Steve Leard

Designer

Steve Leard is a graphic designer based in Plymouth, England, specializing in book covers, branding, typography, and illustration. He’s worked with publishers and brands of all sizes, producing considered ideas communicated in an original way. Past clients include Harper Collins, Penguin, Faber, Bloomsbury, Profile, Verso, and many more.

In September 2023, Steve Leard debuted Cover Meeting, the first podcast dedicated solely to book cover design. Its release was met with immediate acclaim and interest by his peers. News of the podcast launch was highlighted in The Bookseller. In its inaugural season, Steve released conversations he conducted with David Pearson, Micaela Alcaino, James Jones, Zoe Norvell, Jamie Keenan, Mike Dempsey, Suzanne Dean, and Tree Abraham. Season 2 is forthcoming in 2024.

Steve was interviewed by The Bookseller in 2023 and he answered some of our own questions for the series Ten Questions.

Steve Leard

Designer

Steve was interviewed by The Bookseller in 2023 and he answered some of our own questions for the series Ten Questions.

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 20 covers for review from adult genres).
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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Steve Leard

Designer

Steve Leard

Designer

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Designer Requirements

Designer Disclaimer

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