17+ Best Young Adult Book Cover Designers for Hire in the United States

Charles

Seattle, WA, USA

Illustrator - Charlie believes in a future where somehow, against all odds, we make it. Tell me a story, let’s bring it to life. 🚫No AI🚫

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Gaming & LitRPG, LGBTQ Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Coyote & Crow

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Sam

Monrovia, CA, USA

Book cover artist and illustrator specializing in fantasy, LitRPG, romance, and character-driven fiction.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, and Contemporary Romance.

Work experience:

Podium Entertainment
Rogue Matter Inc.

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Lynn

New York, NY, USA

A Graphic Designer/Art Director with over 15 years of professional experience creating book covers. Approaches each project with passion.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

Penguin Random House
Bantam Dell Publishing
Freelance

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Caitlin

New York, NY, USA

Hello! I'm an illustrator, designer, and author with 20+ years of publishing experience, including self-publishing.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Home & Garden, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and DIY & Crafts.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Rafael

Mesa, AZ, USA

I am a professional designer, art director, and illustrator who loves books—working with publishers in Europe, USA, Asia, and indie authors.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Mystery & Crime, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

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Taylor

Seattle, WA, USA

Always open to hearing about new projects! I illustrate children's books and design covers, and I love to work in all genres.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Design, Non-Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult, Education & Reference, and LGBTQ Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
House Special

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Clint

Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Art director and designer since 2007 creating bold, story-driven visuals with a strong background in the music industry.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult, Dark Romance, Romance, True Crime, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Matt

Boston, MA, USA

With over 13 years of publishing experience, I'm a professional book cover designer that creates jackets that stand out on the shelf.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Candlewick Press
Self-employed

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J.E.

Minneapolis, MN, USA

Pen & ink illustrator, with a penchant for dark, spooky themes, whodunnit mysteries, and gothic nonsense.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Boyd's Mills & Kane/Highlights Magazine
Bad Hand Books
Self-employed

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Glynnis

San Jose, CA, USA

I am a versatile cover designer, with additional skills in illustration, who specializes in bold lines, strong colors, and elegant designs.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

UC Press
GKoike Design
Asian Art Museum

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Karina

New York, NY, USA

Designer and Art Director of YA, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction and Picture books—including several New York Times bestsellers for all age groups

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Women's Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Simon & Schuter (Pulse and Aladdin Imprints)
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - Hachette Book Group

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Caitlin B.

Manitou Springs, CO, USA

Illustrator/designer with a love of color, texture & hand-lettering. Characters. Cover design + picture books. Collaboration + communication

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Josh

Columbus, OH, USA

Illustrator for MG and YA publishing with a passion for captivating characters and emotionally driven narrative storytelling.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Short Story, Young Adult, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Elevate Pictures
Pawn Creative
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Llewellyn Publishing

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Nicole

Buffalo, NY, USA

Designer creating attractive, smart, and inviting covers for over a decade.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, True Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Prometheus Books
Self-employed

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Candice

Iowa City, IA, United States

Award-winning illustrator with hand-crafted cover design. I read your book and provide the marketing assets you need to stand out! No genAI.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Bovard Studio, Inc.

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Laura

Broadlands, VA, USA

I'm a digital fantasy illustrator. I specialize in painting scenes of magic and wonder. Middle Grade covers are my main focus. No AI used!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Action & Adventure, Picture Books, and Gaming & LitRPG.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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David

Decatur, GA, USA

Award winning illustrator. Clients: Macmillan, HarperCollins, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Audible, Walker Books, Highlights Magazine and Hasbro.

Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, and Picture Books.

Work experience: