Ken Crossland

Ken Crossland – Designer

Art Director with 12+ years designing award-winning covers and interiors at Penguin Random House, including Newbery and NYT bestsellers.

Overview

I’m an Art Director and book designer with 12+ years of experience at Penguin Random House, where I designed and art directed award-winning and New York Times–bestselling books across middle grade, YA, and adult nonfiction, including multiple Newbery Medal and Honor titles.

Clients value me for my calm, collaborative approach and my ability to turn complex manuscripts into clear, compelling visual systems. I bring a strong typographic eye, deep production knowledge, and a storyteller’s instinct to every project—whether that’s a single cover or a full interior. I’m especially well-suited to authors who want a designer with traditional-publishing rigor, thoughtful communication, and design decisions grounded in audience and narrative.

Services
Fiction
Fantasy Historical Fiction Historical Romance LGBTQ Fiction Middle Grade Mystery & Crime Romantic Comedy Young Adult
Languages
English
Awards
  • Newbery Medal
  • Newbery Honor

Work experience

Penguin Random House

Jun, 2012 — May, 2025 (almost 13 years)
I designed and art direct book covers and interiors across middle grade, YA, and adult nonfiction, with experience spanning standalones, series branding, and special editions.

Portfolio

Dungeons and Drama

Boyce, Kristy

Delacorte Press

Book Interior Design
Book Interior Design
Book Interior Design
One of Us Is Lying

McManus, Karen M.

Delacorte Press

Book Interior Design
You'd Be Home Now

Glasgow, Kathleen

Delacorte Press

Book Interior Design
The Isles of the Gods

Kaufman, Amie

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Book Interior Design
Five Survive

Jackson, Holly

Ember

Book Interior Design
Book Interior Design
Book Interior Design
The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Jackson, Holly

Delacorte Press

Book Interior Design
Small Favors

Craig, Erin A.

Ember

Book Interior Design

Ken has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mila V.

Mila V.

Jun, 2026

Pinned
Ken was extremely helpful with the process. This was my second book, and I really wanted to make this book even better than my first. Everything turned out great. He was also very understanding of my lack of experience with this process and accommodating of my timing needs. I hope to continue to ...
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Cynthia B.

Cynthia B.

May, 2026

Pinned
Working with Ken was such a great experience! As a first-time author, I had plenty of questions, ideas, and moments where I wasn't quite sure what I wanted, but he was patient, supportive, and professional throughout the entire process. What I appreciated most was how open he was to feedback. We...
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Anna S.

Anna S.

Feb, 2026

Pinned
This was my first time working with someone to create a cover, and I am so happy I did. Ken was a fantastic collaborator. He immediately grasped the heart of the story and transformed it into a cover that beautifully reflected the hierarchy, secrets, and hidden layers within the narrative. His co...
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Ken C.
Thank you, Anna! Was such a pleasure working with you, too! I wish you much success with your books!
Ira L.

Ira L.

Oct, 2026

Having spent much of my professional career working with art directors, graphic designers, and other creative professionals, I have a pretty good eye for design. And I can say without hesitation that Ken Crossland is an exceptionally talented book designer. Ken designed the cover and the interi...
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Barry S.

Barry S.

Oct, 2026

Ken was great to work with. He proposed several ideas while listening to my input. He read through my manuscript before proposing ideas for cover designs. I look forward to working with Ken again on my formatting.

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