text flows better.
Something about the tan color in both 1 & 3 is not working for me… Also, both guys look bizarre – either rumpled/drunk or too 90′s/clipart-y.
Jesper Said,
February 13, 2009 @ 10:33 am
Dear Alexander,
I lived and worked as a director for Portuguese companies in Lisbon for ten years and I am sure your book will have an impact in the Portuguese society and business environment. However, I believe the covers inadequate. The line between fun and happy is thin and in Portugal, especially, business is serious. I would choose a cover with the concept of soberness, lightness, seriousness and only a hint of dynamics. And avoid the yellow colour, which traditionally was considered to be “bad taste” in Portugal.
With the best of wishes,
Jesper
Cecile Said,
February 16, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
Don’t the Portugese like the original light-blue cover? I think that one’s much better than the three suggested above.
emalene Said,
February 16, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
I think the second one is the best… number 1 person has what looks like a wineglass in his hand which is not appropriate for work and number tree is too dull in colour sceeme.
Valarie Said,
February 16, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
#3 (the happy dancing guy) – no question!
#1 looks like cheesy 1960′s-era advertising art. The guy looks more falling-down drunk than happy.
#2 looks like a “generic management self-help” book. Kind of reminded me of the One Minute Manager
#3 is eye-catching, gets the “happy” idea across without the cocktail connection. It also ties in nicely to the covers of the other published editions. If the yellow/tan background is a problem in Portugal, you could always go with a crisp white background.
Agathe Said,
February 17, 2009 @ 10:53 am
hi,
I like number 1, but maybe exept the martini glass. For me th guy look really happy. And if you can take out the glass, it looks like he’s happy about the work, not the martini.
Anders V Said,
February 18, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
Just to clear up some things; the book in question is being published on the Brazilian market (translated to Brazilian portuguese) – not in Portugal.
Seriousness – or rather formality – in business is also an issue in Brazil, but they are very reluctant to loosen up quite fast (say, after 2 minutes ;-)). This is a tropical country of strong colors and formality doesn’t go that deep. In fact, it doesn’t go much deeper than the first greeting or the incomprehensibly formal business letter.
asplanned's Elaine Said,
February 19, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
Cover 2 is fun and bright – just like the Chief Happiness Officer!
Although the guy on cover 1 looks pretty happy… that might be something to do with the martini glass in his hand! While the man on cover 3 could do himself an injury!
If you put covers 1 and 3 together it’s like a binge drinking warning!
Prakash Tumkur Said,
February 23, 2009 @ 7:48 am
The second one. The other two don’t look like they can be covers for a book.
L Moore Said,
February 23, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
I prefer #3.
More upbeat and I can understand what the books about based on the image alone.
Kiz Said,
February 23, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
First thought: I prefer #3–it conveys enough of a ‘fun’ image without the drink image of the first one. I agree with previous posts that #2 is the more professional-looking one, but, is it “professionalism” or “fun” that you’d prefer to be the dominant message? K
Sailor Girl Said,
February 25, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
I think here in Portugal we would prefer the first one.
However, is this «Portuguese» edition intended to be published in Portugal or Brazil?
In Portugal, I think it would be better to change the title and subtitles.
Maybe the translation was made into Portuguese (Brazil) and not into Portuguese (Portugal)…
If you need any further help, please SHOUT at Atlântico Azul (Atlantic Blue), where I have just posted a reference to this MANDATORY book!!!
Alessandro Lenzi Said,
February 26, 2009 @ 12:17 am
I agree about the booze on the first so it’s not a good idea.
The third one has an error on the clock, where the 4 in roman is written by “IIII” instead of “IV”. I saw a clock in this form once and people said that was a kind of special detail from the clock maker.
The second is better.
Marco Said,
February 26, 2009 @ 1:23 am
Option 2.
LSM Said,
February 26, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
#3
Joaquim Said,
February 27, 2009 @ 11:15 am
Neither… they all suck!!!
Please hire someone to do the covers for you!!!
Sailor Girl Said,
February 27, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Joaquim is «sort of» right about it.
Why don’t you maintain the cover of the American/English edition?
It has a nice blue colour and we have in Portugal many yellow cover books with identical or related subject…
LMNeto Said,
February 28, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
The covers are Ok. However, I would like very much that the verb “LEARN”
LMNeto Said,
February 28, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
The covers are Ok. However, I would like very much that the verb “LEARN”
Samantha Said,
March 11, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
All of them are pretty bad. Perhaps the Porteguese like the “MS Word clip art” style? The cover for the English version is 100 times better. What happened?
Sergio Said,
March 19, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
I’m from Brazil and would prefer seeing here a nice cover like the one you have in US. The 3 choices are pretty boring.