Thoughts on Effective Designfor Snippet Writers

Head of DesignBen De Rienzo ben@thesnippetapp.com

@derienzo777

Changing the way we sharestories, ideas and expertise

The Snippet DesignManifesto

Have the most beautiful and engaging platform on the planet.

Every Snippet can be beautiful.

First ThoughtsCover design is critical for sales

Poor design can repel and confusion

Consider investing in professional design

Deconstructing a Snippet’s Design

Deconstructing a Snippet’s Design

Cover TOC Header Chapter Header Chapter Cover

Design with the Store in Mind

Bold Title.

Legible Name.

Think Small.

What’s theTakeaway?

What’s the Takeaway?Even if you cover a lot of different things, what is the one constant in your Snippet?

What is the lesson, or message you are passing onto your reader?

Summarize your story or Snippet in one sentence, or in 4 words?

Communicate that with the cover.

Set the tone

The cover is the reader’s first impression of what the Snippet is all about

Texture Warm OrganicComfy Rich Earthy

Clean Cold Polished Hard Fresh Modern Sterile

What should areader feel if they only saw your cover?

Keep it Simple

http://bookcoverarchive.com

• COLOR

• FONTS

• IMAGERY

Simplicity in:

FONTS

• easy to read

• minimal font palette

• reliable fonts

Simplicity in:

Some Reliable Fonts:

DIN

AVENIR

BASKERVILLE

TRAJAN PRO

http://booksat.scarlettrugers.com/bookcoverdesign/what-font-or-type-faces-should-i-use-on-my-book-cover/

Free Fonts?

http://theultralinx.com/2013/07/

top-50-free-fonts.html

COLOR

• great contrast

• minimal color palette

• no gradients

Simplicity in:

Color Theory

http://abt.cm/1ah4dNColor Psychology

IMAGERY• doesn’t interfere with legibility

• communicate much with little

• represents overall theme

Simplicity in:

Photo resourcesStock: Veer, Getty, Fotolia, iStockphoto

Editors: Photoshop, Gimp, Pixlr, Aviary, Picnik

Check Out the Market

Check Out the Market• Look at books in your genre

• How do they use/choose imagery, text & fonts?

• If a reader is looking for something in a genre, they

might be browsing covers based on their expectations

Good Designers Copy, Great Designers Steal

—Picasso

Additional Resources

http://booksat.scarlettrugers.com/bookcoverdesign/

http://www.chipkidd.com/gallery.html

Info/Tips

Amazing

Designers http://mattlehmanstudio.com/Publishing

http://thefutureofink.com/killer-ebook-cover/

Blogs http://bookcoverarchive.com/

http://bookcoversanonymous.blogspot.com/

thesnippetapp.com