bring artful book covers back!!! + my fav book covers of 2023

how do we escape homogeneity

Dec 15, 2023

In the past several years, we have seen a distinct rise in redundant-looking book covers. I thought I was alone in my disappointment till I came across this article, “Why Do All Books Suddenly Look the Same?”

Dubbed "the blobs," this style has pervaded the shelves with its abstract, color-rich patterns, becoming almost a visual shorthand for contemporary fiction. It's a style you've likely seen, even if you haven't consciously registered it.

What intrigues me is not just the ubiquity of this design trend, but the philosophy and mechanics behind it. Book designers like Laura Duffy and Lynn Buckley, heroes of the publishing world, articulate the essence of this phenomenon. Duffy, when reflecting on her time at Random House, emphasizes the primary goal of a cover: "Get somebody to look over at a shelf, be like, what’s that? Walk over, pick it up, the job is done." Buckley echoes this sentiment, underscoring the need for a cover to be "arresting and stand out on a crowded table."

These covers are a response to our digitalized world, where a book must scream for attention, not just in physical bookstores, but also in the vast sea of online thumbnails. As Buckley points out, "It has to make people want to click on it."

These days, it really does feel like there’s a trend of diminishing artfulness — in architecture, in logos, in product packaging, in cars... In this digital age where homogeneity is often the norm (please read The Age of Average… I think about it every day of my life), artful book covers preserve the uniqueness and creativity that set books apart in an increasingly algorithm-driven world.

Publishers have a golden opportunity to lead the charge by investing in creative talents and offering designers the freedom to truly express themselves. How about experimenting with limited editions that feature bold, artistically ambitious covers?

We, as readers, play a crucial role too. By sharing our favorite book covers on social media and sparking conversations about book design, we can show that there's a real market for artistic covers. Perhaps the industry could even start recognizing and awarding exceptional book cover designs, much like they do with literary awards?

I hope that we'll see a resurgence of commitment to artfulness in book covers from the publishing industry… I dream of a world where creativity and visual storytelling are valued just as highly as market appeal.

In the meantime, I’ll practice what I preach and share with you my 12 favorite covers of 2023.