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Tom Etherington

Book Cover Designer

Tom Etherington is a book cover designer, graphic designer, and art director based in London. Tom specializes in design for print and publishing. After working in-house as a designer for Penguin Books in London, he became a full-time freelancer in 2022.

In 2021, while working at Penguin, Tom designed a set of 20 book covers for their Green Ideas collection. From It’s Nice That:

The series comes hot on the heels of Penguin’s Great Ideas series, which consisted of 90 books similar in not only size and length but their promise to be radically different and groundbreaking essays, which the publisher felt should be revived into circulation. “There is a new generation of readers who are passionate about the environment. These are canonical writers and it’s important that their ideas are being published and read,” says Etherington.

You can see the complete set from this collection on Penguin’s website here.

Tom Etherington also developed a series look for 4 Jack Kerouac novels for Penguin back in 2018. You can read more about that series re-design here (also via It’s Nice That).

Previous clients and collaborators include David Gentleman, Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Faber & Faber, Fantastic Man, Granta, Hay Festival, Hodinkee, Hoxton Mini Press, Knopf, Maxïmo Park, New York Times, and Penguin Random House.

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Tom Etherington

Book Cover Designer

Tom Etherington is a book cover designer, graphic designer, and art director based in London. Tom specializes in design for print and publishing. After working in-house as a designer for Penguin Books in London, he became a full-time freelancer in 2022.

In 2021, while working at Penguin, Tom designed a set of 20 book covers for their Green Ideas collection. From It’s Nice That:

The series comes hot on the heels of Penguin’s Great Ideas series, which consisted of 90 books similar in not only size and length but their promise to be radically different and groundbreaking essays, which the publisher felt should be revived into circulation. “There is a new generation of readers who are passionate about the environment. These are canonical writers and it’s important that their ideas are being published and read,” says Etherington.

You can see the complete set from this collection on Penguin’s website here.

Tom Etherington also developed a series look for 4 Jack Kerouac novels for Penguin back in 2018. You can read more about that series re-design here (also via It’s Nice That).

Previous clients and collaborators include David Gentleman, Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Faber & Faber, Fantastic Man, Granta, Hay Festival, Hodinkee, Hoxton Mini Press, Knopf, Maxïmo Park, New York Times, and Penguin Random House.

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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.

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.

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