Simone Rotella

Simone Rotella – Designer

Award-winning editorial and digital illustrator working since 2015 with international book publishers,science magazines, NGO and AD agencies

Overview

Hi, my name is Simone and I have been working as an advertising graphic designer and professional illustrator for more than 9 years. I collaborate with advertising agencies and international clients including: publishing houses, newspaper editorial offices, NGOs, festivals and museum institutions. As Art director, I follow the creative process of the graphic product in all its phases, welcoming proposals and constructive feedback, guiding the client towards the best possible visual result.

Looking into my portfolio you will find several examples of how I interfaced with clients with different profiles and various requests, noticing a predisposition for everything oneiric and based on science fiction.

I'm passionate about plants and astrophysics, following with interest everything related to the natural world from which I take inspiration for my works.

I am confident in creating covers with very tight deadlines, commensurate with the budget and the client's requests. I usually offer a series of changes on drafts and during the coloring phase that fall within the budget; after these free changes I add a fee for subsequent ones. However, by having more time to understand the customer's needs and requirements, the budget and the level of complexity of the work, it is possible to make a more precise cost forecast and have a higher level of detail.

I offer my experience in the graphic and illustrated field to create beautiful book covers made with digital brushes and manual techniques.

I am a professional, meticulous and versatile person available to meet your needs looking forward to work on some beautiful covers with you.

Services
Fiction
Dystopian Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy Thriller & Suspense Urban Fantasy
Non-Fiction
Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences History Life Sciences
Languages
English
Awards
  • World Illustration Award 2019
  • 3x3 magazine 2020
  • Society of illustrator 2024 - Shortlisted

Work experience

PIEMME publisher

Feb, 2024 — Apr, 2024 (2 months)
Illustrated cover commisioned by PIEMME Italian publisher, for the book "Per la libertà" written by Stefano Garzaro. Synopsis: The story of a little girl who joins the Italian partisan resistance

Mondadori Publisher

Nov, 2023 — Feb, 2024 (3 months)
Illustrated cover commisioned by Mondadori publisher, for "La notte più bella" written by Daniela Palumbo. Winner of the Campiello prize 2024 for the Young adults category

Harper & Collins

Feb, 2023 — Aug, 2023 (7 months)
Cover artist for Italian best-seller book: "Il mio lato Bi-Polare" author Andrea Pinna. The book narrate the writer's bipolar condition in positive/negative ways and how that influenced his life.

Feltrinelli Editori

Dec, 2022 — Mar, 2023 (3 months)
Illustrated cover for Feltrinelli publisher. "Nevada" written by Imogen Binnie is a journey throughout the desert; travel, discovery, freedom, but also pain, unrequited love and the search for independence are all aspects covered in this LGBTQ+ novel. The cover has been selected for the 66 Society of illustrator contest 2024.

GIUNTI editore

Dec, 2023 — Apr, 2024 (4 months)
Illustrated cover for Giunti Italian publisher. "I disobbedienti del mondo nuovo" (the disobedient of new world) written by Patrizia Rinaldi is a journey in which the lives of 5 boys will mix in a sci-fi and dystopian adventure

The New Scientist UK

Nov, 2021 — Present
Editorial and digital illustrations for the UK scientific magazines

The Lancet

Jan, 2020 — Present
Cover artist and editorial design for many Lancet departments, working on monthly issue

Vogue Japan

Jan, 2019 — Oct, 2019 (9 months)
Editorial illustrations for Vogue Japan

Portfolio

La notte più bella (Italian Edition)

Palumbo, Daniela

EDIZIONI PIEMME

Cover Design Illustration
Made with Reedsy
Influence Campaign

Franklin, Travis

Canard Publishing

Il mio lato B(polare)

Andrea A. Pinna

Audible Studios

Illustration
Billy the West (Italian Edition)

Sgardoli, Guido

EDIZIONI PIEMME

Cover Design Illustration
Illustration

Simone has 6 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Tony G.

Tony G.

Apr, 2026

Pinned
Working with Simone R. was a smooth and professional experience from start to finish. He was flexible throughout the process, accommodating my ideas while also offering helpful input where needed. Communication was clear, and he made adjustments without hesitation to ensure the final design match...
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Simone R.
Thanks Tony, it was a real pleasure working together on the creation of your cover. I wish you good luck with your book and I'm sure it will go well, the text was already beautiful in itself, I on...
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Graydon R.

Graydon R.

Dec, 2025

Pinned
Simone is professional, understanding, and extremely talented. He turned my vague concept into a work of art not just for my cover, but into something I'll hang on my wall. I could not recommend him enough.
Simone R.
Graydon is the best client you could get: he knew well what he wanted but he needed a creative hand to make it happen, confident in his ideas but with the confidence to let you experiment with your...
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Travis F.

Travis F.

Jun, 2025

Pinned
Self-publishing is difficult. Simone made all the difference. I wanted to quit many times, but I kept going. Why? Because of Simone’s perfect cover design. With Simone, you get professionalism, responsiveness, and patience. He indulged my ideas, perhaps even when he shouldn’t have. My advice: h...
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Simone R.
Thanks Travis, much appreciated your words. I wish you all the luck for your publication, and keep going what you're doing
Richard T.

Richard T.

May, 2026

Best not to. Except that I have now learned to beware of someone who front-loads charges and ...
Socrates J.

Socrates J.

May, 2026

Simone did a pretty fair job, a true professional with a competitive with industry, standard prices, I probably could’ve done a better job at articulating my vision, but he did exactly what was asked of him. Good communication and pleasant to work with.

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