Are book cover designers required to read the book or manuscript?

Question

Is this part of the designer's responsibility?

Reading the manuscript consumes more time and I'm sure that the author or editor is well versed with the story and these people may retell the story to the designer, and probably throw in a few points about what they want.

Usually, what happens? Do book cover designers (for thick books like novels) read the manuscript first before designing or do they rely on the instructions of the client?

Answer 1

A mixture of both.

The client usually has their own vision of what they want. On the other hand it's hard to get inspired by Cliff Notes so if you want to be a GOOD book cover designer you haveta read them.

Answer 2

Not necessary, in most cases. The publisher will often give the designer a description of what is required and a good designer, often needs no more than that.

In some cases, the designer or illustrator is given a short excerpt from the story or piece.

In many cases, the designs can be quite generic in nature, and still fit the book quite well. A set of specs that include:

A WWII era, German Luger, Nazi Iron Cross, image of the US White house. These items could serve for any of dozens of WWII spy novels.

Garden, white picket fence, ivied arbor, 18th century ships at anchor. These props could illustrate hundereds of romance novels.

Gigantic space vessels, starry skies, strange planetary surface. Pick any of hundreds of science fiction books and these objects could serve as a cover.

Answer 3

not really beacuse he can just ask the author to summarize the story and do the book cover design:))