Rachel Kelli

Rachel Kelli – Designer

Professional cover designer with experience designing for thrillers, literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.

Overview

Hi! I'm Rachel, a graphic designer with experience collaborating with publishers and authors to design covers and build layouts. Genres I've worked with include dramas, thrillers, literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.


While the text is the most important part of any book, I love transmitting that excellence into an impactful visual form that quickly communicates the essence of your book to the reader. Professional presentation is part of what makes a book stand out on a shelf and encourages someone to pick it up to learn more.


I utilize a variety of drawing styles and approaches depending on what is most apt for the project. My skill set includes photography & photo manipulation, digital painting, traditional painting, and fine art illustration. I am comfortable with a range of topics and styles, so if you have something in mind, I would love to hear about it and bring it to life!


If you have any questions, please feel free to message me.


Hope to work with you soon! :)

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Cozy Mysteries Horror Magical Realism Poetry Psychological Thriller Women's Fiction
Languages
English
Awards
  • American Advertising Award, Publication
  • Adobe Achievement Award, Illustration (x2)
Certifications
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Art

Work experience

The Scout Guide

Aug, 2019 — Present
I interpret creative briefs and project direction in order to complete layout and design of print publications as well as create marketing collateral. As part of my job responsibilities I select and arrange type, manipulate imagery, and execute interior layouts.

Creature Publishing

Jan, 2019 — Present
I offer expert freelance design work including illustrative brand assets, promotional graphic materials, and book covers. I love visually representing an author's best work, while also keeping in mind the publisher's marketing aims and end reader's viewpoint.

C&R Press

Jul, 2018 — Feb, 2019 (7 months)
While working with C&R Press, as well as their affiliated press, Mastodon, I designed book covers and typeset book interiors for genres spanning poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.

Liberty University

Aug, 2015 — May, 2019 (over 3 years)
I shot & edited photos and created illustrative designs within a variety of styles.

Portfolio

Antenora

Lumpkin, Dori

Creature Publishing

Cover Design
The Gold Persimmon

Merbaum, Lindsay

Cover Design
there was this bird (Possession Sound Reading)

Chaney, Nikia

Poetry Northwest Editions

Cover Design
Violet (Winter in Veil Book 1) (Winter in Veil: a Mystery Novella Series)

Ledoux, Miles

Cover Design
Traits for Success-The Case for Character Education in American Schools

Zurn, John H

Independently published

Cover Design
Healing The Shadow – Deep Process Psychotherapy: An Invitation into the Transformational World of Shadow Work

Hill, Marianne

Healing The Shadow

Cover Design
Misty River: Small Towns Aren't What They Appear To Be (A Blake Moretti Thriller Novel Book 1)

Franceschelli, David

Cover Design
Lyra

Franchini, Emily

Cover Design
Banjo's Inside Coyote

Allen, Kelli

Cover Design
Objects in Motion

Katz, Jonathan

Cover Design
Headlong

Maclean, Ron

Cover Design
A Family is a House

Pearson, Dustin

Cover Design
Give a Girl Chaos

Seaborn, Heidi

Cover Design

Rachel has 12 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Marianne H.

Marianne H.

May, 2024

Pinned
Rachel has been wonderful to work with. She was extremely professional and went above and beyond what I would expect from a cover designer, showing an interest in the content of the book and suggesting very thoughtful and eye catching concepts for the cover. I am delighted with the end result – i...
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John Z.

John Z.

Jan, 2024

Pinned
Rachel was fantastic! She was responsive to all my requests and the final product she sent to me was creative and on point. I especially appreciated the ways that Rachel listened to me throughout the process. She was very professional with her feedback and thoughtful about the project I was wo...
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David F.

David F.

Dec, 2023

Pinned
Rachel is the best. She is a great listener. As a result, you don't have to waste your time with consistent redesign work that doesn't meet your expectations. I have received 100% compliments from everyone you have seen her designs. I have already hired Rachel to design my second novel, Whisper...
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Miles L.

Miles L.

Dec, 2024

I was extremely lucky to find Rachel. I could see from her sample cover art that she could produce the kind of material I was looking for, but I had no idea she'd be so easy to work with. Everything with her went smoothly even though we'd never worked together before. She was patient and communic...
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Rachel K.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the design process, Miles. I loved hearing your visions for each cover and bringing them to life together.
Chris B.

Chris B.

Nov, 2024

I loved working with Rachel, I am so glad I reached out through Reedsy to find a book cover designer. I had designed the cover myself, but after listening to a professional book cover designer give a talk on Reedsy, I realized I needed professional help. I have chosen both a book cover designer a...
Read more
Rachel K.
Such a pleasure working with you, Chris!

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Most recent contributions

As a standard, how many concepts and rounds of revisions do you offer in your quote?

I provide a minimum of three distinct initial concepts, each showcasing a unique design approach. This variety allows the author to explore different creative directions. Occasionally, if inspiration strikes, I may offer additional concepts, but three original designs are always guaranteed to sta...
Read more

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