Book design covers two elements: book cover and book layout design. A book cover design aims to draw attention to the book with a unique and captivating cover. And by contrast, book layout design plans out the layout of the interior pages of the book. Both are extremely important for a successful book.

Book cover design is a visualization of your book's content. It should so capture the soul of your work, visually communicating your message to your readers. It should be eye-catching, memorable, visually pleasing, and clearly convey your book’s title and the topic at a glance. People always see your book’s cover before they read it!

If you’ve written a book, you’ll want a cover to make your book look professional and visually pleasing. A book cover designer can create a visual asset that catches someone’s eye and persuades them to buy your book. Think of it as the outward face of your book, the first impression that everyone sees.

A perfectly laid-out book results in an excellent reading experience and a good looking book. A book layout designer will make sure your pages look appealing, the images fit within the text, and there is consistency throughout the entire book – ultimately leading to smooth reading and a strong connection with your readers.

You should prep your designer by generally thinking about the impression you want your book to portray: Should it be professional and serious? Fun and playful? Creative and unconventional? Think about who the audience is, what type of image you want, and the text to include.

Because a book cover is a visual component, you should begin by finding a designer whose style fits your book. Look through their portfolio for unique and original illustrations. You’ll also want someone who can incorporate your vision into a visual reference. Sketching, digital graphics, or photography are also skills to look for.