Help us choose a cover for Tiny Homes on the Move

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What do you think? Choose the one you like best, or give us an order of choices. Feedback welcome.

About Lloyd Kahn

Lloyd Kahn started building his own home in the early '60s and went on to publish books showing homeowners how they could build their own homes with their own hands. He got his start in publishing by working as the shelter editor of the Whole Earth Catalog with Stewart Brand in the late '60s. He has since authored six highly-graphic books on homemade building, all of which are interrelated. The books, "The Shelter Library Of Building Books," include Shelter, Shelter II (1978), Home Work (2004), Builders of the Pacific Coast (2008), Tiny Homes (2012), and Tiny Homes on the Move (2014). Lloyd operates from Northern California studio built of recycled lumber, set in the midst of a vegetable garden, and hooked into the world via five Mac computers. You can check out videos (one with over 450,000 views) on Lloyd by doing a search on YouTube:

135 Responses to Help us choose a cover for Tiny Homes on the Move

  1. Hey Lloyd,
    Very excited for the new book! I like covers 3 then 4. If it will be the same size as Tiny Homes, then 4 would look great. Partial to the t 100! Great trucks!
    Keep up all the great work.

  2. They're all nice, but I agree with Percy: 4, 5, then 1. By the way,
    my accounts have been very enthusiastic! Can't wait to see it!

  3. While I'm a sucker for Airstreams, I think #4 is the most widely appealing cover. It gives a greater peek into the variety of the content I'm sure is inside. Can't wait to add the book to my ever expanding Lloyd Kahn collection.

  4. I'm really excited about this one! I like the ones that feature a lot of small pics of various rigs, gives me more of a preview of what's inside. That would be 1. or 4. and you can't beat the VW sunset shot on top, so no. 4.

  5. i like 4 best, then 1. i'm not too fond of #5 since that simple camper shell, while attractive, pales in comparison to the housetrucks. if you choose layout #5 i'd recommend picking a more awesome example for "wheels".

  6. 4, I guess. On screen, I like 3 for balance, but it may not convey the homes concept and the title doesn't pop. 4 looks busy onscreen. However, viewed in real life, say on a bookstore shelf, 4 or 5 might be better since it's much easier to see the title. 4 does a much better job of conveying the idea that these are alternative homes, rather than temporary camping or holiday accommodations. 5 looks like DIY camping. Personally, I'd tweak a bit more.

  7. #4
    The long perspective of a natural setting is a great balance for the close images. For me, it creates the desire to be there, experiencing the freedom. My eyes are then drawn down to more beautiful examples – found myself placing each of those into a large natural setting like the top image.
    Thank you for all the work, laughter & appreciation you place in your publications Lloyd.
    C

  8. I'd say version 1 or 5. The others are too 'busy", detracting from the subject.

    In v5, I'd use similar 1/3 vertical proportions as in v4, perhaps even using the uppermost golden sunset photo of v4 in place of the 4×4 mountain view.

    In any case, I think you need to reconsider the typography. Use a legible, contemporary sans serif typeface [though not Helvetica] and eliminate the drop shadow [it doesn't add anything]. A bold, simple typeface will enable you to decrease the point size of the title, so as to fit all of the text in the burgundy-colored band. I would also change 'MOVE' to lower case.

    As for v1, the layout with column of photos to the left is more informative than v5. Same remarks regarding typography as for v5. Do leave out the horizontal yellow lines / accents, and certainly avoid the narrow block of text under 'Wheels and Water'. Make the band the whole width of the two photos.

    I'd also recommend reconsidering the photo of the airstream caravan, perhaps replacing it with the second photo in the left-hand column.

    I'd be happy to send you roughs of my ideas if you're interested. Your layouts are good, but they need to be more legible.
    .

  9. Hi Lloyd,

    I like #4 best, except the name placement looks kind of funny… like it was stamped there or something. Just a suggestion: crop the top and bottom of the top photo a little, move everything up, add a black strip across the bottom with your name in gold (like #3).

    Look forward to the book!! : )

  10. 4 and 3 are my favourites.
    I prefer lots of images on the cover, as others have said. The title is easy to read on 4, but the design still feels more sophisticated than 1. I prefer "on the" not to be in small caps.

  11. I like 4 the best. The T100 looks like a car ad and repels me. Same with the airstream- (though I do love airstreams) they look way too off the shelf. More funky house boats and caravans please. I want to buy this book to see lots of examples of handmade, funky, one of a kind stuff. Love Toyota trucks, but that one is way too clean. Keep up the good work!

  12. Here's my 2 cents:
    #1 – has a good variety of homes and a clean layout of the title
    #4 – try swapping places with the Ford and the houseboat, so that the direction they are facing points in, instead of leading the eyes off of the page
    #3 – like this one also, maybe one size smaller with font so "Tiny Homes & On the Move" fits better in houseboat photo.
    Working in circulation for the County Library, I see lots & lots of books and I can pretty much tell which books will get picked up off the browsing shelf by the way the cover looks on the book. Most people will just do a quick glance and if they can easily read the cover then they will pick it up and look inside. If I can hand the book to them with a great review, then most of the time it goes home with them, which is what I do with Tiny Homes, Builders of the Pacific Coast or Homework. When your books are returned I usually get a "Thanks, I liked it so much, I went out and bought my own copy". Looking forward to this one.
    ~denise

  13. Number 4 is my choice. Love that sunset/sunrise and the rainbow sail. Only thing i would do would be getting rid of that 4wd pick up. The wooden part is nice but the actual car is AWFUL!!
    So looking forward to having that book in my hands and opening those pages for the first time!
    All your other books on my bookshelf are worn out already. I need this new one badly to calm down my addiction!
    Sierra, Carpenter, timber framer and narrowboat dweller, Bristol, England

  14. "#1 has the best composition – tho' I'd replace the airstream with a hand-built wheeled something."

    I'd agree with Martin. Seen enough Silver Turds to last me for a while.

  15. Hello everyone, #4,#1,#5 in that order appeals to me, hard to steer away from that sunset. Thank you Lloyd for your good work, spiritual medicine, and a place to dream,dream,dream.

  16. Like # 1 for composition, variety, but agree it might be good to replace the airstream with a more unique conversion. Every book a great inspiration and treat! Thanks Lloyd!

  17. No 4, Love the top pic as that what living on the road is all about. Years of housetrucking in New Zealand with a different view most days is living life.

  18. 4. Plus the beautiful sail in the center draws your eye in, but there was something for everyone in variety of ways in which we, are on the move, as active people

  19. It's great that the house boat made all the covers! That said, I like both #1 and #4, mainly because they feature real occupants with their vehicles.
    Peace
    Gill

  20. #2

    Because it's simple and elegant
    looks like a coffee table book cover

    The others are great too but give away too much &
    look a bit like the Sunset Press series ( not a bad thing)

    Can't wait to buy a copy!

  21. I like 4 – 1 – 5 in that order but truth be known I'll buy a copy no matter what the cover looks like. i just love boats, trailers and rolling homes. Thanks LLoyd for all your books. Truly the stuff of dreams.
    John in Fla

  22. 4, 1, 5 (like the original San Francisco area code) The reasons are the same as everyone else's for 4 and 1 and 5. Definitely like 4 the best…. Happy New Year, Lloyd!
    Best, joyce

  23. 4,1,3 I like the ones that show the most variety of forms. These have the most engaging type face, too.

    I like the road shot at the top of 4. Looking forward to it! Todd and Jen

  24. Having had so much cold weather, I would go with #4. but #5. is nice and larger pics are more eye catching. Can't wait.Where can you park on of these in northern California besides a "rv park"?

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