First time here? Watch this video! • Designers! Important changes have been made to the Jobs Board. Learn about these changes now • Authors! Need a book interior? Visit INeedABookInterior.com • For publishing tips, visit our Blog
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About

What is INABC?

A Directory. A Resource. A Celebration.

Welcome to the premier directory of book cover designers in the English-speaking world. This site celebrates the work of dedicated, full-time, and freelance book cover designers who are consistently adding extraordinary work to adult, trade book genres.

If you want advice on how to find the right designer for your unique project, read this post first. Please remember to contact designers individually and do not email the INABC website with hopes of speaking with a specific designer.

If you’re self-publishing and you want even more help finding a cover designer, read this post and then visit the Jobs Board.

To find out how covers get added to the site, click here.

How to use this site:

Self Publishing?
First, watch this explainer video. In it, you will learn how to use this site to find a book cover designer on your own. This method is completely free!

Your other option is to post about your book on our private Jobs Board. This service costs $99. By using the Jobs Board, you will answer a few questions and we will generate a proper Creative Brief for you. Your brief will then be sent out to our exclusive list of subscribed designers. Save time, post a brief, and let designers come to you. Using the Jobs Board is explained in this video.

No matter which method you use, we always suggest reading the articles listed in our Self-Publishing series first.

Art Directors: Looking for new talent? There are over 250 designers and studios listed on the Designers page.

Designers: Check back often & see what your friends are up to. Apply for access to book cover design jobs listed on the Jobs Board. Feel like writing a post for the blog? Guest posts are encouraged!

Editors: So, you asked your author, “Do you want a typographic cover or a photographic one?” and they’re confused by the question. Tell them to toggle between “Typographic” and “Photographic” under the category “Style.” That should clear things up.

Readers: Have you ever thought, “What was the name of that black book from a few years ago that had a lion walking across it?” Turn on the filters for “animal” and “black.” Voila!  

Students: Interested in the book cover design world? Get inspired! Follow your favorite designers on their individual Instagram accounts. Be sure to peruse the blog and visit the Resources page for more helpful information.

Who built this site:

My name is Zoe and this site is my love letter to striking book covers and to my colleagues who create them. I spent years dreaming about some version of this project before I finally brought it to life. 

In the past, if I turned down a project, clients would often follow up with, “Who would you recommend instead? Where should I look to find a designer?” And although I could instantly think of 30 names to recommend, this list did not exist outside of my head. This scenario happened enough times that I decided the internet was missing one, central directory featuring my colleagues and heroes. I wanted a curated list of industry pros that I would feel confident sharing again and again. The talented names listed here are the ones who regularly knock my socks off.

If you visit this website often and want to show your support, you can buy me a latte. Cheers!

Some Book Covers Designed by Zoe

ZoeNorvell-3
ZoeNorvell-1
ZoeNorvell-2
ZoeNorvell-8
ZoeNorvell-4
ZoeNorvell-7
ZoeNorvell-6
ZoeNorvell-13
ZoeNorvell-11
ZoeNorvell-10
ZoeNorvell-14
ZoeNorvell-19
ZoeNorvell-21
ZoeNorvell-20
ZoeNorvell-9
ZoeNorvell-15
ZoeNorvell
ZoeNorvell-22
ZoeNorvell-17
ZoeNorvell-12
TheArtAndBusinessofOnlineWriting_designZoeNorvell
Closer Baby Closer - Final RGB
DoOver
TheHoneyFarm
LuckyTurtle
DontDietBeHappy
WhenMyBodyWasA
DontSaveAnything
PricksInTheTapestry
DoNotBringHimWater
Unabrow
InformationDesk
FeedingTheGhostsPoems
SnakeLore-designZoeNorvell
TheDismantling-ZoeNorvell
TheEverythingToken-designZoeNorvell
Cheryl Strayed-ZoeNorvell
Mary Gaitskill-ZoeNorvell
Lisa Ko-ZoeNorvell
Gay-Graceful Burdens-ZoeNorvell
AnythingYouWant_ZoeNorvell
TheInvestigator_designZoeNorvell
Mindsharing
Tartarus - Cover - Final-SMALL
Arguing-With-Zombies-Book-Cover-Design-Zoe-Norvell
Origin-Story-cover-zoe-norvell
the-divorce-zoe-norvell
Gorgeous-Freak-poems
Better-Days-Neal-Allen
The-Utopian-Generation
misrecognition-by-madison-newbound-design-zoe-norvell
the-singles-game-hardcover
Troubled-Kenneth-Rosen
May-Our-Joy-Endure-small
Floreana-design-zoe-norvell
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Designer Requirements

Only a carefully curated group of designers are given access to the creative briefs posted on the INABC Jobs Board. This system ensures that clients receive top-notch, focused proposals from professionals whose talents have been vetted

All designers who will be bidding on your cover design have applied to receive job notifications and have been approved by the INABC admin team. Our approved designers:

  • Are professional book cover designers, not simply generalist graphic designers.
  • Have been working in the industry for a minimum of 3 years, usually more.
  • Must demonstrate a contemporary aesthetic, creating work that feels current and relevant to today’s book design market. We seek professionals who stay informed on industry trends while pushing boundaries with innovative, forward-thinking designs. Our designers know that our clients are not looking for designs that feel “dated.”
  • Work on multiple book cover projects in any given month
  • Are committed to delivering high-quality, original designs tailored to each client’s unique vision. 
  • Do NOT sell or offer book cover premades. At INABC, we do not condone the offering of pre-made book covers. We are fans of highly bespoke cover work.
  • Do NOT use AI-generated imagery in their commercial work.
  • Have accessible online portfolios showcasing book cover work that are easy for anyone to review.
  • Have extensive experience working with self-publishing authors AND commercial presses.
  • Are available and excited to receive these weekly briefs.

If you are contacted by a designer that doesn’t align with the requirements described above, we ask that you please contact the INABC admin team at ineedabookcover.assistant@gmail.com.

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