assignment book cover design

Free Cover Page templates

Create impressive cover pages for your assignments and projects online in just a click. choose from hundreds of free templates and customize them with edit.org..

Create impressive cover pages in a few minutes with Edit.org, and give your projects and assignments a professional and unique touch. A well-designed title page or project front page can positively impact your professor's opinion of your homework, which can improve your final grade!

Create a personalized report cover page

After writing the whole report, dissertation, or paper, which is the hardest part, you should now create a cover page that suits the rest of the project. Part of the grade for your work depends on the first impression of the teacher who corrects it.

We know not everyone is a professional designer, and that's why Edit.org wants to help you. Having a professional title page can give the impression you've put a great deal of time and effort into your assignment, as well as the impression you take the subject very seriously. Thanks to Edit.org, everyone can become a professional designer. This way, you'll only have to worry about doing a great job on your assignment.

On the editor, you will also find free resume templates  and other educational and professional designs.

Customize an essay cover page with Edit.org

• Go to formats on the home page and choose Cover pages.
• Choose the template that best suits the project.
• You can add your images or change the template background color.
• Add your report information and change the font type and colors if needed.
• Save and download it. The cover page is ready to make your work shine!

Free editable templates for title pages

As you can see, it's simple to create cover pages for schoolwork and it won’t take much time. We recommend using the same colors on the cover as the ones you used for your essay titles to create a cohesive design. It’s also crucial to add the name and logo of the institution for which you are doing the essay. A visually attractive project is likely to be graded very well, so taking care of the small details will make your work look professional.

On Edit.org, you can also reuse all your designs and adapt them to different projects. Thanks to the users' internal memory, you can access and edit old templates anytime and anywhere.

Take a look at other options we propose on the site. Edit.org helps design flyers, business cards, and other designs useful in the workplace. The platform was created so you don't need to have previous design knowledge to achieve a spectacular cover page! Start your cover page design now.

Create online Cover Pages for printing

You can enter our free graphic editor from your phone, tablet or computer. The process is 100% online, fun and intuitive. Just click on what you want to modify. Customize your cover page quickly and easily. You don't need any design skills. No Photoshop skills. Just choose a template from this article or from the final waterfall and customize it to your liking. Writing first and last names, numbers, additional information or texts will be as easy as writing in a Word document.

Free templates for assignment cover page design

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Design a Book Cover

Students create a new cover design for a book they are reading to demonstrate comprehension and explore character, plot, setting, symbolism, and conflict.

Students just aren't checking books out of the school library as often anymore. The librarian is hoping to remedy this situation by making the books that are in the library look more appealing!

After finding a book you enjoy, encourage other students to read it by creating a new cover design to entice other students to read it.

Images can be powerful ways of communicating. People instinctively respond to images based on their personalities, associations, and previous experience. Graphic designers use this instinctive response to visually communicate ideas and information. They work with different tools and mediums to convey a message from a client to a particular audience.

As a class, look at the covers for several books you have read. Does the cover art reflect the content and mood of the book?

Share the librarian's dilemma and ask your students to create new cover jackets for some of their favorite books. Remind them that a book jacket includes:

• A clear title and author name
• A graphic design that reflects the books themes
• A summary of the plot without giving away the ending
• A review (opinion) about the book

Have students choose a favorite book or one they have read recently.

To help students review what they learned about the book, have them complete a character sketch or character web about the main character. This will help them develop details about the main character, so they communicate information about the character linguistically before trying to do so visually.

You may also find it useful for them to complete organizers that show characters, setting, and events in the beginning, middle, and end or even a more elaborate plot diagram.

Graphic designers need to think about the goal of the images they create. A book cover design should not only give the viewer an idea of the content and mood of the book but should also be eye-catching to encourage students browsing in the library (like customers in a bookstore) to pick up a book they may not be familiar with.

Have students think about the message they want to convey with their book cover and write a short proposal about what they hope their book cover will convey.

For example, in Esperanza Rising, a proposal might look like:

Pam Munoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising is a story about a well-to-do Mexican girl who had to begin a new life in the farm fields of California. Despite all of her misfortune and hard work, Esperanza Rising is a story about hope for a bright future. The book cover for this story should show her background in Mexico and her hard work in the fields, but the mood should still be uplifting.

Have students share their proposal with a partner who has read their book and discuss the merits of the idea.

• Do you agree with their summary of what should be included on the cover?
• Do you agree with the mood they have chosen?
• What images might they use?

Have students revise and submit their proposal for your review.

Once the students have their proposal written, they should begin looking for potential images they can use in their cover design. Using the descriptive words in their character sketch and cover design worksheets, have them use a digital camera to capture appropriate images and the Internet to explore and download copyright-friendly images from Pics4Learning .

You may also want to give them access to a paint program or art supplies, so they can also create original illustrations and artwork.

Once students have collected all of their image resources, have them use a tool like Wixie to combine them into a front and back cover design or book jacket.

When the cover designs are completed, have students work in small teams to evaluate them. Collect all of the evaluations and then distribute them to the cover designers.

Print the new cover designs and display them around school to promote reading. The librarian may choose to display them in the library to help visiting students connect with literature that interests them.

You could also ask local graphic designers to evaluate student work. Make sure the designers evaluate the work for both design skill and how well the design reflects the content of the book. In other words, bring in designers who love to read!

Create a rubric or checklist to help guide student work during research, writing, and final book cover design. Use the Rubric Maker to create a rubric for free. If you use Wixie, use the embedded rubric-making tool. The book cover design templates in Wixie each have a rubric already attached.

Use the character sketch to evaluate how well students understood the content of the book, as well as their skill at describing the characters and events in the text. Use their cover proposal to evaluate how well they can translate their content research into a design that shares this information visually.

The cover design is a great summative assessment helping you evaluate student's comprehension and skill communicating in a visual medium.

Powers, Alan. (2001) Front Cover: Great Book Jacket and Cover Design. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN: 1840004215

Powers, Alan. (2003) Children’s Book Covers: Great Book Jacket And Cover Design. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN: 1840006935

Poggenpohl, Sharon Helmer. (1994) Graphic Design: A Career Guide and Education Directory . Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN: 0823062988

Common Core Anchor Standards for English Language Arts - Grade 4-10

Writing standards.

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Speaking and Listening Standards

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.

Reading Standards

Key Ideas and Details

1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

ISTE NETS for Students 2016:

6. creative communicator.

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Students:

a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

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Book Cover Worksheets

Customize book cover templates.

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

What Is A Book Cover And How Are Book Cover Templates Best Used In Teaching?

In book design, an eye-catching book cover is the primary visual representation of a book that aims to catch the attention of potential readers. It usually includes graphics, images, and/or illustrations that represent the contents of the book. A book cover maker or generator can be an excellent tool for students learning book cover design. Using book cover templates in a classroom setting is highly relevant for teaching lessons in graphic design, creative writing, marketing, and advertising. By utilizing book cover templates, students can learn how to create a stunning and perfect book cover design. There are many free book cover templates available online that can be customized to create a professional-looking book cover.

By using a book cover generator or free book cover templates, teachers can encourage students to create stunning book covers for their writing assignments. This not only allows students to customize their work to fit their own unique visions but also teaches them how to use a book cover creator tool to create a professional-looking book cover that effectively represents their writing, a useful skill if they decide to pursue self publishing in the future. Incorporating graphics and images can help students create a visual representation of their work that engages readers and conveys the book's themes and messages. They can also explore other creative elements like using bold typography to make their design interesting.

Book Cover Design Lesson Ideas

Book cover analysis.

In this activity, students will analyze a range of book covers in a particular genre, identifying common elements and trends. They can use their findings to design their own book cover for a book in the same genre. This activity can help students understand the importance of visual design in marketing and advertising.

Book Trailer and Cover Design

The activity involves creating a book trailer and book cover design, using multimedia tools to make an engaging trailer and a matching cover that highlights the book's themes. Students will learn how to use various media to tell and market a story effectively.

Using Storyboard That Book Cover Maker

Storyboard That can help you create a good book cover template for your next project. Simply pick from the existing templates, or create your own. The StoryboardThat book cover creator allows users to customize each element of the template. The design experience is seamless. You can even select custom sizes for your designs. Once finished, the user can save and print the worksheet or keep it in their storyboard library for future use. Additionally, the tool offers free icons, pictures, and different file formats to choose from.

How to Make a Book Cover Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific questions and images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished with your worksheet, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Create Your Own Book Cover Design Using These Simple Tips

Designing their own book cover can be a rewarding and exciting experience for students learning book cover design. Students can easily access a range of free templates online and use the book cover maker or generator of their choice to create a book cover that suits the genre and tone of their book. When choosing a template, it's important to consider how it aligns with the content of their book, as this can help readers better understand what the book is about. Students should also aim to incorporate high-quality images that reflect the themes of their book, and experiment with colors, fonts, and layouts to create a stunning and perfect book cover design. There are many free book cover templates available online that can be customized to create a professional-looking book cover they can download that captures the essence of their story. By following these tips and using the right book cover creator, students can easily design a beautiful book cover that will impress their classmates and showcase their writing skills.

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Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Book Cover Templates

Can book cover templates be used for e-books as well as print books.

Yes, book cover templates can be used for both e-books and print books. Many book cover maker tools provide customizable templates that are specifically designed for e-books and can be easily converted into the appropriate file format you choose when you want to make your own book cover. You don’t have to spend the time figuring out from scratch how to design book covers, instead you mainly focus on your best book cover design ideas since the editable templates are already there.

How can book cover templates be used to improve student writing and teach design experience and skills?

By creating book covers for their writing assignments, students can better visualize the themes and messages of their work. This can help them to write more clearly and effectively, and can also inspire them to think more creatively about their writing since they will have to spend the time and figure out how to fill their cover space. Using printable book covers and more templates in the classroom can provide a practical application for teaching design skills such as color theory, typography, and image placement. This can help students to develop their visual literacy and communication skills.

Can book cover templates be used to promote cross-disciplinary learning?

Yes, free book cover templates available online can be used to promote cross-disciplinary learning by integrating them into lessons across multiple subjects. For example, students could use book cover templates to create covers for a historical fiction novel in a language arts class, then research the historical events and figures featured in the book in a social studies class.

How can book cover templates be used to promote collaboration in the classroom?

Using book cover templates from book cover makers online in group assignments can encourage collaboration and teamwork among students. By working together to create a shared vision for their book cover, and then producing them with the help of online book cover creator tools, students can learn to communicate and compromise effectively.

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How to Design a Book Cover

Making Book Jackets for School Projects

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A common assignment given to middle and elementary school students is to design a summarizing book cover. Why? Many teachers are partial to this literature assignment because it contains elements of crafting, allowing more room for creativity, and provides students with a new way to summarize the plot and theme of a book.

Elements of this type of book jacket usually include:

• an image that hints at a book’s contents
• a summary of the story
• a review of the book
• a biography of the author
• publication information

When designing a thoughtful book cover for a novel, you must know a lot about its author and story. This is because creating a book cover is a lot like creating an advanced  book report without giving away too much of the story. You cannot be successful in designing an appropriate cover for a book with which you are unfamiliar.

Designing the Whole Jacket

ThoughtCo / Grace Fleming

To ensure that your cover or jacket will have room for each element you wish to include, you'll first want to plan a basic layout. This should show where each piece of your project will go and how much space you can devote to them. For example, you might want to put the author’s biography on the back cover or the back flap and you know you will need at least half a page for it, wherever it goes.

Play around with a few different formats until you settle on one you like and use a rubric to make sure you don't leave anything out. Start with the arrangement in the image above if you don't know where to begin.

Preparing an Image

Fabio Principe / EyeEm / Getty Images

Your book jacket should contain an image that intrigues potential readers by giving them a taste of what's to come without spoiling the whole plot. Just as publishers do when designing real book covers, you should devote a good deal of time and energy to creating the perfect visual representation.

One of the first considerations for your image should be the  genre  and theme of your book. Your cover should reflect this genre and symbolize this theme. For example, if your book is a scary mystery that takes place in a haunted house, you could sketch an image of a spider in the corner of a dusty doorway. If your book is a funny tale about a clumsy girl, you could sketch an image of shoes with the shoestrings tied together.

If you are not comfortable sketching your own image, you can use text (be creative and colorful!) and/or public domain images. Ask your teacher for advice if you intend to use an image created by someone else to avoid copyright infringement.

Writing Your Book Summary

Maskot / Getty Images 

The next piece to start working on is the book summary, which is usually found on the inside flap of book jackets. Because the intention is still to capture your readers' attention, this summary should sound a little different from a book report summary and give less of the plot away. You need to “tease” the reader with hints and examples, never telling them the climax. Instead, make them wonder what will happen.

In the haunted house mystery example, you could suggest that the house seems to have a life of its own. You could go on to explain that the house's inhabitants are having strange experiences within the house and end on the open-ended question or cliffhanger: “What is behind the odd noises Betty hears when she wakes each night at 2:00 a.m.?” The goal should be for readers to want to read to find out.

Writing the Author’s Biography

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The average author's bio is fairly short, so yours should be too. Limit the biography to only the most relevant information. When researching, ask yourself: What events in the author's life are connected to the topic of this book? What makes this author particularly qualified to write a book like this.

Optional pieces of information include the author’s place of birth, number of siblings, level of education, writing awards, and previous publications. Use these only as needed. Unless otherwise instructed, keep your biography to two or three paragraphs long. These are usually found on the back cover.

Putting It All Together

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You're finally ready to put it all together. To make sure that the dimensions of your jacket are perfect, you'll need to first measure the size of your book’s face from bottom to top to find its length then spine to edge to find its width. Cut a strip of paper six inches longer than the height and fold it over each side, trimming until you are happy with the size. Measure this new length. Repeat for the width.

Now, multiply your book's updated dimensions by two (you may need to multiply its width by more than this depending on the thickness of your book). You can start cutting and pasting elements onto the cover once the jacket is fitted and secured. Use the template you made earlier to organize these pieces and remember not to glue anything down until the placement is just right.

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How to Design a Book Cover (A Detailed Guide for Indie Authors)

This is your ultimate guide on how to design a book cover. When we say ultimate, we mean it. We’ll discuss custom book cover design ideas, principles, and elements. 

You will learn about:

• The importance of a good book cover
• Elements of good book cover design
• Book cover design tips for choosing typography, colors, and imagery
• Cover design types
• Book cover design costs in 2024
• How and where to find a professional book cover designer.

If you’re looking to expand your knowledge about book cover design, let’s start.

Importance of a book cover

A book cover has a few essential roles. What are they?

It serves as a strong marketing tool

The cover creates the first impression of the book and its author. It triggers the potential buyer to pick up the book from a shelf or an online store. 

When readers see a well-designed and attractive cover, they automatically think that the inside filling should be good. Moreover, you will most probably use the book cover everywhere to promote your story.

It attracts your target audience

The book cover should also relate to the book’s target audience and, as a result, catch the reader’s attention. It is the only communication tool that tells the reader something about the book. 

A book cover should, above all, represent its genre to perform this task. That’s why it’s important to ensure that all the book cover elements set the right tone and communicate the mood.

Cover design typography tips

The book cover design typography you choose has more value and meaning than the words you are spelling out.

• Use fonts that are suitable for your genre. 
• Set the right tone with the correct font. For example, clear, strong, massive letters are suitable for creating an adventurous set-up, while soft fonts can indicate romance. 
• Don’t go too creative when choosing a font, as it might be difficult to read.

Generally speaking, there are different types of fonts that are widely popular in book cover design:

Each of them has a specific meaning and message.

• Serifs are classy and somehow traditional.
• Semi-serifs are more contemporary.
• Scripts are considered to be creative, while modern fonts have a strong vibe.

A font is a visual key that tells readers what to expect from your book. On the other hand, the images you choose convey a story.

Book cover design types

There are several book cover design types with specific features. To choose one, consider your genre, target audience, and goal. Here is a general overview of the most popular types.

Depending on the imagery, the book cover can be:

• Character-based . This design focuses on characters from the book, often the protagonist. It is effective for fantasy, science fiction, and young adult fiction, where connecting with characters is a significant draw for readers.
• Object-based. These covers center around a specific object that is significant to the book’s story or themes. They can be simple or complex, and the chosen object often symbolizes a deeper aspect of the narrative. This type of cover is versatile and can be used across various genres.
• Typography-based . Here, the focus is on the book’s title and author’s name. Such covers work well for literary fiction, non-fiction, and any genre where a strong, textual message can intrigue potential readers.

Depending on the visual style, we can single out:

• Custom book covers that incorporate elements such as stock photos, custom illustrations, or typography to create a unique design. They are made to capture the essence of the book’s content and theme precisely.
• Illustrated covers that feature custom artwork, ranging from detailed scenes to abstract or conceptual art. The style of illustration can vary widely, from realistic to cartoonish, giving authors a broad canvas to convey the book’s tone and content visually.
• Photography-based covers that use photographic images as the main visual element. They can range from simple portraits to complex compositions involving multiple elements. Photography-based covers are common in genres such as romance, thriller, and non-fiction.

Finally, if we talk about the design complexity, book covers can be:

• Minimalist ones aim to convey the book’s essence without overwhelming potential readers with too much visual information.
• Ornate ones that are rich in detail and decorative elements. They often feature intricate illustrations or complex compositions.

Cost of book cover design 

When it comes to the book cover design services , there are quite a few options to choose from. It all depends on your budget, needs, and expectations. Let’s take a closer look.

DIY book cover

This is the DIY area. You may check out convenient tools:

• Canva (free)
• Visme (free)
• Blurb BookWright (free)
• Placeit (free, $9.99/month)
• PosterMyWall (free, $9.95/month).

You can also opt for more serious software, such as Adobe Photoshop (from $22.99/month) or QuarkXPress ($233/year). Remember that you need stock images or other visual elements to create your cover. Thus, DIY design can cost $0-$262.

But if you decide to pursue this option, keep in mind that it might be time-consuming. Especially if you have no prior knowledge of design, get ready for an anxiety roller-coaster.

Book cover by a freelance designer

If you decide to go to the land of freelancers, apply the rule ‘you never know’. Some of them are great and are working on expanding their portfolio. Some might be tricky to deal with and use questionable stock images that infringe on copyrights.

The price for a cover by a freelance designer ranges from $15 to $100. 

Book cover by a design company

These guys usually provide excellent quality and are willing to network to spread the word. They most often have a good number of in-house designers and some freelancers as well. In any scenario, you will be dealing with those who make a living out of book cover design. 

So why not? The competition keeps prices similar without driving them up. The tricky part here is that it’s sometimes hard to tell the design skill levels.

The average price for a cover design company’s services is $300-$700.

Premade book cover

Choosing a ready-made cover is a smart way to save money and still get a professional-looking book cover. These covers are made to fit the usual style for your book’s genre. You also get to see how the cover looks right away, and you can ask the designer to make some changes if necessary. Usually, small changes won’t cost you more money.

The usual cost for ready-made covers ranges from $100 to $150.

You can learn more about book cover design prices in 2024 in our blog post.

Finally, let’s go through a list of things to keep in mind on how to hire a professional book cover designer.

How to hire a professional book cover designer

Start the discussion with the professional book cover designer by deciding on the following aspects:

• First, ask for the designer’s portfolio . Ensure that the designer has experience in your genre. Don’t take a leap in the dark.
• Discuss your constraints (budgetary, graphic, technical). Set up your budget and describe all the do’s and don’ts’ when it comes to some specific design elements, starting from the colors and details you’d rather avoid and moving on to the deadline, formats, series, etc.
• Be clear . Remember that you should be clear and precise with yourself or the designer regarding your needs and expectations. A book cover design brief might be a solution.

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Blog • Book Design

Posted on Sep 26, 2018

60+ Eye-Catching Book Cover Ideas to Get You Inspired

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Savannah Cordova

Savannah is a senior editor with Reedsy and a published writer whose work has appeared on Slate, Kirkus, and BookTrib. Her short fiction has appeared in the Owl Canyon Press anthology, "No Bars and a Dead Battery". 

You know the mantra: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But that’s easier to say than do. A book's cover is your not-so-secret weapon when it comes to sales   and the reader's very first impression of a book. Or, as famed designer Paul Sahre once put it in an interview with Penguin Random House:

“On a purely functional level, a jacket is there to protect the book, but I also like to think of a book cover as a door. It’s the beginning of the experience of reading.”

Basically, book cover design is one of the book’s most important assets and can have an enormous impact on sales  — so you need to get it right.

For this post, we've cherry-picked 68 brilliant covers to give you some book cover ideas. (Meanwhile, if you're looking to inspire a great back  cover, check out our post about that here .) Happy viewing!

Illustration-oriented Book Covers

1. minimalism is still trendy..

To quote Antoine de Saint Exupéry: “A designer knows that he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Minimalist covers strip a cover elegantly down to its bare essentials. Often characterized by a simple font and a marginal amount of content, these quiet, clever covers instead rely on white space to turn acres of nothing into something .

2. Employ the cover to convey the book’s “one idea.”

A great cover doesn’t necessarily need to be complex. In fact, the goal for many cover designers is simply to distill the essence of a book into one image — or “one idea,” so to speak.

This simple result can be spectacular. Take the cover image for Elif Batuman’s The Idiot , which features a lone brain-shaped rock. Or Anne Michaels’ book of poetry, All We Saw , which presents an outstretched hand draped under a night sky — an image that at once imparts the book’s theme of connection in the middle of a vast universe. To no one’s surprise, the designer will want to make sure that this “one idea” is the centerpiece, so you’ll find that the typography is more often than not restrained on these covers.

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3. The silhouette can turn heads.

Ah, the silhouette. There’s a reason why it’s so ubiquitous on covers: it’s really, really effective at getting a reader’s attention. Who wouldn’t glimpse a shadowy figure and automatically go, “Who’s THAT?”

That said, you could say that the silhouette is a victim of its own nebulous triumph. It’s so common that it can be tough to make it original these days. Designers who succeed often play it against the cover typography (as in David Nicholls’ Us ) or make the silhouette itself exceedingly arresting (as in Han Kang’s The Vegetarian .)

For Galloway’s Justice, it was important to convey a mysterious tone and the idea of a missing girl. I chose to create an empty silhouette shape on top of a photograph to portray a missing piece. I wanted the use of integrated photography, lettering, and illustration to make a compelling design. I try to create a cover that can sit within its genre while being striking and unique. — Jeffrey Nguyen on designing Galloway's Justice .

4. A collage is worth a thousand words.

Photo collages are an exciting trend in the world of cover design. Given the recent innovations in photomanipulation, they offer a vast sandbox of possibilities to designers. As you can see, photo collages give the cover a bit of a modern look. In a bit of a twist, you might see this technique adorning the covers of classics — giving books such as Charles Baudelaire’s Las Flores del Mal a very contemporary interpretation.

5. Hand-drawn covers add a personal touch.

We’re suckers for originality, which is one area that hand-illustrated covers certainly have covered . These covers, in fact, are so versatile that they’re present in pretty much every genre. Not to mention the way they allow designers to add that extra special touch! Where else can you find a cover upon which the “Y” is the wine glass that Gatsby delicately holds?

Typography-focused book covers

6. when typography met imagery....

Let’s start off with a bang: there’s no better illustration (!) of how powerful typography can be than a cover that turns its typography into an image unto itself .

Take the cover of Karan Mahajan’s The Association of Small Bombs , for instance: it does a brilliant job of conveying the book’s message in only a few strokes. You’ll notice that the o’s in the title end up creating the “small bombs” that are at the heart of this book. As LitHub points out, “While we expect explosions to create chaos, the impact of the bomb in this composition is very organized and evocative of networks. It is a timely interpretation of violence.”

7. Sometimes, the bigger and bolder, the better.

Big, bold typography on covers is another trend in recent years, and it’s not terribly hard to see why. This kind of typography shouts: “This is a book that you want to pick up.” That, or: “Here… we… go !” Like elephants in the room, these covers demand attention.

Expect to see this sort of typography splashed into the midst of bright colors, as subtlety isn’t exactly the game here. You’ll frequently find it paired with books with emphatic titles, too — such as Eve Babitz’s Sex and Rage or Jonathan Safran Foer’s Here I Am . Also: if it’s executed well, there’s a chance that the type can gain iconic status. (See: the typography for The Godfather , which became an instant classic on its release).

8. Simple typography shines a light on the illustration.

Let’s go now to the opposite end of the spectrum. Simple and understated typography is actually used with a lot of purpose on book covers — it elegantly balances the elements to best highlight the illustration . Great designers aren’t afraid to let the typography be restrained so that the illustration can take the center stage. Because of that, the end effect is stunning: covers of this kind allow the (often) jaw-dropping artwork to really grip the reader's imagination.

Make Way for Her was a book in the New Poetry and Prose series from the University of Kentucky Press. The design went in several directions before we ended up with the final: initially, the look was illustrative and abstract; then it switched to edgy and photographic. In both instances, I kept the typography clean and simple. It allowed me to integrate it with the elements of the artwork, adding to the depth of feeling of young women searching for themselves and making their way, and letting the illustration shine. — Kathleen Lynch on designing  Make Way For Her. 

8. Type can create visual magic.

Fun fact: not all magicians wield wands. Oh, you want proof? Take this set of covers, otherwise known as Exhibit A: Typography as Magic. Did the visual dynamism of Baci’s The Water Knife make you do a double-take? Don’t the extra letters on Rebecca Schiff’s The Bed Moved escape your notice — until you realize that they exist to perfectly mirror the title itself? They’re so mesmerizing that they almost make you want to reach out and open the book (which is, of course, the designer’s goal).

“To minimize the themes of the book, I used a grid of boxes to write them down: playful, funny, young, chaotic, sexual, edgy, personal, feminine, and smart. I pinned this sheet of words up and stared at it for a few days before starting, and I tried to approach the design by only thinking about these themes.” — Janet Hansen on designing The Bed Moved .

9. Hand-lettered titles keep things real.

You know that feeling you get when a friend writes to you by hand? That’s the idea behind hand-lettered titles, which are currently trending in cover design. Hand-drawn titles radiate a sense of warmth, sincerity, and personality. Don’t be shocked to discover that this kind of typography works best with quirky or uber-original books that showcase a bundle of personality! Case in point: it’s pretty popular in Young Adult fiction right now, with one example being John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars .

10. Type that interacts with the design becomes immersive.

Placement is the key to this kind of typography, which allows the title to be a direct part of the design. Sometimes this might mean that it’s is obscured by the cover design, as in Brett Reetz’s Swimmer . Other times, it means that the title is an extension of the scenery. Look at the cover for The Girl on the Train , for instance: its combined elements create a sense of motion — replicating the point-of-view of the title character, peering out the window as the scenery races by.

Suspense and mystery books in particular use this technique to great effect. By giving you only a glimpse of the whole scene, the designer makes readers wonder where the rest of the picture might just take them. And you can bet that it won’t be Kansas.

Genre-specific covers

11. fantasy covers show off (or strongly imply) the fantastical..

Fantasy covers often fall into two categories: the abstract or the extremely realistic . The latter sort is terrific at setting the mood, while realistic covers show readers exactly what they’re going to get. (Though it’s worth noting that recently the trend has moved away from the hyper-realistic.)

If you’re writing a fantasy series, your author brand is going to be a key consideration. The font you use for the cover, the style of artwork: these are all things that will make your series (and your name) immediately recognizable to the public. So it’s best to keep it in mind during your conversations with a professional designer who will do the work for you , or as you design your cover yourself.

12. Whimsy and charm make children’s book covers irresistible.

It probably goes without saying that this will depend on the illustrations inside of your children’s book! If you’re interested in finding out more about the illustration process that goes on behind-the-scenes, we recommend taking this free course on publishing a children’s book.

"This is a book about a young immigrant girl who doesn't know how to fit in at a new school. I wanted to cover to reflect her young mind grappling with the difficulties of living in a new world. I isolated an image of the main character from one of the internal illustrations, and added in a distressed background created with repeated scribbles." — Kim Fleming on illustrating  Ayda

There are more than 50 Shades of romance book covers.

Is that… steam rising off of the cover? Just kidding! This should be no surprise: romance is all about the people involved, so covers are going to put some element of that relationship front-and-center. What should change is the way this is depicted, tonally. Is it a beach read? Expect a wash of brighter, warmer colors. How about if it’s a sexy, contemporary romance? Time to turn to a darker color scheme. Is there a vampire involved? Don’t be amazed if a golden-eyed man with washboard abs shows up on the cover. Romance genres tend to have very strong conventions when it comes to cover design, so make sure yours doesn't venture too far off.

14. Memoirs don’t always need to display a person.

Covers for memoirs tend to be pretty straightforward: it’s the one-two punch of an author’s picture (or a picture representative of the author) over a solid-color background. Having said that, this method obviously works best when the author is famous. If you’re not as recognizable as, say, Amy Poehler, Malala, or Ted Cruz, there’s still plenty of room for you to experiment. See the covers for bestselling memoir The Gilded Razor  and Wild  for inspiration.

15. Contrast brings the thrill.

When in doubt, just remember Michael Jackson’s Thriller : dark, moody, and dramatic . That’s the atmosphere that a cover for a thriller will aim to create . To that end, they’ll tend to stick to a dark and contrasting color template. Meanwhile, the type is more often than not going to be sans-serif, so that the books seems modern, cutting-edge, and, most of all, exciting.

If you'd like even more inspiration, why not check out Reedsy Book Cover Art Gallery, where you'll find tons of wonderful examples of the work being done by freelancer designers today?

Feeling inspired? Now go forth and create your own cover! Or leave a comment if you have any questions for us about the cover design process. 

Piyush says:

21/10/2019 – 10:43

This is a wonderful post.

Comments are currently closed.

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How to Design a Book Cover That Sells 101

Everything you need to design a book cover that sells. Get top tips for a successful book cover design.

Renee Fleck

Written by Renee Fleck

Published on Dec 06, 2021

Last updated Mar 11, 2024

We’re told from childhood to “never judge a book by its cover.” But in reality, covers offer valuable clues to potential readers about what they may find inside a book.

Books with eye-catching covers are more likely to be picked up from the bookstore shelves (or clicked on when browsing online). And that’s the first step a reader takes before purchasing a book. So how do you design a book cover that sells?

Before you start designing a book cover for yourself or for a client, study up on these nine best practices for designing a high-quality book cover that flies off of the shelves:

1. Gather book cover design inspiration

2. outline the book’s main themes, 3. consider the genre, 4. use visual hierarchy, 5. get rid of the clutter, 6. think in terms of thumbnails.

• 7. Choose appropriate fonts and colors
• 8. Make your title stand out

9. Don’t overlook the spine or back cover

Before you start designing, you should always gather visual inspiration first to help guide your cover’s overall look and feel.

Gathering different book cover ideas will help you to understand what you’re drawn to, what works, and what doesn’t, so you can narrow down what you want to accomplish with your cover design.

Start by browsing Dribbble to find eye-catching  book cover designs  and create a moodboard where you’ll collect all of your ideas. As a good rule of thumb, aim to collect between 10 – 20 pieces of visual inspiration.

Once you’ve gathered enough ideas, you should start to notice certain patterns of visuals, themes, imagery, and layouts that you’re drawn to. Keep this in mind throughout the next steps.

A book cover needs to support the themes the book explores. It also needs to support the mood of the book. What is the book about? Is it a serious exploration of modern society? Is it a fun, adventurous memoir all about finding yourself?

A serious book should have a relatively serious cover, while a fun beach read needs an entirely different kind of aesthetic.

Outline your book’s main themes and keep these top of mind when deciding on the kind of imagery you’ll want to use on the cover.

Note:  If you’re a graphic designer working with a client, you don’t necessarily need to read the entire book to design a cover. However, you should read a synopsis and the first chapter or two to get a feel for the book’s tone and mood.

Different genres have different conventions when it comes to covers.

You’ll rarely find a steamy romance novel that doesn’t feature a couple embracing on the cover. True crime books usually feature dark covers that hint at the crime.

To get a sense of what the genre expects, look to competing books. If they all follow a certain convention, you’ll likely want your cover to also fit that convention so that readers of that genre can immediately recognize it.

Visual hierarchy on a book cover is key. You need to make sure that the reader browsing the shelves (whether physical or virtual) sees the most important part of the cover first.

For most books, this will be the title. But for certain bestselling authors, you might want to consider emphasizing their name so that it’s even more prominent than the title. That’s because fans of that author can immediately recognize that it’s one of their books.

In general, your hierarchy should place the title and cover graphics most prominently, followed by a subtitle (if there is one), followed by the author’s name.

There may also be endorsements or prizes to include on the cover, but those are usually placed less prominently than other elements.

Cluttered covers don’t work well when viewed at small sizes. Since a lot of book browsing happens online, covers are usually shrunk down to thumbnail size. If your book cover looks cluttered at thumbnail size, you will risk turning away potential readers.

Choose one focal element for your cover. This could be part of the image used on the cover, or it could be the title of the book.

Once you know your focal point, you can design the rest of the cover to emphasize that point. Also make sure you leave plenty of white space around that focal point.

When people are browsing Amazon or other online publishers such as Bookshop.org, they’re presented with a series of cover thumbnails. These are often pretty small—less than 200px high.

That means that if your title isn’t prominent enough on the cover, it won’t be legible. It also means that if your cover has a ton of fine details that are important to its meaning, that will be lost in thumbnail size.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t include those details on a cover. What it means is that you need to make sure that your cover still has a powerful impact at thumbnail size.

Make your title legible at small sizes and ensure that the most prominent part of your graphics are recognizable (i.e., a mountain should be recognizable as a mountain, a person should be recognizable as a person, etc.).

7. Choose an appropriate font and color palette

Choosing a typeface for your book cover can be tricky. It needs to look great when viewed on the full-size cover, but it also needs to remain legible at small sizes on thumbnails.

For the most part, try to avoid any super detailed display or complex script typefaces. When searching for the perfect typeface, try it out both at large display sizes and at smaller body sizes to see if it’s still readable when displayed at 12px or 14px sizes.

Color palettes can be a book cover’s biggest asset—or biggest downfall. The right color palette draws the reader’s eye and gives them an idea of the tone and mood of the book, while the wrong colors risk confusing your audience.

For example, neon colors typically indicate that a book will be fun to read and not too serious. Dark colors? This book could be serious or scary (depending on genre). Muted colors? This book likely has an important message.

Remember: Color palettes are only one part of establishing a mood. You can, for example, create a scary mood with a pastel cover with the right visual elements (The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White has a pastel pink cover that’s decidedly creepy).

8. Your title needs to stand out

We’ve already mentioned titles, but it’s crucial that your title stands out on your cover.

If someone is looking for a specific title and the title isn’t immediately recognizable on the cover, they may scan right past it. Titles can also give powerful clues as to the content of the book.

Make sure that your title is readable at small and large sizes, and that it stands out from the background graphics.

While a book’s front cover gets all the glory, the spine and back cover are also important design elements.

Spines, especially, are important when a reader is browsing bookstore shelves, where most books are arranged on shelves with only the spine showing.

You also need to take into account that due to the way offset printers work, your front cover, back cover, and spine may not always align perfectly.

By continuing the basic background design around the entire cover, you avoid the spine or back cover looking bad due to printing errors. This ensures that your entire book cover looks professional and consistent.

Design a memorable book cover that sells

Book cover design has changed with the popularity of online booksellers and ebooks, but the basic principles of good design still apply. Designing a cover that catches a reader’s eye is key to the success of a book.

What’s more, you can find some incredibly handy book cover design templates online if you’re not comfortable using design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. However, we strongly suggest finding a professional freelance graphic designer who’s an expert at designing a memorable cover that actually sells.

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