This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

Discover emerging book cover trends and what this book cover designer from Faceout Studio has learned about the publishing process from concept to execution.

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Faceout Studio book designer Elisha Zepeda as he takes us on a journey from working in a bookstore to navigating his first year in book cover design. 

Elisha navigates the challenges of cover rejection through a unique avenue- his TikTok account, where readers can discuss the rejected and accepted designs with him.

Today he shares what he sees as emerging trend in cover design and the struggles he’s faced with everything from font selection to breaking out of the “girl turning away” cover that we can’t seem to escape from as readers.  

If you are entertaining a self-publishing journey, Elisha shares valuable tips on communication, budgeting, and bringing your visions to life in your book covers. 

Here are examples of beautiful book cover designs from emerging designer Elisha Zepeda:

The Woman With a Purple Heart by Diane Hanks
Ain't No Promised Land by Tina Shelton
Cities of Women by Kathleen B. Jones

We couldn’t have him on the show and not discuss his recommendations for some standout covers that have captured his imagination and hear more about his process of honoring an author’s work through unique details that created reverence for the person who spent months or even years on their books. 

Elisha Zepeda- Book Cover Designer With Faceout Studio

Meet Elisha Zepeda 

Elisha is a book designer for Faceout Studio in Oregon. He documents his publishing journey on his Tiktok account, where readers can see how his book designs evolve from concept to final product.

When not designing books, he is writing/recording music, toying with a film camera, or defending the merits of decaf over regular coffee. You can view his portfolio on his website, where he curates his work. 

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

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Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

The Mindful Librarian Substack

Faceout Studio

Browse Elisha’s Entire Portfolio

Dudley’s Bookshop

The Best Libby App Tips and Tricks

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Cities of Women by Kathleen B. Jones

The Woman with a Purple Heart by Diane Hanks

Bluff by Michael Kardos

Shake It Up, Baby! by Ken McNab

Criterion Collection Posters

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Rodrigo Corral

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

Bad Thoughts by Nada Alic

Connect With Us:

Connect With Elisha on His Website or Tiktok

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Published February 29, 2024 by:

Amy Allen Clark is the founder of MomAdvice.com. You can read all about her here.

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