Design Thinking for Book Covers and Visual Concepts

A course by Catherine Casalino , Book Designer

Book Designer. New York, United States.
Joined September 2021

Expand your creative toolbox by exploring the book cover design process and learning how to apply it to a graphic design project

100% positive reviews (13)
812 students
Audio: English
English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch

Expand your creative toolbox by exploring the book cover design process and learning how to apply it to a graphic design project

A book cover is a powerful marketing tool that can shine a spotlight on the contents inside. With over two decades of experience working for renowned clients like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, designer Catherine Casalino specializes in creating intriguing covers that compel readers to explore the story within.

In this online course, she teaches you how to apply design thinking to create spectacular book covers that leap off the shelf. Learn Catherine’s step-by-step approach to capturing the written word with visuals and presenting a book in its best light so that no story remains undiscovered.

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What will you learn in this online course?

15 lessons & 18 downloads

Overview of Book Design
15 minutes, 28 seconds
Mood Board: Image Research
8 minutes, 19 seconds
Picking a Project
5 minutes, 58 seconds
Reading and Notetaking
11 minutes, 16 seconds
Concepting and Sketching
10 minutes, 6 seconds
  • 100% positive reviews (13)
  • 812 students
  • 15 lessons (2h 48m)
  • 18 additional resources (6 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English
  • English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Develop two or three mock-ups for a book cover using InDesign and Adobe Creative Suite.

Projects by course students

Who is this online course for?

All creatives interested in book design, from graphic designers to illustrators to photographers.

Requirements and materials

A working knowledge of graphic design and Adobe Creative Suite is recommended.

As for materials, you ideally need a camera, a scanner, a computer with graphic-design software, and art supplies. However, you can also get creative and design your book cover with just a pencil, some paper, and a smartphone.


Reviews

812 Students
13 Reviews
100% Positive ratings

Catherine Casalino

A course by Catherine Casalino

Teacher Plus
Book Designer

Book designer Catherine Casalino is the creative director of Casalino Design, an award-winning independent creative studio based in New York City that specializes in book design, print, and branding. Before starting her studio, Catherine worked as an in-house designer and art director for renowned publishers such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Grand Central Publishing.

For over two decades, she has been creating designs for a variety of well-known authors and clients, including Stephen King, A+E Networks, IBM, and The New York Times. Catherine’s designs have received recognition from prestigious organizations and publications such as AIGA, PRINT magazine, Communication Arts, Eye magazine, and the New York Book Show. She has also served as a judge for competitions hosted by associations like the Art Directors Club, the Type Directors Club, and the Association of American University Presses.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    The Book Design Process

    • Overview of Book Design
    • How to Start: Reading and Your Book Design Toolbox
    • Mood Board: Image Research
    • Picking a Project
  • U3

    Creating Your Book Cover Design

    • Reading and Notetaking
    • Concepting and Sketching
    • Researching, Exploring, and Refining
    • Designing with InDesign and Adobe Creative Suite 1
    • Designing with InDesign and Adobe Creative Suite 2
    • Editing
  • U4

    Finishing Touches for Your Cover

    • Expanding Your Design
    • Presenting Your Book Cover Design
    • Taking Feedback
  • FP

    Final project

    • Design Thinking for Book Covers and Visual Concepts

What to expect from a Domestika course

  • Learn at your own pace

    Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

  • Learn from the best professionals

    Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

  • Meet expert teachers

    Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

  • Certificates
    Plus

    If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

  • Get front-row seats

    Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

  • Share knowledge and ideas

    Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

  • Connect with a global creative community

    The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

  • Watch professionally produced courses

    Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.


FAQs

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Design Thinking for Book Covers and Visual Concepts. Design course by Catherine Casalino

Design Thinking for Book Covers and Visual Concepts

A course by Catherine Casalino
Book Designer. New York, United States.
Joined September 2021
  • 100% positive reviews (13)
  • 812 students