You’ve heard the old saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” There’s some truth in the adage that sometimes an incredible story lurks behind a boring cover.
At the same time, it’s also true that we often underestimate the ways that design elements contribute to the reading experience. I have learned that the experience of reading a manuscript is totally different from reading a typeset galley.
Manuscripts offer little in the way of visual clues to the reader. There’s not a lot of white space. Sometimes the best manuscript can feel a little bit more like a term paper than a best-seller.
Book covers offer a visual piece of art that ties together core concepts of the book and also communicates them non-verbally to the buyer. We’re fortunate to have an exceptionally talented art director at IVP.
David Fassett won four ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards this year! I’m especially gratified that three of them awards went for books in the Academic imprint.
IVP Academic books always feature excellent cover designs.
Jeff Gissing 