Studio Brief 1 - Research

• Having a more simplified cover such as the one shown above, was suggested during the feedback exercise. By having a cover like this, the content can then be made the focus point of the book. As the photographs are meant to be self explanatory, this will mean the recipes included will be quick and simple.

• This example of a recipe book has been created for people to write their own recipes in, similar to a diary. 

• As shown here, this recipe book has used one of the photographs for the cover. As this is centred around potato recipes in particular it is appropriate that the photograph on the cover shows exactly what type of things can be made from the guide.
• As the guide that is to be created will be on different recipes to do with healthy eating, it may be more impactful to choose a simplistic cover. This way the cover isn't giving the audience the idea that its contents is about one particular recipe.

• As discussed during critique, having the guide made pocket sized was most likely to be the more convenient and appropriate option. This way people who are likely to want to eat unhealthily where ever they go can then bring the book and cook something healthy from the recipes in it.

• When examining examples of typeface and layout for different recipe books available online, we can see that the most common structure is to use bold text with photographs of the food. The photographs used on the covers are mostly taken from birds-eye view, which allows the viewer to see the food as if they were eating it at the dinner table. The photographs from this angle also allow for the plates, cooking dishes or other containers to be a part of the layout design. For example, having a round plate of food centred on the cover allows for text to be placed either within it or around it.

•  This layout can then used repetitively throughout the pages of the book. By choosing to use simple shapes such as circles and squares, the photographs and information can be aligned in a structure that is easy to follow. This also allows for small tips and quick pockets of information to be added next to certain pictures.
• Here we can see that the cook book has used a circle to quickly inform the viewer of the types of recipes that are included within.

• Photographs can then be arranged to fill one side of a spread, with the recipes placed on the opposite page. This way the reader has a visual presentation of the recipes to look at before deciding which one they want to read about.

• For pages informing the reader of the ingredients, the photographs have been made smaller and positioned to the side. This way the reader can copy the list of ingredients to their shopping list, in order to make the different recipes.

• As shown on this cover, the design has taken a simple approach to the typeface choices. By separating 'The Clean Eating' from 'Slow Cooker' in the title the audience can visualise the two as separate things. This can also show importance to the 'Clean Eating' over 'Slow Cooker' in the title, however by changing the typeface and colour of 'Slow Cooker' it is still showing importance.

• This book also uses a similar layout to present several photographs of the recipes to the audience on one side of the page, while the information is presented in sections, based on their importance to the viewer.

•  When comparing the general recipe book to a baking recipe book, we can see that there is clear differences in the design approaches. 
• The baking recipe books tend to be personal to the author, whereas the general cook books were made for general audiences who are likely to try any type of cooking.
• The baking books look as though they're designed with the intention of appealing to an older audience. The relaxed design decisions made on the covers suggest they're not targeted for children, but for people who likely have experience with baking and enjoy it as a hobby.
• There are however still some similarities between the baking recipe books and the cook books. For example, many baking books also decided to include the photographs in groups, so that it would be easier for the reader to find the recipe they want.
• Many of the baking books also chose to use serif fonts, similar to the cook books.