When writing a book, one of the most important factors to consider is the cover.
That book is going to be one among many. Whether it’s on a bookstore shelf, or on a website like Amazon as the user scrolls past. It doesn’t matter how much effort an author has put into their book – the cover is what potential readers see first, and it needs to be treated as the highest priority for an author.
Despite the old saying, readers DO judge a book by it’s cover. Book covers need to attract attention. They set expectations, and give the reader a teaser of what to expect. They need to convey the genre of the book to the reader. A professional cover also helps build trust with the readers from the beginning.
A professional book cover is vital to a book’s success.
Thankfully, there are incredible book cover designers out there. One of the best we have seen is Bukovero, an award-winning designer recognized with the IndieReader Discovery Award in 2019 for Best Book Cover (Non-Fiction) and Best Book Cover (Fiction).
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Agata Broncel, the creative mind behind Bukovero, for the latest edition of Booktalks.
Q: I’m curious about your background—what kind of education or training did you have before becoming a book cover designer? Were there any specific courses or experiences that you found especially helpful in developing your skills?
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I actually have a Master’s degree in a field pretty far from graphic design—Public Economy. Graphic design was just one of the things I’d been interested in since my teenage years. During my final year, I had more free time and started doing personal graphic projects, though I still didn’t see it as a career path. But after only a week of working full-time with Excel, I knew I didn’t want to spend 8 hours a day doing that.
So, I started exploring more creative directions—like jewelry-making and custom embroidery. Around that time, I also completed postgraduate studies in Computer Graphics and Multimedia, and it became clear that this was the direction I was most passionate about. This course helped me organize my skills, but I would say that most of what I know has come from my own curiosity, experimentation, and learning as I go.
Q: How did you get started designing book covers?
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One day while I was still a student wondering about my future, I stumbled across an article called “How to Make Money Online.” This was over ten years ago, back when remote work wasn’t nearly as common as it is today. One suggestion on the list was “Doing freelance work on 99designs.” The idea of the site is that clients post a brief, and designers submit their ideas; ultimately, only one design is selected and paid for. It was not exactly a great way to earn money, but thanks to this I discovered the world of self-publishing and the job of book cover designer.
Among all the project types, I found book cover design the most fascinating—it’s like capturing the soul of a book in a single image. I entered a few contests, didn’t win anything, but learned how to read briefs, understand client needs, and polish my technical skills. I enjoyed it so much that, after a while, I started seeking clients on my own. I posted my portfolio on a forum for self-publishers, and that’s how I found my first client, or rather, he found me!
Q: If an author wants a book cover, how do you typically start the process of designing it? Is there specific questions you ask the author?
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When I start, I want to get a real feel for both the story and the author’s vision. I usually begin by asking about their publishing plans and any important deadlines. Then, I dive into the book’s core—its storyline, themes, and what makes it unique.
Understanding the target reader is key too, because that shapes how the design will connect with them. I also like to know the mood or emotion the author wants the cover to evoke. Should it be more mysterious or scary, uplifting or intriguing, serious or humorous…?
If they have specific ideas, or covers they love (or dislike!), that’s also incredibly helpful, as it gives me a sense of their taste. Plus, details like looks of the characters, key symbols, settings, or standout objects from the story help bring the cover to life. I always tell authors that the more information, the better—even if I don’t use it directly, it gives me a better understanding of the project, which helps me create a cover that truly represents their book and grabs readers’ attention.
Q: Is there any specific genre that you prefer designing book covers for, and why?
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I’d especially love to work on covers for literary fiction. Unfortunately, those types of books are rarely published through self-publishing. I enjoy this genre because there aren’t fixed conventions for its covers, so it allows for more freedom and creative, conceptual ideas. Beyond that, I don’t have a genre preference—one of the things I love most about my work is the variety and diversity of projects. I wouldn’t want to limit myself to just one genre!
Q: Is there a particular concept or theme within literary fiction that you’d love to bring to life on a cover?
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One concept I love is stories within stories, with hidden layers that slowly reveal themselves. It’s such an interesting theme, both in terms of the plot and design. Designing a cover like this would involve finding ways to subtly reveal these hidden elements—through textures, overlays, or symbolic imagery—so that the cover itself becomes a puzzle or a journey, much like the book. It’s a theme that allows for creativity and rich storytelling through design, which I find really interesting.
Q: For the premade covers, where do you find the inspiration for those?
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I believe in learning from the best! I keep an eye on the publishing market, current cover design trends, award-winning and highly regarded covers—not just recent ones, since good design is timeless. I also draw a lot of inspiration from movie posters, both official and fan-made. In practice, sometimes it’s a single image that inspires me to use it creatively, or I might modify rejected versions of commissioned covers into something new. Overall, these covers allow me to experiment creatively, and I have a lot of fun with them!
Q: If you could redesign the cover of any famous book, which would you choose and why?
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I’d love to redesign The Master and Margarita—it’s one of my favorite books, and it’s such a visual goldmine. The mix of surrealism, satire, mysticism, and romance offers so many creative possibilities. There’s so much symbolism to work with—the black cat, the cityscape, the contrasting worlds of magic and reality. It would be so much fun finding a way to bring all these intense themes into one eye-catching cover. I’m not even sure where I’d start, but that’s exactly what makes it so thrilling!
Q: What advice do you have for someone who is interested in following this path? And based on everything that you have learned on this journey, is there anything you would go back to tell your younger self?
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If you’re interested in book cover design, my advice is to start creating and stay curious! Try redesigning covers of books you love but whose covers you don’t—it’s one of the best (and most fun!) ways to practice because you can compare your work to the original and think about how you’d approach it differently. Practical experience is key, especially when you have a vision in mind and need to figure out how to bring it to life. For that, make the most of online tutorials—they’re a great way to quickly expand your toolkit and discover new techniques. Freelance platforms or design challenges are also great for learning how to work with briefs and meet client expectations.
For my younger self, I’d offer some very practical advice—keep an organized library of resources! Having a system for textures, fonts, and past projects saves you from the chaos of digging through random files. Trust me, your future self will be very thankful when projects go smoother and faster!
Thank you so much to Bukovero for taking the time to answer these questions. If you want to see their incredible book covers, or if you are an author or friends of an author who is seeking a book cover designer, visit Bukovero.com.