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Mouths on Book Covers

When Mouths Speak Through Design
byZoe Norvell
Views: 31
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Design Devices

Mouths on Book Covers

When Mouths Speak Through Design
byZoe Norvell
Views: 31
Design Devices

Open wide!

Ever feel like a book cover is trying to tell you something? 👄 These designs don’t just whisper intrigue—they practically shout from the shelf. Get ready to sink your teeth into some seriously mouthy masterpieces that are impossible to keep quiet about.

From seductive lips to snarling teeth, designers use this single body part to evoke everything from romance to horror—proving that a mouth can say A LOT!

For more body parts, explore the tags eyes or hand for more designs like these. If you enjoyed this collection, follow us on Instagram where we post similar book cover collections weekly!

Szwajcara by Jen Beagin

Designer: Kamil Rekosz

The Woman Destroyed by Simone De Beauvoir

Designer: Peter Mendelsund

200 Monas by Jan Saenz

Designer: June Park

Dirtbag by Amber A’Lee Frost

Designer: Jack Smyth

Speal / Stop by Noemi Lefebvre

Designer: Sarah Schulte

When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri

Designer: Lynn Buckley

Sex Talks by Vanessa Marin

Designer: Ben Wiseman

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett

Designer: Lauren Peters Collaer


The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

Designer: Write in to let us know!

Tell Me Everything by Laura Kay

Designer: Nic & Lou

We Love The Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft

Designer: Vi-An Nguyen

Here In The Dark by Alexis Soloski

Designer: Sara Wood

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

Total by Rebecca Miller

Designer: Rodrigo Corral Studio

Pretty Boys Are Poisonous by Megan Fox

Designer: Amanda Hudson

Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

Designer: Kishan Rajani

The Dancing Girl of Izu

Designer: Kamil Rekosz

How to Find a Professional Book Cover Designer for an Eye-Forward book cover

Many people claim to be book cover designers, but only a select few are being hired again and again by the same major publishers. But how do you find those truly professional book cover designers? Platforms like the INeedABookCover Jobs Board have made it easier for authors to find and collaborate with talented, professional designers like the ones listed in this article.

Use the Jobs Board to share your project’s creative brief with our vetted listserv of designers! Designers seeking book cover jobs and book cover designer jobs can apply to join our private listserv for the opportunity to bid on lucrative book cover design jobs.

If you enjoyed this listicle, be sure to check out the “Design Devices” series to explore other elements commonly used on book covers such as paintings or balls of crumpled paper.

Picture of Zoe Norvell

Zoe Norvell

Zoe has been in the publishing world since 2011 and currently lives in Washington, DC.

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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.”
  • 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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