3 Secrets to e-Book Cover Design Success

Friedlander, J. (2012, January 9). 3 Secrets to e-Book Cover Design Success. Retrieved November 28, 2014.

With the quickly-growing market of eBooks and digital reading, there lies a prominent difference in the criteria of a successful cover design. Because eBooks are everything but tangible, the cover must be intriguing, but simplistic, re-sizable but strategic. Graphic designers have had to shift the way they layout a cover. In this article, Friedlander defines the top three changes designer should take into account when working with this new medium. These “secrets to success” are keeping the design simple, small, and strategic.

eBook designs rely more on pictures/graphics than typography/writing due to the small viewing sample on most eRetailers, thus the tip on remaining simplistic. Again, re-sizing plays a key role in marketing eBooks, as well. There are many dimensions that the book may be presented in, but the viewing size is constantly changing. This being said, Friedlander reminds us that the design must still convey meaning and be cleanly executed, i.e well-positioned lettering.

“Unlike print books, which we can pick up and examine, e-books don’t exist in any physical reality other than as a computer file.”

“But more than anything else, designers and do-it-yourself self-publishers have to address the challenges of this new form in a way that helps them sell books.”

The author, a self-published author (indie author) as well as an award-winning cover designer is quite qualified to speak on this subject, as he also judges the e-Book Cover Design Awards.  This article defines the constantly-changing nature of digital books and their need for constantly updated design techniques. It raises the question: Would designing and marketing for tangible books be more cost effective because of it’s relatively stable formatting? I believe so.

In E-Book Era, You Can’t Even Judge a Cover

Giuliano, T. (2013, May 30). Yes, We Really Do Judge Books by Their Covers. Retrieved November 27, 2014.

e-Books and new technologies for reading have shifted the books are marketed. This article highlights the importance of competent cover designers and the different aspects that make a successful book, i.e typography, symbolism, and tonal pallets. Giuliano makes the assertion that cover designs are the main catalyst when first marketing a book and interviews Kris Miller, a qualified graphic designer for Random House and Penguin Books, and Mark Coker, the founder of Smashwords, a website that sells and markets eBooks. Digital book covers must be well thought-out, concise, poignant, and mature while still grabbing the audience, whether they are being viewed on an iPhone screen or a laptop. The design should be able to stand on its own and still convey meaning to the audience while exemplifying the targeted genre and acting as a cohesive, professional unit. Having all of these aspects, not to mention having a worth-while plot and story itself, is difficult for any designer, and the inexperienced “indie authors” especially. Miller expands on the “indie author” and whether or not s/he would be able to market his/her book without real experience with Photoshop Elements.

"R.L. Mathewson, a romance writer, went from selling five or six copies a day of her novel, Playing for Keeps, to over 1,000 a day simply by updating her cover image."

“When eBook retailers select books for special merchandising features, cover design is paramount,” Coker says.'

'“If the author didn't care enough to dedicate time/effort to their cover, I wonder how much time they put into the book itself.”'

This article shines a light on the importance of a well-designed book cover; the extent to which designs influence the success or failure of a book’s sales was fascinating. Technologies like Photoshop and other design programs set a high standard for designs -- mediocrity in visual marketing will not make for high-grossing products, especially books. Other technologies like eReaders and eBooks rely primarily on competent designs, summaries and reviews taking a back burner. I knew graphic design was a quickly-growing industry, but is it possible that graphic designers are the ones holding up the print industry?