Cover to Cover Visual Design w/Susan Gutnik

Welcome to Open Book Broadcast where we talk about anything to do with writing and publishing (and everything in between) because we are open books and we want your book to shine brightly on the bookshelf.
Check out this amazing conversation with Thrive Creative's Owner, Creative Director, and Designer, Susan Gutnik.
We dive into what makes for a beautiful book design cover-to-cover, why it's important for you and the reader, how to use your cover design in marketing and brand expansion, and so much more. Plus, see some beautifully designed book covers and interiors and hear Susan talk about what makes them effective.
A little about Susan:
Susan is a branding specialist, an award-winning book designer, and a full-service graphic designer.
Book design is one of her specialties. She earned a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Her love for book design was developed after years as a full-time staff Book Designer at McGraw-Hill, St. Louis, and later at the University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. Susan had the opportunity to design both the covers and interiors of a wide variety of books.
When possible, she likes to design both the cover and interior together - that way a cohesive design can be developed that ties the whole package together. The success of the design for the interior really depends on attention to detail, and anticipating what the reader will need in order to have the best possible experience using the book. So, it’s a balance of aesthetic appeal and practical usability.
The cover has the task of capturing the interest of potential readers. It is your #1 marketing tool. Ideally, it conveys not only the subject matter but also the point of view of the author so that it attracts a ready audience.
Connect with Susan and learn more about her here:
Website: www.thrivecrea...
Email: [e-mail]
Facebook: / thrivecreativellc
LinkedIn: / susangutnik
For more about Ally and The Write Place, Right Time, visit: www.thewritepl... and be sure to sign up for our email list when you're there.