Olga Grlic

Designer, Creative Director

Olga is a book designer and is currently a VP, Creative Director of St. Martin’s Griffin, Wednesday Books & St. Martin’s Essentials, and an Executive Art Director for St. Martin’s Press. She has been with St. Martin’s Press since 2011.

One of her most appreciated book covers would be the 2013 novel Z, by Therese Anne Fowler. Art directors and editors often point to this book cover as a great example of something to aim for (a comp cover), impossible as that may be. In a 2021 interview she gave with The Avocado Diaries, Olga reminisced:

The publishing team launched it and didn’t like the title because it was a single letter, and the big guns worried that it would look strange and Zorro-like. But I loved the book and the title so much, and I had a very clear idea of what the cover should look like—a comp that actually ended up being approved for the final cover.

In 2021 she gave an interview with the podcast, Thoughts From A Page.

Olga recently answered some of our questions: Check out her 10 Questions interview on the INABC blog!

Olga Grlic

Designer, Creative Director

New York, USA

New York USA

The publishing team launched it and didn’t like the title because it was a single letter, and the big guns worried that it would look strange and Zorro-like. But I loved the book and the title so much, and I had a very clear idea of what the cover should look like—a comp that actually ended up being approved for the final cover.

In 2021 she gave an interview with the podcast, Thoughts From A Page.

Olga recently answered some of our questions: Check out her 10 Questions interview on the INABC blog!

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.”
Regularly and consistently work on multiple book cover projects each month. Over years of designing at this pace, they’ve built portfolios showcasing a substantial body of published work (at least 16 covers for review).
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 designed to help visitors identify the designers behind some pretty amazing book covers.

If you reach out to a talented designer from this site, INABC does not take responsibility for the professional interactions that may follow. Each designer in our directory sets their own proposals and contracts. We encourage you to review a designer’s portfolio carefully to make sure they’re a good fit for your project and to communicate your expectations clearly with your chosen designer. Designers and clients 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, therefore, 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.

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Olga Grlic

Designer, Creative Director

Olga Grlic

Designer, Creative Director

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Designer Requirements

Designer Disclaimer

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