Chris Rychter

Chris Rychter – Designer

Expert Creative Director and Book Designer looking to design fantastic books for great authors all over the world.

Overview

Welcome to my Reedsy profile!


As an experienced Creative Director and Book Designer, I have collaborated with major publishers and authors across a wide range of subjects including fiction (thriller, crime, romance, young adult) and non-fiction (travel, essays, cookbooks, advice).


Here's a breakdown of my Cover Design Process:


Sketches:

Upon receiving your requirements and a summary or full text of the book, I begin by delving into the details that are crucial for a cover designer. Sometimes, elements that may not immediately stand out to the author can greatly enhance the cover design. I typically create 3-5 different cover design options using preview stock images, based on the brief. While I often stick to the agreed plan, I also offer my own suggestions as creative solutions. The brainstorming process can yield unexpected and exciting results!


Development:

Together, we select one or two drafts for further development. If necessary, I acquire full resolution images, which the client needs to purchase and license for their cover due to rights issues. In cases where stock images are not utilised, I employ my own resources to finalise the design or illustration.


Chosen design:

Based on the selected design, I prepare a complete jacket and provide a set of front cover, spine, and 3D images for promotional purposes.


Printing:

I meticulously prepare the jacket for printing, adhering to the specifications provided by the client's chosen printer.


Pricing:

Rather than charging by the hour, my pricing is based on a per-project basis. To obtain a personalised quote, please reach out to me. The cost depends on the estimated workload, and once we agree upon a price, it remains fixed, as long as there are no extra requirements in the meantime.

Starting rates for a photo- or illustration-based design begin at EUR 400. Feel free to request a quote specific to your book and situation.


Rest assured, client satisfaction is my top priority. I value open communication and want to ensure that you are delighted with the work we produce together.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management History Psychology
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Mystery & Crime New Adult Psychological Thriller
Languages
English
Awards
  • Tate Library Book Arts Collection Acquisition
Certifications
  • BA Book Design
  • MA Book Arts, University of the Arts, London

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2016 — Present

Freelance book designer, working with major European publishers. In my years of professional practice I designed hundreds of book covers as a freelancer, not counting the ones included in full-time employment. This always included arworking to print-ready pdf files for various print houses and often preparing promotional material - banners, ads etc. I also designed quite a few logos and branding solutions. In addition to book covers, I designed layouts for dozens of books - front to back - ranging from cookbooks to catalogues to memoirs. All of these required extensive knowledge of the book production process including print techniques and ebook creation.

Foksal Publishing Group - a group of companies

Apr, 2013 — Apr, 2016 (about 3 years)

I managed a team of designers and artworkers in a variety of imprints within the publishing group. I commissioned design and artwork assignments to external providers, making sure in-house procedures were adhered to and standards were maintained.

In-house studio I managed was responsible for sourcing illustration, graphics, cover designs, branding updates, production and artworking to final print and web output.

Świat Książki - part of Bertelsmann Publishing group

Apr, 2009 — Apr, 2011 (about 2 years)

I led a team of designers/artworkers in providing the publishing house with covers for the Polish market.

Sage Publications London

Apr, 2005 — Apr, 2008 (about 3 years)

Designing book and journal covers for this leading academic publisher with offices in London, California and India.
Creating a visually strong image within the competitive market, working closely with editors, marketing managers and production teams to prepare layouts attractive to the very specific readers this publisher attracts.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
The Girl in the Fire

Stephens, Sarah K

Independently published

Cover Design Typography
Made with Reedsy
Watch List

Tanner, Edward Y.

Cover Design Illustration
Cover Design Illustration
Made with Reedsy
The Pike Boys

Cherry Jr, Danny

Cover Design Typography
Zmowa (Polish Edition)

Correnti, Dario

Cover Design
Porno: Jak oni to robią?

Ziębiński, Robert

Cover Design Illustration
Poza siebie

Sasha Marianna Salzmann

Cover Design Typography
Stare kosci

Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Cover Design
Male ogniska

Celeste Ng

Cover Design Illustration
Plac Senacki, 6 PM

Vincent V. Severski

Cover Design Typography
Wzgorze psow

Zulczyk, Jakub

Cover Design Illustration Typography

Chris has 7 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Sarah S.

Sarah S.

Jul, 2024

Pinned
My collaboration with Chris was exceptional. He did his research on my manuscript before creating sample covers for The Girl in the Fire, and the resulting options he provided were all excellent and on point. Our final choice for the cover is better than I could have imagined--intriguing, eye-catching, and evocative. Everything a thriller/suspense cover should be. He was responsive to my feedba...
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Aaron T.

Aaron T.

Feb, 2024

Pinned
Chris was an excellent creative to work with and I was thrilled with the book cover we came up with. We brainstormed together, he made great suggestions and was also accommodating of changes I needed. He also supported me with the back and forth required to get the right specifications for Amazon. Highly recommended!
Edward T.

Edward T.

Oct, 2023

Pinned
Chris did a phenomenal job of sifting through a messy draft to tease out the essential core themes to create an awesome cover. He worked quickly to develop samples that could all have been the final design. His intuitive understanding of how to graphically render the key themes made it very easy to collaborate on the final product. I will definitely look forward to working with Chris on future ...
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Rebecca R.

Rebecca R.

Oct, 2024

Chris made it hard to choose between the excellent covers he designed, all of which captured my brief perfectly. Responsive, professional, and a great designer.
Aireen Fe L.

Aireen Fe L.

Aug, 2024

Chris was incredibly kind and accommodating. As a first-time client for a project like this, I was unsure of where to start (or even what I wanted). Chris was more than professional; he was responsive, easy to communicate with, and patient as I explored my options. Even when faced with payment and vendor communication challenges, his easygoing nature made the process so smooth! I wholeheartedl...
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