Book Cover Art and Design Education and Training

Find the right training for a successful career as a book cover artist

Finding a quality design for book covers has become increasingly important in recent years. This is evident by simply looking at the book cover design of older books and their lack of quality. As technology takes on more of an entertainment value, quality book covers become an important marketing tool.

Book cover art and design education and training will carve out a place in the market for a talented artist. Book cover art and design education and training should teach the following concepts:

1. Book cover artwork needs to have a strong commercial viability and work as a powerful marketing tool.

2. A book cover design's main purpose is to arouse interest and curiosity.

3. The aesthetic quality of book cover art and design is alone extremely important.

Learn book cover graphic design

Graphic design programs can help you train for a career in book cover design. Many genres of fiction and non-fiction books favor book cover art done digitally.
The Art Institutes International has great two-year or four-year graphic design programs and locations across the U.S. The International Academy of Design and Technology offers both an Associate and Bachelor degree program online in graphic design.

Study illustration to become a book cover designer

Some genres of books use mostly illustration for book cover art, especially children's books and romance novels. Learning the art of illustration in addition to graphic design is the best way to become a well-rounded book cover artist.
The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and The American Academy of Art in Chicago both have excellent programs in illustration.

Understand how book cover artists make it in the publishing business

It is essential for a successful career in book cover art that an artist learn the "ins" and "outs" of the publishing business, including what publishers are looking for and how to most effectively sell work.
Educate yourself on the business of publishing with a series of articles about publishing at Morris Publishing or learn all about the publishing business at PublishingCentral.com.

Become an expert with book cover design software

Learn how to use the different programs used commonly for book cover art, so that if a publishers expects a certain product you know how to deliver. Using different programs efficiently will allow you to create a wide variety of looks and styles in your designs.
Try BookCoverPro.com; it's inexpensive and user-friendly and allows manipulation of image, graphics and text for book covers and ebook covers. Most pros simply use Adobe Photoshop, from Adobe Systems Incorporated, which doesn't have templates and book cover-specific tools but allows much more creative freedom.

Network in as many ways as possible; most successful book cover artists know someone in the publishing business.
Be willing to design for book covers at no charge to gain experience and get your work out on the market.