These 6 Trends Are Taking Over Book Design in 2025
From book covers in the late 1800s with simple text and bindings to today's vibrant looks, book design is part of a story's spirit. The way your book appears has an impact on how readers receive it. A cover design can tell people what to expect and grab their attention, encouraging them to pull it off a bookshelf or digital product page.
Top Book Design Trends in 2025
Every genre has specific standards that readers expect. Sticking to them shows people your book contains what they want. Tapping into current trends helps you be competitive in your market and gives you the power to stray a tiny bit outside the norm.
The U.S. book publishing industry brings in $28.1 billion per year. Although the number of titles published varies, with so much activity in the ebook and print markets, making sure your cover stands out is critical to being successful in a sea of new releases. Here are some of the current trends so you can ensure you make the strongest impression possible.
1. Abstract and Symbolic Designs
Abstract art has been around for centuries and continues to be popular today. It was seen on book covers throughout 2024 and carried over into 2025 as a way to create additional interest in otherwise traditional-looking tomes.
Many of today’s bestsellers feature abstract images that hint at the theme of a book without outright telling the tale. Combined with a strong description, abstract and symbolic imagery can capture the imagination.
2. Illustration and Pop Art
Book cover design is constantly evolving. A few years ago, the use of photorealism and adding stock images was a popular practice. As more people began self-publishing, the same stock photos sometimes appeared on multiple covers, making them unoriginal, especially if in the same genre.
Authors began looking for something to make their covers more unique and closely linked to their stories and designers enjoyed bringing a writer’s vision to life in image form. In the spirit of mangas and comic books, illustrated designs reminiscent of pop art from 20th-century modern styles began to emerge. On the other side of the spectrum are illustrated covers that have an almost cartoon look, as seen below. These are particularly popular in today’s lighthearted contemporary romances and cozy mysteries.
3. Bright, Colorful Designs
More than 80% of consumers are willing to try something new when the packaging catches their eye, and what better way to attract these potential readers than with bold, bright designs? An eye-catching cover gives you an opportunity to tell a mini-story about what’s inside.
Bold colors work alongside many of the other styles trending today. Illustrated covers with bright designs engage consumers.
4. Collage-Style Artwork
Collages aren’t new, but they’ve not appeared on covers often unless on a memoir or coffee table book. However, today’s fiction sometimes sports the collage look. You’ll find many examples in retro books making a comeback with an edge.
Bento style (boxes of different sizes and purposes) and grid layouts create nice visuals. However, the more asymmetrical look seen above also creates an open and comforting mood.
5. Large Fonts With Eye-Catching Bold Typography
How do you stand out in a crowded marketplace filled with AI-generated art and the constant noise of new releases? Independent authors sold 767.36 million print books in 2023. You can attract an audience that wants to read what you write, but you have to grab their attention with a thumbnail image first. Designers have an opportunity to help their clients look unique while still adhering to industry standards.
Strong typography stands out from the other small snapshots of book covers. Using light colors on dark backgrounds and vivid hues on light ones makes your title pop. The typography should set a mood that makes the reader want to pick up the book and peruse it.
Promotional Animated Covers
Most authors promote their books on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Wattpad. While you can’t yet upload animations to Kindle Direct Publishing, you could use the cover on your website or in promotional material.
Note the subtle motion and slight sparkle to the font. You might not even notice the motion at first, but then it catches your eye.
Book Design in 2025
Book covers and design are currently meshing old and new methods. Expect to see stock photos with custom illustrations laid on top, more animated covers for promotions and cutting-edge collages that blend ideas. Pay attention to the trends so your covers take author sales to the next level and compete with a large pool of writers.
Eleanor Hecks is a writer and designer who is particularly interested in helping authors create eye-catching book covers. Her writing has been featured on publications such as I Need a Book Cover, Self-Publishing Review, The Independent Publishing Magazine, and more. She also serves as Editor in Chief of Designerly Magazine, where she covers today's latest graphic design and typography trends.