Coralie Bickford-Smith

Coralie graduated from Reading University after studying Typography and Graphic Communication. She currently works in-house at Penguin Books. Her work has been recognized by the AIGA (NY) and D&AD (UK) and have been featured in numerous international magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, Vogue and The Guardian.

You might know her from the work she did with Penguin Classics on the clothbound series (The Penguin Clothbound Classics series) which attracted worldwide attention and harks back to the world of Victorian bindings and the golden age of book binding. She created stunningly detailed clothbound covers with beautiful foil stamping for classic literature for The Penguin Clothbound Classics series, helping to rejuvenate interest in these timeless works through their visual appeal. This series took old, beloved classics and turned them not just into books, but also art objects.

Listen to Coralie’s interview with Spine Magazine on their podcast, Spine.

Coralie Bickford-Smith

Listen to Coralie’s interview with Spine Magazine on their podcast, Spine.

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.

Designer Disclaimer

INABC is not a full-service design agency. It’s a curated directory that helps you connect directly with talented freelance designers. Each designer handles their own pricing, process, and contracts. We encourage you to communicate clearly with your chosen designer and to review their portfolio carefully to make sure they’re a good fit for your project. Designers and authors are expected to draft, negotiate, and sign their own contracts to ensure that expectations, deliverables, and rights are clearly outlined before any work begins.

While we do our best to curate a talented community, INABC is not involved in the collaborations that follow and we cannot guarantee the outcome of individual projects with specific designers. If you run into an issue with a designer that you find from using INABC, we are open to learning about your experience, but ultimately, INABC will not be involved in any specific disputes. For more information, visit the For Authors page and read our Terms & Conditions.

First time here? Watch this video! • We have a brand new Instagram Account. Follow us and keep in touch! • Authors! Need a book interior? Visit INeedABookInterior.com • For publishing tips, visit our Blog

Coralie Bickford-Smith

Coralie Bickford-Smith

Designer Requirements

Designer Disclaimer

Need a book interior?

Subscribe

Job Alerts