Cover Design Research Articles

Towards Autonomous Materials–Challenges in Chemical Communication

AbstractThe front cover artwork is provided by the Lerch group at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. The cover illustrates a robot communicating with surrounding entities using various (chemical) signals. Not all communication and signal processing are successful, hence the slight confusion on the robot′s face. The cover alludes to the breadth of and future challenges for chemical communication within autonomous materials and robots. Cover design by Dr. Kaja Sitkowska. Read the full text of the Concept at 10.1002/syst.202400005.

Functionalized interfacial cover design toward pure silicon anode for high power density lithium–ion capacitor

A lithium–ion capacitor, comprising a capacitor–type cathode and battery–type anode, exhibits high power and energy density; however, the integration of different charge storage mechanisms in one cell naturally leads to a kinetic mismatch between the two electrodes, reducing the power density and cycle stability. To solve this problem, high–capacity anode materials with thinner electrodes are required. Silicon, with its high specific capacity, is considered a promising anode material with high energy and power density; however, pure Si anodes undergo rapid capacity fading and exhibit increased internal resistance owing to volume changes during cycling. In this study, both sides of the electrode are covered with functional layers consisting of functionalized herringbone–type carbon nanofibers to protect the Si electrode from degradation. The polar functional groups on the nanofibers weakly interact with the native oxide layer of the Si surface and the carboxyl groups of the binder, ensuring stable contact between electrode materials over repeated cycles. Moreover, the conductive functional cover promotes uniform lithium ion fluxes, aiding the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase layer. This study investigates the effects of this strategy on pure Si electrodes by surface morphology analysis, assessment of chemical interactions, and electrochemical testing. This approach has the potential to overcome the degradation of Si electrodes and significantly improve the power and energy density of lithium–ion capacitors.

Numerical investigation and optimal design of capillary barrier cover with passive gas collection pipes on the performance at limiting landfill gas emissions

Relying solely on soil properties may not fully ensure the performance of capillary barrier covers at limiting landfill gas (LFG) emissions. This study proposed to install passive gas collection pipes in the coarse-grained soil layers of capillary barrier covers to enhance their performance at limiting LFG emissions. First, the LFG generation rate of municipal solid waste and its influencing factors were analyzed based on empirical formulas. This information provided necessary bottom boundary conditions for the analyses of LFG transport through capillary barrier covers with passive gas collection pipes (CBCPPs). Then, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the LFG transport properties through CBCPPs and reveal relevant influencing factors. Finally, practical suggestions were proposed to optimize the design of CBCPPs. The results indicated that the maximum whole-site LFG generation rate occurred at the end of landfilling operation. The gas collection efficiency (E) of CBCPPs was mainly controlled by the ratio of the intrinsic permeability between the coarse- and fine-grained soil (K2/K1) and the laying spacing between gas collection pipes (D). E increased as K2/K1 increased but decreased as D increased. An empirical expression for estimating E based on K2/K1 and D was proposed. In practice, CBCPPs were supposed to be constructed once the landfilling operation finished. It is best to select the fine- and coarse-grained soils with K2/K1 exceeding 10,000 to construct CBCPPs.

Modeling Planar Electrodes and Zero‐Gap Membrane Electrode Assemblies for CO2 Electrolysis

AbstractInvited for this issue's Front Cover are researchers from the Carbon Initiative at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the SUNCAT Center at Stanford University. The front cover shows a cross‐section of the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly for CO2 electrolysis looking down the feed channel. CO2 molecules flow down the channel and diffuse up through the gas diffusion layer to the silver catalyst, where CO2 reacts to form CO, while also competing against hydrogen reduction from water. Some of the CO2 molecules react to form bicarbonate and carbonate ions, which can diffuse across the membrane, where they react at the anode to form CO2 again. The top of the image shows CO2 that has crossed over through the membrane into the anolyte. Cover design by Brendan Thompson. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202300566.

Impact of differential settlement on leakage through geomembranes in waste covers

To quantify the effects of differential settlement on leakage through a geomembrane (GMB) hole in waste (landfill/mine tailings) covers, field experiments were conducted at Queen's University Experimental Liner Test Site on two sections, each with a 4H : 1V slope. Over 13 months, measurements showed that a 3 m × 2 m × 0.12–0.17 m depression in Section B led to a 51-fold increase in leakage when compared to Section A, which had no such depression (493 l vs 11.1 l). Notably, in Section B, 284 mm of precipitation between November and February resulted in 281 l of leakage, whereas 537 mm of precipitation between June and September led to a mere 142 l of leakage. A 3D numerical investigation provides encouraging agreement with the experimental measurements and confirms a counterintuitive 43% increase in leakage with a decrease in the temperature of cover sand from 21.9°C to 1°C, due to the influence of temperature-dependent viscosity on the hydraulic conductivity of the cover soil. This paper offers insights for optimizing waste cover design and inspection procedures to mitigate the challenges of contaminant control.

PENINGKATAN KEMAMPUAN DESAIN GRAFIS SISWA MTS NEGERI 2 MAGELANG MELALUI PELATIHAN CORELDRAW

Technological developments and advances emphasize the critical role of schools in adapting themselves to the challenges of today's digital world. The service activities at MTS Negeri 2 focus on increasing partners' abilities in graphic design, especially creating logos, covers, and flayers using the CorelDRAW application. This activity aims to improve students' hard skills in graphic design, especially at the class IX level. The method implemented involves a lecture approach, discussion, and direct assistance through practicum using the CorelDRAW application. This activity also includes evaluation through case study assignments, which require students to create a logo, cover, and flayer. Thus, a holistic learning approach ensures students' understanding and practical application in responding to technological advances in this digital era. From the results of distributing questionnaires and evaluating graphic design skills training activities, 90% of participants succeeded in creating logos, cover designs, and flyers. Apart from that, participants can also apply more than one application in the graphic design process.

Soft power and its implications for political book cover designs

Soft power and its implications for political book cover designs

A multimodal analysis of Bob Marley’s “Natty Dread” album

Abstract This study employs social semiotics as a multimodal analytical framework to explore various communication modes employed in Bob Marley’s 1974 “Natty Dread” album to describe the Rastaman. The album’s cover design, including images, font style, and colours, carry significant meanings that contribute to the representation of the Rasta identity. Marley’s lexical choices, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives and noun phrases also play a crucial role in presenting the Rasta identity. Additionally, Marley utilises various literary devices such as repetition, metaphor, allusion, and imagery to vividly describe the Rastaman. The song titles and their arrangement on the album form a cohesive narrative depicting the Rastaman’s life. In essence, the “Natty Dread” album portrays the Rastaman as a humble individual connected to the streets. The Rastaman’s physical appearance is distinguished by his distinctive dreadlocks. His lifestyle embraces simplicity, a deep connection with nature, the pursuit of freedom and happiness, love, peace, unity, and rebellion against the oppressive establishment. Material possessions hold little importance for the Rastaman as he considers his spiritual devotion to Jah (God) and his commitment to his community paramount. Furthermore, an inseparable part of the Rastaman’s culture is his use of marijuana and music, particularly reggae, which serves as a powerful tool with which he combats social injustices and inequalities in the world.

Revealing and optimizing the design of cover installation for outdoor units of air conditioners through CFD simulations and thermodynamic modeling

When renewing building facades in most Chinese cities, covers are often designed and installed to conceal the outdoor units of residential split air conditioners for congruousness of building facades. However, how those covers impact airflow and energy efficiency should be thoroughly examined. This study investigates two popular designs of cover (louver and circular-hole) and selects Nanjing, renowned for its hot summers, as the case city. This study employs Computational Fluid Dynamics models to simulate airflow obstruction caused by the covers surrounding the outdoor units. Grey Model, trained from the CFD results, quantifies interactions between design of cover and inlet air temperature. Additionally, a thermodynamic model assesses the covers' impact on the coefficient of performance of air conditioners. The findings reveal that the primary cause of outdoor unit overheating is warm air backflow from the outlet to the inlet. A mere 1 °C increase in inlet air temperature can reduce COP by 4.1%–8.7%. The maximum temperature differences caused by different designs of cover are 4.5 °C for the louver type and 4.4 °C for the circular-hole type. To mitigate these negative impacts, optimal design recommendations are provided: a minimum distance between the cover and outdoor unit of 0.29 m for louver type and 0.1 m for circular-hole type, both feasible in most installations. These findings can help designers, manufacturers, installers and policymakers, to facilitate the design and installation of optimal covers for outdoor air-conditioning units, thus minimizing energy efficiency losses.

Study of Design Trends in Visual Expression of Book Cover Design -Focusing the Seoul International Book Fair’s “Best Book Design in Korea”-

Study of Design Trends in Visual Expression of Book Cover Design -Focusing the Seoul International Book Fair’s “Best Book Design in Korea”-

Desain Album “Collide” Band Dieonic

Dieonic is an Alternative Rock music group with the Shoegaze subgenre hailing from Padang, Indonesia. Formed in 2022, Dieonic presents a fusion of key shoegaze elements within a series of alternative rock tracks, refining the essence of emo music. In the midst of Padang's vibrant underground music scene, Dieonic emerges with a distinctive sound, deviating from the conventional trends. This latest project aims to develop a visual communication concept that mirrors the artistic visualization of Dieonic's musical creations and their unique identity. Beyond offering educational insights into the significance of album design in the music industry, this endeavor concentrates on fortifying Dieonic's visual branding as a pivotal aspect of the band's identity, employing a semiotic approach. The cover design for Dieonic's 'Collide' album underwent a meticulous process, utilizing the 5W+1H analysis and the 4D method design for data analysis. The subsequent creative design seeks to encapsulate the band's essence. The resulting design serves as the primary medium in the form of the album itself, accompanied by supplementary materials such as album CDs, booklets, Spotify previews, posters, t-shirts, and flags. These diverse media will undergo thorough testing for their efficacy with a verified target audience to gauge their overall success.

Creation of quilt cover designs using CAD technology

Introduction of modern technique of CAD is a powerful tool for product designing and development and is user friendly. These days advanced two or three dimensional software are used widely in designing sector. The time consuming process of textile designing has been easier by Computer Aided Designing. The huge advantage offered by digital system for drawing and modeling allows designs to be seen from any angle as well as easily manipulated in terms of colours, textures, shape etc. There is a great demand for designer and value-added quilt covers amongst consumers. Forty designs of surface decoration techniques of appliqué work, patch work, fabric painting and stencil printing were created in Corel DRAW, ten designs for each selected techniques were created. The four top preferred surface decoration techniques i.e. appliqué work, patch work, fabric painting and stencil printing with most preferred tucks and piping were selected for application on quilt covers. Three placements of each selected design with possible were done; hence 24 placements each for front and back side of quilt covers were done in Corel DRAW.

3D Printed Cosmetic Covers for Lower Limb Prosthetics.

Cosmetic covers provide better aesthetic appearance and may facilitate increased acceptance of the prosthesis. Traditionally, cosmetic covers aimed to achieve an aesthetic and realistic appearance; through time, a fresh perspective has developed on cosmetic covers where traditional/realistic covers evolved into a custom-made product, which truly promotes the patient's personality. The objectives of the study were to gather information from five well-known companies in the cosmetic cover industry (UNYQ, Limb-Art, Alleles, WillowWood and Aqua-Leg), analyse and compare their design elements using the Pugh matrix, and suggest a novel design using the best performing criteria of each design. The overall results of the Pugh matrix revealed the opportunity of a new design with improved design elements mainly in terms of "cover fit/aesthetics", "ease of attachment" and "practicality". The novel design had a vast difference in total score from the second-best design, revealing the improvement possibilities such cover design may have in the future. Although the study successfully presented a theoretical novel design, it was based on data found through literature and web resources, making the overall results of the study more objective rather than subjective. Future research is encouraged to be conducted based on a more subjective approach towards cosmetic covers.

The Dot: Statistics, Society, and Graphic Design, c. 1830–1970

Abstract This article takes Chermayeff & Geismar Associates’ cover designs for a paperback reprint series, “Studies in American Negro Life” (1968–c. 1972), as a starting point for investigating the history of the dot as a tool for social-statistical visualization. It first situates the series—which re-issued texts on Black history, sociology, and literature—within the context of 1960s urban unrest in the United States and shows how the arrangements of dots on each cover relate to contemporaneous experiments in urban cartography. It then traces a longer genealogy, considering the dot in relation to the 19th-century emergence of “society” and “the social” as novel epistemic concepts that came to serve as the primary objects of study for the modern social sciences in the 20th century. I address the integral role of statistics in this history, demonstrating how the logic of aggregation that undergirds statistical thinking has been habitually visualized through the dot. The article concludes by returning to the book series, addressing some of the individual covers and arguing that by evoking the visual vocabulary of the social sciences, the cover designs frame the series as a social scientific project overall.

Sodium Tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)aluminates: Synthesis and Electrochemical Characterisation of a Room‐Temperature Solvated Ionic Liquid.

AbstractInvited for this issue's Front Cover is the groups of Grey and Wright. The cover picture shows the chemical structure of sodium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)aluminate, with the sodium ion in the beach ball and the aluminate anion floating in a pool. The cover art uses a pool theme as the sodium aluminate salt synthesised in this work is a room‐temperature ionic liquid, thus the sodium salt in the pool represents this. The application of the salt in a sodium‐ion battery is shown in the cover design with the diving board acting as a battery, which can be seen by the positive and negative signs. Cover design by Demelza Lee. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202300381.

Modifying performance of solar still, by using slices absorber plate and new design of glass cover, experimental and numerical study

By utilizing novel techniques on the absorber plates as well as the glass cover, this effort attempts to increase the distilled water productivity of a modified pyramid solar still. Under the climatic conditions of Iraq, the use of basin absorber plates with slices along its length, and a W-shaped glass cover was investigated experimentally and numerically. In this work, two comparable solar stills with basin absorber plates of 1 m2 have been planned and built using regional resources. Two absorber plates made of stainless steel were produced, first one was solid and the second was sliced. Two covers made of glass were produced one has a pyramid-shaped glass cover and the other a W-shape. According to experimental and numerical findings, forming slices and changing the glass cover resulted in a 20 % increase in the amount of distilled water. when compared to a pyramid glass cover and a standard sort of absorber plate.

Enhancing life cycle assessment framework to support product ecodesign through index decomposition analysis

In ecodesign, life cycle assessment (LCA) has not only been used to evaluate a product's environmental sustainability but also serves as a tool for designers to identify areas for sustainability improvement. Conventionally, this is achieved by ranking all contributing LCA variables to identify high-impact areas. However, interpreting and translating this information into actionable design variables can be challenging. An LCA variable can be influenced by multiple design variables, each of which might affect the design's environmental sustainability to varying degrees. Presently, there is a lack of tools capable of analysing the influence of each design variable. To bridge this gap, this study proposes an LCA disaggregation methodology that uses Index Decomposition Analysis (IDA) to assess the environmental sustainability significance of the considered design variables. Using the methodology, designers can make informed decisions that prioritise design effort on design variable with the greatest potential for enhancing the product's environmental sustainability. The proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study involving the design of a desk fan cover, considering material choice, geometry, and manufacturing process as key design variables.

Manhole cover design based on eco-community

By conducting a thorough review of manhole cover development in more advanced regions, conducting extensive field research, and utilizing comparative analysis of typical cases, we have successfully formulated innovative and culturally-rooted manhole cover design schemes. These designs are not solely focused on functionality, but also strive to enhance the overall landscape atmosphere and amplify the exhibition of unique eco-community cultural elements. Our primary objective is to provide a concrete and invaluable reference for future landscape design projects, encouraging the seamless integration of cultural aesthetics into practical eco-community infrastructure. By doing so, we aim to foster a more harmonious and culturally vibrant urban environment that not only meets the functional needs of its inhabitants but also reflects and celebrates the rich tapestry of eco-community culture. Ultimately, our goal is to contribute to the creation of cities that are not only functional and efficient but also visually stunning and deeply connected to their cultural heritage.

Integration of geosynthetics in reclaiming an oil sands tailings pond

Global mining operations produce significant amounts of soil waste referred to as tailings. In oil sands mining, a portion of the deposited tailings is extremely soft and is primarily in a fluid state with solid contents (by weight) ranging between 30% and 40%. As part of reclaiming its Pond 5 oil sands tailings pond, Suncor constructed an engineered “floating” cover on top of the soft tailings deposits between 2010 and 2017 over an area spanning approximately 200 hectares to provide trafficability for limited construction equipment. This initial cover consisted of two layers of geosynthetics overlain by 2 m of petroleum coke. After construction of the initial cover, Vertical Strip Drains (VSDs) were installed through the majority of the capped area to enhance the consolidation rate of the underlying soft tailings. Additional coke has been placed on top of the initial coke cover to a total thickness of 4 m to 6 m. Previous publications have discussed the cover design, installation details of the geosynthetics, installation and performance of the VSDs, and performance of the cover. This paper presents the geosynthetics design, inspection of the geosynthetics post cover construction, and an update on the performance of the coke cover.

A SEMIOTIC EVALUATION OF COVER IMAGES OF THE TEN MOST HELD TURKISH POP MUSIC ON THE 2021 SPOTIFY LIST

Semiotics, or semiotics as it is commonly known, is an interdisciplinary research field that examines the sign strings of studies in many fields such as music, sociology and linguistics. Today, semiotics, which makes metaphorical analysis of various disciplinary fields such as literature, art, music and cinema and has a wide range as a field of study, has been an important communication tool in this sense. The science of semiotics, which has both a principled and free movement environment due to its multidisciplinary structure, has explained objects, figures and situations in this way by revealing the meaning and establishing a connection with the place of that meaning in society. Among these fields, especially in music, graphic designs used in the creation of album covers, concert posters, posters have an important role in conveying the message that the musical product wants to convey. In this research, it is aimed to make a semiotic analysis of the cover images of the ten most listened songs in the field of Turkish pop music in the Spotify 2021 list. Within the scope of the purpose of the study, cover images were evaluated semiotically in terms of elements such as writing styles, color preferences, use of figures and objects. In this case, questions such as how the current album cover designs examined are, what kind of differences they have with the album covers of the past, how the effects, colors, figures, etc. used in the design of the album covers are, whether the album covers are meaningfully compatible with the title of the album. According to this analysis, ten cover images determined by scanning reliable sites on the internet were reached. The covers were analyzed semiotically in four groups with the criteria of object, human, digital photograph and color under the elements of signified and signifier according to the sign method created by F. Saussure. In addition to these examinations, the content of the lyrics in the albums was also evaluated and it was determined whether they were meaningfully compatible with the album title and cover image. In the light of the evaluations made, it has been concluded that some of the album covers are compatible with the name of the album and some are not. It has been observed that the design of the album covers is influenced by the general fashion sense of the global music industry, and for this reason, they are far from the old album covers in terms of design and meaning.