01. Understand the story first A book cover should encapsulate the essence of the story. Before diving into the design, read the book or discuss its themes with the author.

Clint Eastwood's latest book cover has provoked mirth on Reddit, where someone noticed what happens when you don't consider ...

Hiring a general graphic designer, a common choice for book covers, will cost between $100 and $400 at the entry level, McConnehey estimates, but costs grow alongside the skill of the designer: "A ...

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Next, Olsen advises checking out some online resources like The Book Cover Archive, The Casual Optimist, FaceOut Books, and Design Observer's 50 Books/50 Covers for more ideas.

The book cover is a key element—it’s often the first impression that attracts potential readers. For those with limited resources or multiple projects, hiring a professional designer might ...

Clay Smith’s design “really spoke to several themes in the book,” says Forner. “Seeing and being seen, motherhood and seeing the world through her child’s eyes.” ...

Go ahead, judge a book by its cover. We asked book cover designers to pick the best book covers of 2025 and tell us what makes them so great. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature.

Designed by Alex Merto The same designer produced both of these covers. Looking at them side by side, they demonstrate a stylistic pluralism that speaks to the attention paid to each book’s mission.