Battle for the Book Cover! Book Designers vs. Book Illustrators

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Your book cover’s the cornerstone of your character's adventure. And as a new novelist, it’s also a part of your origin story! However, when conjuring up a book cover that’s a feast for your perfect audience’s senses, do you turn to a book designer or illustrator?

Well, Scooby Doo, we’ve got a mystery on our hands. There’s a new writer in town (you!) whose book is about to be published. Plot twist: You’re struggling to find the right person to make your book stand out on the shelf. Who do they choose? A book designer whose expertise can conjure up a winning cover? Or a book illustrator whose masterful skills can highlight their novel’s charms? Or – simply – both?

Let’s take a deep dive into the differences and similarities between a book designer and a book illustrator. And while we’re at it, debunk some myths we’re cursed with, so you know exactly which choice is right for you.

Myth: Book Designers and Illustrators are the same

The first mythical creature to duel. Thankfully, you’ve got Miss Nat Mack – AKA mythbuster and part-time dragon slayer – on your hands! A common thought among novelists is that book designers and book illustrators are the same. But think of us as Loki. While we may share a common thread, we have many different variants. Let me show you why.

What is Book Design?

Book designers create, lay out and perfect the ins and outs of your novel’s appearance.

From front cover to final page, your book designer makes sure your story shines. The colour palette, the composition, the font. You name it, we cover it. Literally.

We uncover the perfect typography to capture the essence of your words. Craft the perfect photo placement to excite readers from the get-go. We’ll even whip up an illustrious spine that’ll spellbind shelves and worlds for years to come. All it takes is a wish… or more accurately, our stunning skills and your beautiful brief.

What does a book designer do?

You’re going to the book ball! Well, think of a book designer as your fairy godmother *wink, wink*. They wave their magic wand and conjure up a design that transforms your novel into a sales dream.  

Is your edge-of-your-seat mystery in need of an adrenaline jolt? A book designer will use their know-how to find the right placement for any images, colour, and text on your book cover. This sparkling visual identity will sell your thriller in no time. Mystery solved! Well, almost…

What is book illustration?

Let me take you for a little journey behind the spine. Using the themes in your text, book illustration is an art form that transforms your words into an image. A powerful marketing tool, the right graphics can make or break your cover's ability to attract the target audience.

So, you’ve got a magical world full of heroes and villains? Well, a book illustrator is the perfect person to bring your novel to life. Drawing up colourful imagery or chilling scenery from scratch, your book illustrator transforms your characters, your setting, and your tone into a sight for the ages.

What does a book illustrator do?

Book illustrators use their wild imaginations to craft the perfect piece of >>artwork<< to adorn the cover of your book. It’s like nailing that perfect cosplay after months of planning. There’s no better feeling!

Careful looking under the cover, there’s a scary monster that’ll terrify you! A book illustrator will sketch an image from scratch based on the creatures or worlds inside, so your audience knows exactly what frights will befall them. Eeek! Besides, horror fans love when their spooky book looks like a horror novel. Wouldn’t you?

Myth: Book Designers can’t be book illustrators

*Buzz* Sorry, that’s the wrong answer. Would you like another go? Book designers can absolutely flex their illustration superpowers to make your cover feel fresh and exciting. I can attest to that. There’s more than enough room for artists to stretch their sketching skills while concocting a magical cover.

Do you want the best of both worlds? Why not find a unicorn designer who can combine exciting illustrations with a fully fleshed out exterior and typography?

Tip from the mind tap: Each illustrator has their own style. For example, my book illustrations use line-work to create different textures. On the other hand, there are also realistic illustrators. And character illustrators for genres like Middle Grade. Plus, digital illustrators who specialise in fantasy characters. Browse illustrators’ work to see what style you are most drawn to while keeping your target market in mind.  

You’ll be casting a spell that’ll leave a lasting impression on readers.

Book Design vs Illustration examples

Looking for some examples? You’ve come to the right place! Let me call upon the cover coven to illuminate the differences.

BOOK DESIGN EXAMPLES

Mixing powerful visuals with a specific colour palette and striking font, I’ve crafted these cover designs to accentuate the tone and genre of each tale. Is your novel a dark and twisted mystery? Or a high-octane thriller? Then book design is the ideal way to conjure up a feeling of suspense from the very first page.

BOOK ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLES

Who doesn’t love a bit of spicy imagery on their cover? Taking a powerful image described in the novel, I’ve created an image that immediately stands out. Perfect for a scary horror or a suspenseful fantasy novel, bringing your imagination to life through illustration is an enchanting way to sell your tale.

Book illustrator or book designer – who do you choose?

That’s like choosing which Spider-Man actor is better. Extremely difficult (although I am a Tom Holland girl, myself). In the end, it’s all about finding the right person to summon a drool-worthy cover. And we’ve only just scratched the surface on typography! If you’re still unsure which is right for you, perhaps hiring a book designer-and-illustrator unicorn (like me) who’ll weave a spell of sparkling designs and a touch of vivacious imagery to perfectly tell your story is the best choice. Take a look at the cover coven or discover more book cover intel via the Miss Nat Mack blog.

Captivating Covers: Why Every Author and Publisher MUST Judge a Book by its Cover in 2024

Should you really judge a book by its cover? Whether you’ve just written a novel, or are publishing someone else’s. You’re curious about the mythical very real powers a book cover has. 

Even though – lemme guess – you’ve heard:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot (1860)

Oof, we all have. But a lot’s changed since the 1800s. Long gone are The Salem Witch Trials. Jack The Ripper. And as for books? Well, today, it’d be downright dangerous not to judge one by its cover. Especially in the ever-changing world of ‘what works’ in book sales. 

Unlock the artistry behind captivating covers. And exactly why you really (really) should judge a book by its cover in 2024.

The Number 1 Reason You MUST Judge a Book by its Cover

It’s simple. 

Because everyone else already is.

Think about it. You do too. From picking a wine off the shelf, a pair of Vans from the store #guilty. And yep – you guessed it – even books. 

So as a savvy author or publisher, deep down you know that for your book to leap off the shelves like a goblin on the loose… it's imperative to judge your book by its cover. 

I won’t bore you with the psychological theories behind book covers that sell. What I will share is why they should matter to you. 

Why are book covers important?

You can measure the powers of drool-worthy covers in more than saliva drops. Think: cold hard numbers. Let’s reveal a few:

• Just 1 in 5 people care about who wrote a book, though a whopping 52% choose a book based on its cover alone – as reported by The Scottish Sun

• 79% of people say the cover plays a decisive role when choosing a book – The Book Smugglers

• 70% of people make up their mind on a product (like books) in just 90 seconds, so yours must captivate quickly – Singh S., Management Decision

• 40% of people won’t buy a book if it has a bad cover – The Book Smugglers

The Importance of Book Cover Design and Why it's Judged

By now, you’re getting the feel for what a strong book cover can mean for you (and those judging it). Though, why should you take advantage of it?

Here are the top reasons taking your book cover’s design seriously can positively impact your sales. And the role it plays, overall. 

1. first impressions are everything

Think first impressions only matter inn the schoolyard, a job interview or an application for The School of Wizardry? Think again. First impressions are an important element for book covers, too. A striking cover is what sets the tone, illustrates the narrative and communicates the mood in one quick glance.

2. Your book cover is designed to ignite curiosity

Like the flick of a match in a dimly lit cave, your book cover’s an eager reader’s first peep at what lies ahead. It’s the pulse-pounding combo of art and science. One that gives a glimpse into the realm of possibilities that lie *just* below the pages (yes, before they even read the synopsis). 

When curiosity combines with eager fingertips, your reader’s likely to feel compelled to dive headfirst into the ghostly dimension, adventurous scene or futuristic galaxy within your book. 

The cover sets the tone for the story ahead, captures their attention and pricks your reader’s skin with goosebumps of anticipation. So it *must* ignite curiosity. After all, it’s the single most important book element to inspire them to flip over to the synopsis.

3. Stand out yet blend in with a creative-yet-strategic book cover

Physical and digital books all have one thing in common. They’re plucked from a sea of other books competing for your potential reader’s attention. In such a highly competitive market, a distinctive book cover makes it easier for your reader to notice, nod and nicely choose it over others. 

If your book cover is too unique? Your target audience is likely to skim right past it, as its cover won’t clearly illustrate what type of book it is. If it’s too similar, they may assume they’ve already seen this book and, again, skip right past. 

Take Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, for example. This iconic cover features bold type, and strands of hair. When you see this on a book cover in any composition, it’s clear what you’re getting into – a missing girl thriller. 

To stand out, yet blend in, it's important that your book cover design stands on the shoulders of giants that have come before it. 

Which parts of a book cover are being judged?

As a whole, it's your book cover's job to convert browsers into readers, and readers into megafans. So, for your book to sell, its cover must first magnetise eyeballs, to catapult sales. 

Here’s exactly which elements of a book cover are being judged.

THE TYPOGRAPHY

Typography’s a powerful book cover element for attracting your ideal reader like a zombie to brains. A font that aligns with your ideal reader’s preferences? Consider it your book’s ultimate jackpot. Professionalism oozes from typography execution across genres. Similarly, your book cover’s type is key to communicating your book’s genre. There’s a reason particular fonts are used for particular genres. And in most cases, typography sets the tone even more clearly than the accompanying artwork.

THE GRAPHICS

Your book cover’s graphics play an important role in communicating your novel’s theme. They assist potential readers in understanding the tone of the tale, and play an essential role in marketing your book to the right audience, with a clear message. Graphics are all about balance. A way to give readers a peep through the keyhole at what the story’s about (without spoilers!). 

Tip from the studio: Does your book feature a major plot twist that becomes the focus of the book? Don’t feature this on the cover and ruin the surprise.

THE COLOURS

The colours that feature on your book’s cover are designed to elicit an emotional response. Is it thrill? Wonder? Spookiness? The hierarchy of your colours is used to draw attention to specific areas of your cover and combine to create aesthetic appeal. 

THE LAYOUT

Visual organisation (or layout!) works to seamlessly weave readability and a book’s theming. It’s your book cover’s layout’s role to communicate the book’s message in a succinct way, so its potential reader can quickly grasp the tale that lives on its pages. After all, you have a mere 3 seconds to capture a potential reader’s attention online. 

Tip from the studio: Online book sales have steadily increased by 9% each year for the past decade, and now make up a whopping 71.2% of all book sales.

THE CHARACTERS OR SETTING

Who you choose to feature on your book’s cover delivers incredible insight to the reader. They offer clues about the book’s context, connect characters with narratives… and can even paint a picture of the story angles a reader can expect. Depending on your book’s narrative, and the age of your audience, your book cover may feature no characters at all. This is particularly important for books where the reader is painted vivid pictures of characters through words and then able to imagine what they’d look like themselves.

THE TONE

In modern society, trigger warnings are an important element to feature on book covers with particular themes. While book covers with mature or potentially triggering themes should always feature a disclaimer on the cover, or within the pages, the design of the cover can also play a role in communicating potential themes within the book. 

want to join the book cover coven?

Hi, I’m Nat Mack. A coffee-guzzling illustrator and strategic designer who specialises in book cover designs. With a triple-threat skill set in marketing, design and publishing, I create drool-worthy covers that attract readers to books like zombies to brains.

Each book cover you judged above (sans Gone Girl) was created by yours truly. Want to learn more about the magic power behind book design? Or just want to drool over some pretty book covers? Sign-up to the Miss Nat Mack monthly Newsletter.

Miss Nat Mack 2.0

Hi! I’m Nat! Book Designer and Illustrator of Scottish descent, born and raised on the western prairies of Alberta, Canada, and now living in Manchester (hence the somewhat confusing accent).

When I’m not off duty gobbling up croissants, waiting for my letter from Hogwarts, or rivalling Vans employees on loyalty points (yes, really) I help publishing houses attract readers to their books like zombies to brains.

My awfully big adventure began well over 10 years ago, acquiring a triple-threat skill set of ninja like skills in design, illustration and typography, working with publishing houses across the globe, running my own little studio for two years, and now working with one of the top fantasy and sci-fi publishing houses in the UK.

With it being the start of a new chapter, and amidst all the balloons and cake and books (naturally), I thought I’d take this opportunity to (re)introduce myself and tell you just a little bit about your friendly neighbourhood book designer…

I've been art directing and designing eye-catching book covers across a range of genres, for nearly the past six years now! I absolutely love designing book covers, but I design other stuff too.

Before I became a book designer, I studied Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Illustration and and have a Masters in Publishing from the University of Arts in London, England. My love of books (and of reading!) is what pushes me to keep developing my skills as an artist. I care about the stories I design for – without them I would not be able to do what it is I do.

Every great design, begins with an even better story.

When I’m not obsessing over books you can usually find me at a few of my favourite spots in Manchester (Off the Press, Forbidden Planet, etc.), going on adventures across the globe with my husband, practicing my Longboarding skills, buying another pair of Vans, or constructing a new Cosplay. Any additional free time? Spent in a book store of course.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS NAT MACK:

Who is Nat?

A coffee-guzzling UK book designer and illustrator, with ADHD, whose identity (when not mistaken for Alison Hannigan) consists mostly of obsessing over books, growing a Vans collection that rivals Vans employees, a splash of Longboarding and Cosplay, and spends most of her time with her husband going on crazy adventures.

Why you so obsessed with me?

I absolutely loooooove coffee. It is definitely my life line. I work some looooong hours, so I need it to keep me motivated. The caffeine of course helps. I’ve also become a bit of a coffee snob over the years. Yup, I’ve become one of those people. Hard-Lines is my favourite roaster at the moment, so you’ll definitely find me downing cup after cup of their coffee, but Starbucks? Um - not so much. Ewww.

Not your typical brain.

I only found out about my ADHD and Neurodivergent brain a couple years ago. Since then, it has been a big learning curve and I am still only learning how to live with it day-to-day and how to talk about it (without embarrassment).

While the conversation around mental health has improved drastically over the last few years, it still has a long way to go. As such, I am a strong advocate for treating your head and heart, the way you would the rest of your body. Everybody deserves the same comfort and support with mental health as they do their physical health.

Books. Coffee. Rebellion.

Aside from Mental Health, I am a huge advocate for Women’s Rights and the importance of lifting up female voices!

By the age of 6, girls already think that men are more brilliant than women, in part because only 15% of Children’s books have female protagonists.

A narrative most women grow up with is that their adventures are not as important as those of the boys. I want to help change that narrative so more women believe in their voices, and help empower others to share their stories.

That’s why I have recently become a Patron for the Women’s Prize for Fiction - the greatest celebration of women’s creativity in the world for over two decades. A charity whose mission is to change the world through books by women, opening up pathways into reading and writing for the storytellers and book lovers of tomorrow.

Women’s Prize for Fiction is only the first stop, on hopefully a very long list of charities I will be able to support as time goes on.

Books, Books, and more Books

So, no surprise here, I have a slight obsession with books. It’s one of the reasons I do what I do, and one of the reasons I love what I do. I get paid… to read!! I will read anything and everything if the writing is good, and I will never shy away from recommendations, so send ‘em my way! My favourite book? Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. 100%.

Most memorable Book Design?

There are a number of projects that have been very meaningful to me over the years. I’ve had the opportunity to design books for my favourite childhood superheroes, had my work featured in Entertainment Weekly and Spine Magazine, and I have illustrated covers for some truly amazing stories. It is hard to narrow it down to just one, BUT! if I had to choose, it would have to be the covers for the Firefly series.

A proper Browncoat (obsessed Firefly fan) I was able to not only read these new adventures before they hit the shelves, but spend time creating the designs that would grace the covers. I designed 8 covers for the series, one special edition, and have even been lucky enough to meet Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite and Sean Maher – who have all signed my special edition. Only Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin, Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyck to go!

Why Book Design?

As with most people the original plan did not go… according to plan. Lol. I originally intended on being a costume designer. While I loved it, the hours were awful. I was working from 8 in the morning till 6 at night in the costume shop putting pieces together, fixing things, doing laundry, etc and then would be at the theatre from 6pm till maybe midnight, 1am for the show run and to tidy up and bring things back to the shop. I was working 7 days a week, all hours and the only family I had was my theatre family. It’s true when you work on a show that the people you work with are your life line - your friends, your family, your therapists, lol. I loved everybody I worked with and learned so much from them, but while I had such a passion for the theatre I wanted more. I wanted more experiences, more travel, time with other family and friends, and…spare time!

My cousin, Mackenzie Proudlove of BroBrick, pushed me to explore other areas of design and if it weren’t for him I probably wouldn’t be doing what it is I do now. He suggested looking into a graphic design path - everything I loved about design but allowed me to still focus on the other things I cared about.

An incredibly long and windy story later I landed on Book Design and will never, could never, look back. Book Design is me. It combines all my passions, all my quirks, and all my creativity into one. I could not imagine doing anything else, and because of that, I genuinely put everything I can into my work. Each cover I work on leaves my studio with a little piece of me attached.

Still looking for that spare time though. LOL.

A few more random facts…

1. I used to Skateboard when I was younger, but one session I fell off and broke my ankle. Having to go through weeks off my feet, and then months on crutches, it took me ages to get back on a board. So swapping the Skateboard for a Longboard, I am getting back into it and, while slow moving, am loving it. I fully believe you are never too old to do the things you want to do.

2. I used to have over 50 pairs of Vans, but had to leave most of them behind when I moved across the pond. I’m working my way back up to 50 (and then beyond) and currently have more Vans loyalty points than the Vans employees in Manchester (yes, really, I was told this by a Manager of the shop).

3. Am currently checking off the boxes to become a mentor/lecturer for Book Design. I love talking about all things book design, and I also love teaching. Lots of exciting things coming this way so hopefully I can share more soon(ish)!
   

Obsessed with books? Like cover reveals and sneak peaks? Want to learn more about book design?

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IMAGES: THE WOLF and the wild thing photography