The Rule

Heron

A fixed top band for the series and title, a free field below for the image. The grid carries the brand so the art can vary.

Heron Crime

3/6

The
Narrowing
Circle

Julian Symons

Click artwork to randomize
The Narrowing Circle
A Murder is Announced
The Long Goodbye
Strangers on a Train
The Big Sleep

Brand Guidelines

The brand lives entirely in the grid geometry and the top color band. By rigorously enforcing the top 30%, you guarantee recognition on a bookshelf. This buys you total creative freedom in the lower 70% to use any illustrative or photographic style you want.

Heron Books

Alex
Mitchell

Art Director

What breaks it

An illustration that bleeds all the way to the top of the cover, completely obliterating the green band, with the title text randomly overlaid on top of the art. Without the rigid, protected top band, the grid system—and the brand identity—collapses entirely.

THE NARROWING
CIRCLE
Julian Symons
BRAND DESTROYED