Book Cover Designer
Design book covers that sell. Work across every genre — romance, thriller, literary fiction, historical, children's, non-fiction — for authors publishing worldwide.
- Department
- Creative
- Commitment
- Full-time
- Location
- Remote — worldwide
- Pay
- Based on experience
A cover is not decoration. It is the single hardest-working marketing asset a book has, and it gets about two seconds to stop someone scrolling Amazon on their phone. If it fails at 100 pixels wide, nothing else about the book gets a chance.
HMD Publishing has taken more than 10,000 books to market for authors in 47 countries. Our cover work spans every genre you can name: romance composites, double-exposure literary fiction, historical full wraps, stark minimalist non-fiction, children's illustration. You can see eight recent covers further down this page — that is the standard, and it is what we will be discussing in your interview.
You will own covers end to end. Brief, concept, composite, typography, full wrap with spine and back, print-ready files to KDP and IngramSpark specification, and 3D mockups for the author's launch. You will speak to authors directly, which means turning "I want it to feel like a summer in the south of France" into something that actually does.
This role is fully remote and open worldwide. You choose your hours; we ask for a few hours of overlap with the team and for you to be genuinely reachable when a launch is running.
To apply, send your CV and — this is the part that matters — a portfolio of published book covers. Not concepts, not mockups from a course. Covers that shipped.
The Standard We're Looking For
These are covers we've produced. If this range excites you rather than intimidates you — you might be who we're looking for.
What you'll do
- Design front covers, full wraps (front + back + spine), and 3D mockups for published books
- Create photo-composite and double-exposure cover designs across multiple genres
- Deliver print-ready files to KDP, IngramSpark, and other self-publishing platform specifications
- Collaborate directly with authors to understand their vision and translate briefs into compelling covers
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- Design covers that work as thumbnails — every cover must sell at 100px wide on a Kindle store listing
- Produce supporting assets: audiobook covers, social media kits, and series branding when needed
- Maintain consistency with genre conventions while bringing fresh creative ideas to each project
- Manage multiple cover projects simultaneously with clear communication on timelines
What we're looking for
- A portfolio of published book covers — this is what we'll be talking about in your interview
- Expert-level Adobe Photoshop skills: compositing, photo manipulation, advanced typography, and layer management
- Strong understanding of genre conventions — a thriller shouldn't look like a romance, and you know why
- Experience working to publishing trim sizes, bleed specs, and print-ready file requirements
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- Ability to take a brief like 'I want my book to feel like a summer in the south of France' and turn it into a cover that does exactly that
- Proficiency in creating full book wraps including back cover layout, spine text, and barcode placement
- Reliable communication and ability to meet deadlines consistently
Nice to have
None of these are required. They are the things that would make you stand out.
- Experience with 3D book mockup creation
- Illustration skills or experience commissioning illustrators
- Familiarity with Amazon KDP and IngramSpark cover template generators
- Experience designing covers across international markets (non-English titles)
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- Motion design skills for animated cover reveals or social media content
- Experience with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign
Apply for Book Cover Designer
Takes about ten minutes. You will be asked for a short intro video after you submit.