Business As Usual, Inc. Book Covers

Dust jackets and packaging for a series of three books linked by a common theme.

Three books standing upright showing the front covers.

Three books standing upright showing the back covers.

What do videotapes and briefcases have in common? The Business As Usual book series explores psychosis through the unique presentation of everyday objects found within the stories.

The Challenge

Each book in the series requires both individual distinction and visual unity within the group. They should contain elements that provide variety and set each cover design apart, as well as elements that offer consistency and help the set appear unified. Each story depicts a person who is driven insane by some form of corporate or work pressure, so the covers and packaging have to work in unison to support this theme.

The Execution

After some research, I realized that all three stories rely heavily on objects as metaphors and plot devices. In Fight Club, the narrator’s obsession with apartment furnishings help us understand his troubling relationship with wealth, and Patrick Bateman always has a tape to return when his murder attempts fail. Based on this, I focused on one physical object to act as the visual element for each book.

The Result

These objects—a briefcase, a VHS tape, and a sofa—help both to differentiate the books visually and to provide plot hints. A special logo was developed for each image based on a consistent “B” letterform to suggest unity between them. Additionally, each cover displays the author and title on a label or tag. The back of each book foreshadows its conclusion, which is complemented by nooses and neckties on the packaging.