“Book covers are the great mystery of the publishing world. No one knows for certain what will make a book sell, and yet everyone has an opinion on what works and what doesn’t.”
– Margaret Atwood
⚡Pop Quiz: Which graphic designer is known for creating the iconic book cover design for Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange?
In today’s issue:
- The art of cover design: the secrets to creating a best-selling book cover
- Top 3 packaging design trends for 2023
- Learn the art of map making
Let’s dive in, shall we?
COVER DESIGN
The art of cover design: the secrets to creating a best-selling book cover
💡A well-designed book cover catches readers’ attention and beckons them to dive into the pages within.
Use color psychology – Your color choices should match the tone and genre of your book to create a strong emotional connection.
Play around with type – Not only should your typography be legible from across the street, but it should also stand out as a thumbnail.
Leave easter eggs (not spoilers!) – Tempt the audience with some subtle hints but don’t reveal the entire plot.
Test the results – Test how well your cover does by getting feedback from other writers, colleagues and friends who match the target audience.
Go deeper:
- How Hoxton Mini Press and Here Design crafted the best-illustrated lifestyle book – Creative Boom
- How to design a book cover: the ultimate guide – 99 Designs
- 23 book cover designers to follow on Instagram – Book Riot
- 15 tips to make your book cover a total success – Icons8
DESIGN TRENDS
Top 3 packaging design trends for 2023
👉Texture – Brands are using a mixture of visual and tactile textures to create an unforgettable sensory element to simple packaging.
👉Nostalgic haze – The neons, gradients and futuristic chromes of the Y2K era are back with a bang. In 2023, we’ll be seeing a lot more of this nostalgic branding.
👉Bold colors and patterns – Vibrant hues and bespoke patterns are all the rage, especially in the food and beverage industry, where packaging needs to stand out on crowded store shelves.
Go deeper:
- Incredible packaging designs to inspire you to enter the Pentawards 2023 today – Creative Boom
- Top 10 packaging design trends for 2023 – SmashBrand
- 6 ideas to revamp your packaging – Kimp
- 2023 design: balancing the beautiful with the responsible – Sustainable Brands
Designing your world: learn the art of c making 🗺️
Master the underrated art of designing maps and creating your own worlds!
- Why this brilliant graphic designer is “both the map-maker and the guide” – Eye on Design
- Make maps people want to look at – ESRI
- The guide to map design – MapBox
- Free tools for designers: map creation – stfalcon
⚡The Answer: David Pelham designed the cover for Anthony Burgess’ novel, A Clockwork Orange.
Pelham is known for his revolutionary 20th-century cover designs, especially his work on the science fiction series “Penguin Science Fiction.” His designs used bold, minimalist imagery and typography which are still celebrated today as some of the most iconic book cover designs of all time.