Cover Design 101

A book cover tells readers what kind of story they’re about to open. In this hands-on class, we’ll look at real book covers and break down how designers make those decisions. What do you notice first? What makes a cover read as horror? Can you still read the title when the cover is the size of a thumbnail? Then you’ll sketch a cover concept of your own. You’ll practice choosing type, arranging images and text, and using color to set the mood. You’ll leave with a rough cover concept and a process you can use for your next book. This is an anti-AI class. We’ll do the work ourselves and build the skills to keep doing it. Open to writers, artists, and anyone curious about book design.