I re-wrote my comment because I realized it wasn't constructive.so here goes:lose the barcode (so 90's!), switch the colour form white to any colour at all, change the font (even if it works on this site it looks awful on a book) , move the "the dieline" anywhere else but where its now, use the logos actual shapes (box, bottle, bag) as cutouts instead of text. on the side do a "lable" like the ones on a bottle/box/bag telling people what book it is.

unless that's just a sneak-peek-cover to cover up the real book ? I hope so...

I think it is looking beautiful and unique; congratulations on pulling this off, Andrew. I am excited about getting my hands on it too!

I have to agree mostly with Emma about the barcode - making that the feature seems odd for a book about the content in this site. Using a barcode as a concept invokes critique of consumerism and technology - not, in my opinion, beautiful packaging design. I don't mind the white background, and appreciate the knocked-out images in the title, if it where not in competition with the GIGANTIC barcode slamming down on it.



I think i'll have to buy this book, with whatever cover it happens to have. Good luck!

Emma, your comment is more instructive than constructive and it is solely based on your design opinion and not what is best for the book.

That is the great thing about design, everyone approaches it differently. Not everyone is going to love everything out there.

I think the barcode has some relevance, although it may seem a bit heavy, it is still relevant to packaging and the site's content. Changing the font would stray from The Dieline's brand and once you do that you compromise your brand integrity.

Nice work Andrew, I wish you the best of luck with the book.

Very exciting, Andrew!! Glad to be a part of the fun and can't wait to see the live book. Thanks for sharing!

Congrats Andrew! Can not wait to see it!

Very cool Andy! Very proud of you! Congratulations...can't wait to read it.

I actually like the bar code. I think the stark black and white contrast with the pop of color from the underlying images will keep this book on my coffee table for a while! Nice work Andrew!!

I'm loving the dies. It would have been fantastic if the bar code was a die too but that may be too much. I think it's right on. Nice work... can't wait to see it!

I pre-ordered! Can't wait to go through it page by page. Excited C3 Brandworks got to be a part. Great accomplishment, Andrew! Congratulations!

Andrew....Congrats...I think it looks amazing, and I'm so happy for you. I know a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and passion have gone into it. I'm looking forward to ordering my copy.

Wow! I'm staying in Malaysia.How can I order this book?

Cant wait to have one!

Hi,I'm wondering how does it look like inside, will it be just pictures, it will be good if there is a sneak peak of the book.

Cheers

@Haller0: I see no difference between instructive and constructive. If the comment-fields are only for people with thumbs up, I see no use for it. I'm just saying that a book about packaging design could've been a bit more...exciting and fresh.

Emma: Telling someone what design decisions they should make based on your outside opinion is not constructive. The design decisions were obviously made for a reason and I would trust that people closer to the project know the reasons and stand behind them as being correct.

To say that Barcodes are so 90's is funny, because barcodes are still a necessary element in all retail packaging. Until they go away completely it will be an iconic symbol for packaging, you just can't get around it.

Even if it was 90's. there are a lot of things that are 90's coming back into design. Design is cyclical, just like fashion. Who could have imagined skinny jeans and Pabst would ever be cool again? Yikes...

We will be posting a sneak peek of the inside design in the next week or so! Stay tuned, it looks very cool!

It often amuses me, but mostly irritates me when designers are so hard on other designers for a perfectly fine solution. Clearly, Emma, if you had been asked to design it, it would have been different and, possibly, great. Constructive criticism works with what is. Don't take it all so seriously. If you want to do a similar book, then put in the work required and do it.

Looks promising, the content of the site itself is always amazing. Can't wait to see a book version of the crop. I look forward on seeing sneak peaks of the inside.

Just one quick question : how many pages?

256.

Congrats! Can't wait to see it!

People are really quick to jump on Emma about this, but there are glaring design flaws.

There's an overwhelming amount of action between the diecuts, the giant barcode, the logo, and the slapped on tagline. I have no idea where my focal point is supposed to be.

To be honest, it doesn't look like much thought was put in to this cover. There's no direct message, no hierarchy and no thought to the typography. While I disagree that just the barcode makes it look '90s,' I do agree that it looks dated.

This is a great, superbly-designed site and that should reflect on the cover. Think of this cover as others have thought about the packaging on the site. This is your package, your label! Would this be recognized on your site if you saw it in the store?