How to Become a Professional Book Cover Designer

Book cover designers play an important role in the production of both fiction and non-fiction books. A professional book cover designer will frequently do the following:

• Oversee all elements of the design process: This includes graphic design and typesetting.
• Select cover art and typography: The imagery and fonts they choose will appear on the front cover, back cover, spine, and (when applicable) inner flaps of a book.
• Produce a mockup cover: They’ll send this out before the cover is finalized for notes from the author and publishing company.
• Create a cover appropriate for the genre: Book cover designers are mindful of how design work intersects with book marketing, and thereby understand that a great book cover is one that instigates book sales. A book’s genre matters. For instance, potential readers of a thriller are likely to favor a different kind of cover image than potential readers of a self-help book.
• Collaborate with other creatives: The cover designer works with a publishing company’s creative director and any other professional designer assigned to the same project.

A book designer is effectively a cross between an art director and a graphic designer. This means that people who design books must possess a wide array of intersecting skills. These include:

1. 1. Strong graphic design skills
2. 2. Excellent skills with computers and design software
3. 3. A low-ego, collaborative spirit
4. 4. Working knowledge of publishing industry trends
5. 5. A functional vocabulary for design tools and typefaces
6. 6. Ideally, strong referrals and testimonials from prior design clients

As is the case with most professions, breaking into the world of book design services can be daunting, but once you establish yourself in the field, it becomes easier to stay networked. Your first job may not pay well, but if you’re able to successfully design your first book cover, you can start negotiating for better rates. If you’ve already mastered the art of book cover design, here are some tips for making your name as a quality book cover designer:

1. 1. Be in the right place. Freelancers can live just about anywhere, but it still helps to be located in publishing capitals like New York or London. Are there scenarios where the publisher is based in New York, and the book designer is across the country or overseas? Certainly. But if you’re freelancing and trying to get hired on your first print book, it can really benefit you to meet your employer face-to-face.
2. 2. Take your workspace seriously. No matter where you’re located, it’s best to set up a personal design studio, whether that’s rented office space, a room in your house, or just a corner of your bedroom. Producing a professional cover requires careful attention to detail, so give yourself a space where you can reasonably succeed.
3. 3. Network with independent authors. Most major publishing houses won’t give you a break until you have a few titles to your name. A sensible way to get a great cover in your portfolio is to collaborate with authors who are self-publishing. Some of these authors only need an ebook cover, and some will be issuing paper copies via print-on-demand. Meet with them, read their books, and learn about their favorite book covers. After you’ve processed all that information, present them with cover ideas. This may not be a lucrative way of doing business, but it may be the most efficient way to get your own book cover designs out in the world.
4. 4. Work selflessly. A novel, anthology, or nonfiction book does not exist to serve the expression of the book designer. These books are foremost about their authors. You may find yourself working with authors or publishers whose idea of a beautiful book cover doesn’t intersect with yours. That doesn’t mean you should quit. If you can stay on and work out a version that combines the author’s taste with your expertise, it will be well worth the effort. And if you want the fullest range of artistic expression, go DIY: Issue your own book with its own cover that’s exactly to your liking.
5. 5. Treat every client with respect. The first time you get hired to design a book cover, you are unlikely to find yourself working on a bestselling novel. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do everything in your power to create a great book cover. If you choose to phone it in with a bunch of stock images and a bland font for the title and author's name, it reflects poorly on both the author and you personally. Design every book as though it were going on your own personal bookshelf. Such professionalism will be rewarded in the long run.
6. 6. Get online and market yourself. You may not be the type to brag, but self-promotion is necessary in today’s economy. Get on social media or build your own website and show the world the great covers you’ve been designing. Unless you have an exclusive deal with a publishing house, it’s quite likely your next client will be looking for you online, and you want to be ready when they find you.

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