The best book cover designers for hire near Chicago

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Ellen 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Art director with more than ten years of experience in publishing, finding delight in all kinds of book design.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Cottage Door Press
  • Albert Whitman & Company

Ashley 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Hi authors! Long time Reedsy designer. Always looking for creative partners, who want a unique cover. Message me for my detailed process.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, Poetry, LGBTQ Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Write Bloody Publishing
  • NPR - Austin, TX
  • Gap Online
  • Ladders
  • Democratic National Committee
  • Bully Pulpit Interactive

Eugene 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

I'm a talented freelance illustrator who specializes in creating eye catching sci-fi, fantasy, horror and YA fiction illustrations.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Nicole 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Designer and Art Director with 10 years of industry experience, specializing in YA and Adult. Has worked on 15 New York Times bestsellers.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Horror, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks
  • Self-employed

WJ 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Check my work, trust me and I won't let you down. picturebook Illustrator / character designer / general illustrator

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, Contemporary Fiction, and Design.

Work experience:

  • co.Aniframe
  • Self-employed

Kids designer/illustrator who loves storytelling, fun facts, cute macabre, fantasy, + nature. Let's create rad books—for the kid in us all♥️

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks
  • Self-employed

Judith 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, United States

Lettering artist and illustrator for 25 years. Bold, clean, graphic style—bright color palettes—contemporary look.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Design, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Themes & Motifs, and Plays & Screenplays.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Cover and Interior Designer with 10+ years of industry experience. Specializing in Picture Books, Adult Nonfiction, and Adult Fiction.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Biographies & Memoirs, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Picture Books, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks

Ricardo 5 star rating

Philadelphia, United States

I'm illustrator and Graphic Designer. I love the freedom children's book illustration brings. I love small details just kids can understand.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Nature, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Fantasy, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Asya 5 star rating

New York, United States

Enthusiastic and creative designer with a passion for books and reading who would love to collaborate on your next great project.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Anthologies, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Career Guides, Entertainment, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

David 5 star rating

New York, United States

Exceedingly detail oriented and organized, with strong collaborative and interpersonal skills; highly dedicated, and reliable.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Psychology, True Crime, Thriller & Suspense, Design, and Photography.

Work experience:

  • Sterling Publishing
  • Simon and Schuster
  • Self-employed
  • Skyhorse Publishing

Megan 5 star rating

Charleston, SC, United States

A designer with a passion for books and a comprehensive knowledge of both traditional and independent publishing.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Romance, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • CreateSpace, Subsidiary of Amazon.com
  • Amazon.com

Kim 5 star rating

Austin, United States

Experienced print book designer/compositor specializing in photography, allied health, technology, academic, and other non-fiction.

Genres: Computers & Internet, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Photography, DIY & Crafts, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Pearson Education
  • BuildNet, Inc.

Liz 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, United States

I’ve designed covers for many genres and authors from historical to YA, George Orwell to Virginia Woolf. I’d love to get to know your book.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Harcourt Trade Publishers
  • University of Chicago Press

Brianna 5 star rating

New York, United States

I'm a freelance book cover designer and illustrator with nearly a decade of in-house experience at a top publishing house.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Travel, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Music, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sports & Outdoors, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ashley 5 star rating

Portland, ME, United States

I'm an art director, graphic designer and illustrator that loves book design, typography and the interplay of graphics and text.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Nature, Home & Garden, Middle Grade, Education & Reference, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Macmillan Children's Books
  • Sellers Publishing, Inc.

Kelly 5 star rating

Wilmington, DE, United States

I love how good design can complete a writer's vision and make it engaging. Fantasy, thrillers, historical and fiction really get me going.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and New Adult.

Work experience:

  • Four Dog Creative
  • Delaware Today
  • Delaware Bride
  • Self-employed

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Hire the best book cover designers in Chicago, Illinois

Many authors overlook the importance of presentation and branding. Though DIY book covers are an inexpensive option, they rarely have the aesthetic qualities needed to attract readers and create a strong impression. This can make your book look unprofessional and deter readers from buying it as a result.

So unless you are an experienced designer yourself, you need a professional book cover designer to help you present your work in an appealing and effective way. Such a cover designer has all the experience needed to create a marketable outer appearance for your book. Depending on whether you want a photo-based or illustrated cover, you’ll need a graphic designer with the right qualifications — someone who knows what sells in your genre and how to apply that to your cover.

At Reedsy, we have some of the best book cover designers in Chicago. Sign up now and search our exclusive catalogue of cover design professionals, all of whom have been handpicked by our team.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

Request quotes from up to five freelancers at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.