The right cover designer has a portfolio that shows real range and genre fit, a clear process for concepts and revisions, and transparent pricing and terms before you commit to anything. Style preference matters, but process and communication matter just as much, since a cover usually goes through several rounds before it's right.
This is part of the Complete Guide to Book Cover Design and Interior Layout.
Look specifically for work in your genre, not just design work in general. A designer skilled at literary fiction covers won't necessarily have the right instincts for a thriller or a romance cover, since the visual language is so different between categories. See Book Cover Design by Genre for what to look for in each.
Beyond genre fit, look for range within their portfolio. A designer whose covers all look nearly identical to one another may be limited to a single style, which is fine if it happens to match your book, but worth noticing either way.
Clear answers to all of these upfront prevent surprises later, especially around how many revisions are actually included before additional rounds cost extra.
If a designer uses AI image generation as part of their process, ask how: as a raw starting point that gets substantially reworked, or as close to the final image. This affects both the originality of your cover and, depending on how much is retained from the AI-generated image, whether it can be copyrighted and whether you'll need to disclose AI use to retailers like Amazon. See AI Book Covers: Pros, Cons, and What Authors Should Know for the full picture. There's no single right answer here; the point is knowing what you're getting.
When you receive initial concepts, don't just ask "which do I like best?" Ask:
It's easy to fall for a concept you personally find beautiful that doesn't actually do the job a cover needs to do. See What Makes a Good Book Cover?
Confirm before you commit: what the price includes (concepts, revisions, final files), what formats you'll receive (print, ebook, or both), and that you're receiving full commercial usage rights to the final design, not just a license to use it in limited ways. Get this in writing.
A design service, like Entrada Publishing, often has a team that can cover both cover design and interior layout together, which simplifies coordination if you need both. An independent freelance designer may offer a more personal, hands-on relationship and a very specific aesthetic. Neither is automatically better; it comes down to your budget, timeline, and how much you want to manage yourself.
Talk to Our Cover Design Team
Entrada Publishing's designers work across genres and can walk you through concepts, revisions, and file delivery before you commit. Email us with your genre and vision.
This varies by designer, but most offer multiple initial directions before you choose one to refine. Confirm the number upfront, since it affects both price and process.
Yes, if it matters to you. Ask directly how they use AI, if at all, since it affects originality, copyright status, and whether AI disclosure applies when you publish.
Typically initial concepts, an agreed number of revision rounds, and final files in the formats you need (print, ebook, or both), along with full commercial usage rights. Confirm all of this before committing.
Look for existing work in your specific genre or subgenre in their portfolio, not just design work generally. Different genres call for very different visual approaches.