The book cover is the reader's first taste of what's to come, a promise that must be delivered. If the design is lacklustre in its style, color palette, typeface, or imagery, the book will likely be overlooked. From the date of its release, a book is fighting to survive among the throngs of new titles it must compete with.
In the days before design trends and clever marketing ploys ruled all, telling a story was the sole responsibility of the book itself. Today, with reader appetites growing in demand for both style and substance, the cover now has its own story to tell. Or, at least, it should.
Telling a story through the medium of a book cover might sound like an impossible feat, but it doesn't have to be. The following top 10 book cover design trends illustrate exactly what styles can be adopted to gain the upper hand when fighting it out for a reader's attention.
Less is more
Minimalism is a growing trend in cover design that doesn't appear to be fading from readers' tastes any time soon. This minimalist approach uses simplicity to guarantee focus on a specific element. These covers often feature a one- or two-color palette in contrast to the multi-patterned covers that can drown a front page in a flood of detail.
Blurring
Blurred or indistinct images or type give the impression of a psychedelic, even kaleidoscopic element, lending an otherworldly sense to the cover. This relatively new effect is a rapidly growing design trend used to capture the reader's eye and interest as they scan bookshelves.
Experiment with typography
Boldness in typography is a timeless trend. The human eye is naturally inclined to identify and scan letters, and designers are always keen to exploit this attraction to words by creating a bold and alluring typography.
Surrealism
Abstract or surrealistic art is hugely popular, often dominating auctions and museum space. So it's no surprise that this trend has been adopted to grace an ever-growing number of book covers in today's market.
Eye-catching patterns
There are benefits to going up against the growing trend of minimalism. When authors adopt that style of simplicity, they allow pattern-devoted writers the space for their covers to pop in contrast.
Take for instance a cover with a sharp geometric print and appealing color palette sitting in between two-toned, minimalist designed books. The abundance of unfilled space on either side renders the splashes and stripes of colored pattern incredibly eye-catching.
Real photographs, real people
In an online world of bots and automated emails, viewers find it almost comforting to see a photograph of a real person on a book cover. Today's readers are pros at spotting stock images. These widely used pictures are so recognizable that they fail to resonate with viewers, and designers understand this.
These designers are responsible for reinvigorating a trend that is becoming more and more popular. Capturing cover-quality photographs is easier than ever thanks to smartphone capabilities, and designers are taking full advantage of this.
Creation of depth
Any designer worth their salt will utilise every inch of space available to them to create an eye-catching cover. They go beyond colors, patterns, and minimalism to design a cover that establishes an intriguing illusion of depth.
This effect crafts in the reader's mind the idea that there is depth to the book they hopefully have in their hands. The choice for this style goes beyond literal "deep" images.
Rough sketches
For readers with more traditional design preferences, it's almost a breath of fresh air to see a simple, sketched illustration on a book's cover. And designers are taking full advantage of the sentimental feeling these sketches can evoke.
This simplistic, raw design practically proclaims substance over flash, giving the reader a hint as to the quality of the book. Authors and designers are more often opting for this unique approach to design by using a range of artistic techniques to best imitate the stroke of a pencil.
Color and contrast
While color trends fade in and out of popularity, the importance of contrast and aesthetically pleasing color palettes never goes out of style, no matter the timeline. Designers are adopting the "bolder is better" palette to develop color combinations that make a cover pop.
Creating a combination is a work-in-progress that can take time, but it's time well spent. Authors should strive to stay within the color confines of their genre or topic. It might be tempting to push the envelope, but readers will likely be put off by the sight of a romance novel decorated in deep shades of black and green.
Blended title and imagery
Graphic designers are killing two birds with one stone by using the growing trend of incorporating title and imagery to blend them as one. Here, front-cover images are put to work as both cover art and letter placement, where objects take the place of letters in the title.
Many authors are tempted to become a Jack of all trades when the writing is done, ready to take on the burden of designing their own book cover. This happens for one of two reasons: thriftiness and control. Graphic designers can be pricey, but this isn't the area to skimp on. Saving pennies here can cost a lot more down the road in lost book sales.
As for control, a deep dive into the world of freelance designers should turn up at least one or two receptive to an author's ever-changing tastes. Even the most minimalist book cover requires a designer's skillset and experience.
An amateur at the helm of the design process will be abundantly clear to any reader with a semi-keen eye for detail. And they won't want to take a chance on an amateur. Working with a designer to employ trends and apply style won't guarantee book sales, but it does provide the author a fighting chance in the never-ending struggle for a spot-on readers' bookshelves.