How to become a book jacket designer?
I’m a graphic design major entering my senior year in college and have a background in fine arts, also. I love graphic design on a general standpoint, but recently I’ve become more and more interested in designing book jacket illustration. My question is: are there any artists out there who have created serious book jackets, or does anyone have any advice for me? Would I find this sort of work through a publishing company. or where would one look? I have never seen a request for a book jacket illustrator on Career Builder or in the newspaper job listings. Any advice would be helpful!
The firms that publish the books generally handle the book jackets in collaboration with the author through their own in-house team of graphic designers. Obviously the author needs to be happy with the design that is representing their work, and the publishing firm needs to develop a cover that will sell books and make them more money.
The reason you may not be seeing “illustrator” in job posts is because it tends to get broadened by human resources into the title of “graphic designer” or “production artist”. In any case, seek employment with one of these publishers. There are a lot of them.
How Do You Submit Your work to a Publisher