Cliche Features of Existing Book Covers

Through my research I wanted to establish stereotypical or cliche features in existing book cover designs and avoid these. This ensures my designs and outcomes are unique and interesting and meet the mandatory requirements set out in the brief.

Cliche features can include:
In fantasy - 
- Cover contains a sword 
- Hooded figure 
- Serif fonts 
Other Genres -
- Muted tones, High heels 
- Muted tones, jewellery
- Handwritten style font 
- Black and Red 
- Gothic Fonts 
- Sunrise and Sunset Landscape
- Puzzle Pieces
- Hands 
- Guns tanks or weapons 
- Blood 

These are just some of the common cliches I have noted and hope to avoid, in order for my design to be interesting I must ensure my design will work as a series for the other two books not following a cliche recognisable in existing covers. Cliches can work at times but do not enable a design to stand out against competitors. The unique aspect of a design can draw attention to a book and the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover." we say it to declare how we don't judge but really we do. A book cover is still a first impression and is the main impression of a book as often the cover is what can encourage us to buy a book.



Consider the following points: 

-Does the cover link to pages inside?
-Is text is the main focus?
-Is uppercase text used mostly?
-Is a simple sans serif fonts used?
-Are text styles are easily legible and readable?
-Do text styles have curved edges
- Are text styles are thicker to make them easier to read/notice?