Book Design: What Goes Into Making a Stunning Book?

The architect Frank Lloyd Wright famously said that “form and function are one,” meaning that design shouldn’t be a compromise between how something looks and how it works. While Wright was speaking specifically about building, his mantra perfectly sums up how we at Reedsy think about book design: that it should be both aesthetically pleasing and serve a greater practical purpose.

On this page, we’ve collected the best of Reedsy’s articles on book design. Start here for an in-depth understanding of how book design can delight the senses, streamline the reading experience, and sell more copies. 

Book Cover Design

When most people talk about book design, thoughts immediately turn to the front cover (or ‘dust jacket,’ if you’re gaga for hardbacks). The most iconic covers have become classic designs in their own right — not only for their visual appeal but also for successfully encapsulating the author’s vision. 

In combining form and function, a great book cover must:

1. Visually stand out in a crowded bookstore – or as an online thumbnail;
2. Legibly state the title and the author’s name (you’d be surprised by how many covers fall at this hurdle);
3. Communicate the book’s tone and genre.

This third point is crucial to commercial success. Readers know what kinds of books they like. If they enjoy fast-paced Florida thrillers, they’ll pick up your page-turning Miami mystery novel as long as your cover conveys those elements.

Professional Cover Design

The most reliable way to get a beautiful, commercially viable cover is to hire a professional. This is someone who understands current genre trends and knows how to leverage them while also producing an original design. No easy feat. 

The industry's best designers are on Reedsy.

Paris I.

Available to hire

I'm an illustrator working in the entertainment and publishing industry for the past 10 years. I specialize in fantasy and sci-fi cover art.

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Arthur B.

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Freelance artist/illustrator with a love of all things fantasy and sci-fi.

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Tom M.

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I'm a freelance artist and illustrator based near Liverpool, UK. I specialise in whimsical, fantastical and retro-futuristic art.

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The posts below will give you a good idea of how a professional designer works, what they can add to your book, and how to hire one. (They’re not as pricey as you might expect!)

• How to Design a Book Cover That Stands Out In 6 Steps. Read it here.
• Revealed: The Real Marketing Value of a Professional Book Cover. Learn more here.
• 6 Tips for Writing the Perfect Cover Design Brief. Read it here.
• How to Design a Book Cover: 7 Steps for Pro Results. Check our guide.
• Book Cover Designer: Find Your Perfect Professional. Learn more.

Making your own book cover

Hiring a professional cover designer is often the best investment an indie author can make. However, not everyone’s budget can stretch a few hundred dollars further, which is why a lot of authors will choose to dabble in design themselves. If you are considering a DIY cover, here are some essential resources to help you on your way.

• How to Choose the Right Book Cover Dimensions. Learn more.
• Book Cover Maker: Which DIY App Is Best for You? Check them out here.
• 20 Royalty-Free Stock Image Sites to Source a Book Cover Picture. Find them here.
• How to Build a Book Back Cover in 5 Simple Steps. Read it here.

Cover Design Inspiration

Need to know what’s hot and what’s not in the world of cover design? We love writing about book covers, and with new exciting designs dropping every year, we’re not running out of inspiration fodder anytime soon. Take a peek at the best-of lists below and prepare to swoon.

• Reedsy’s Book Cover Art Gallery. Check our beautiful covers.
• 68 Book Cover Ideas To Inspire Your Next Book. Find them all here.
• 50+ Cookbook Covers Guaranteed To Make Your Mouth Water. Drool here.

Book cover critiques

One of our regular live (and completely free!) events at Reedsy is our book cover critique, where we invite a professional designer to review covers submitted by indie authors. The advice our guests provide is always practical and engaging — and will give you a fly-on-the-wall peek at how professional cover designers approach their craft, as well as the considerations that go into things like typography and color palettes.

• Cover Critique with David Provolo
• Cover Critique with Natasha MacKenzie 
• Cover Critique with Michaela Alcaino 
• Cover Critique with Annamieke Beemster Leverenz 
• Cover Critique with Patrick Knowles 
• Cover Critique with Joel Tippie 
• Cover Critique with Anna Woodbine
• Cover Critique with Jake Clark

Illustrations

Many readers assume that book designers are also illustrators — but in the publishing world, they are very different jobs indeed. When it comes to books that require illustrations — picture books or cookbooks, for example — publishers and indie authors will turn to specialists.  The resources below will open your eyes to the sheer range of illustration styles, and show you what it’s like to have an artist work on your book.

• Book Illustration: 25 Beautiful Examples. Watch them here.
• 30 Amazing Children's Book Illustrators. Check them out here.
• Work with a Professional Children’s Book Illustrator (Webinar). Rewatch it here.
• Book Illustration: 100+ Illustrators For Hire. Browse them here.

Interior Design

Returning to what we said about form and function, a book’s interior design — how its content is presented between the covers — is critical to a reader’s experience and enjoyment. The articles below dive into design decisions often overlooked by many first-time publishers. From the size and shape of the book to elements like type and layout, you’ll learn what it takes to transform a manuscript into a professional book.   

• Parts of a Book Explained: Front Matter, Body, and Back Matter. Learn all about them.
• What Are the Standard Book Sizes in Publishing? Read more.
• What is Typesetting? Your Guide to Interior Book Design. Check it out.
• Book Layout: 8 Key Tips from Professional Designers. Read them all here.
• How to Format a Book (the Free and Easy Way). Learn more.

 Typography

Of course, no conversation about book design is complete without mentioning the printed word itself. Having long since evolved beyond working with mechanical printing presses, the art of type has now entered a glorious, digitally enhanced golden age. In these articles, meet the people who have dedicated their careers to making letters beautiful and learn the ABCs of typography.

• What is Typography, And How Can You Get It Right? Find out here.
• Typography: Cover Design Masterclass (Webinar) Watch it here.
• Hire a professional typographer with Reedsy. Click here.

Creating a book

Book design mostly takes place on computers these days — but at some point, you’re going to have to turn those digital files into something people can read. Whether you’re looking at rustling up some printed copies or instantly reaching a global audience with ebooks, here are a couple of articles that will get you started.

• Print-On-Demand vs Offset Printing: Which Wins? Find out here.
• EPUB vs mobi: Is Amazon's mobi Format Now Dead? Learn more.
• How to Make a Book: Binding a Hardback in 5 Simple Steps. Check out our post.

With these articles as your starting point, we hope you’ve seen why we value book design as much as we do. As authors, one of your goals should be to put wonderful things out into the world — expressions of creativity and ideas packaged in a way that’s both practical and beautiful.

Brought together, a focus on form and function will help you create a unique book that deserves pride of place in the homes and hearts of your readers.