University Press Cover Round-Up

We welcome you to another in our ongoing feature in which notable book cover designer Jordan Wannemacher periodically highlights a selection of recent university press cover designs. Please enjoy this celebration of amazing work.

This list is in no particular order. Credits are listed below.

If you are a book cover creative and want your work or the work of your department reviewed by Jordan be sure to get in touch with us!

As with any cover design we feature in our publications, we encourage you to head to your local library and/or bookstore to view the work in its full splendor when possible.

University of Pittsburgh Press

Designer: Joel W. Coggins

Art: Status Symbols #20 by Rashaad Newsome

The type + image pairing for this is so psychedelic and dynamic with the perfect symmetry of the art, I LOVE it! Poetry covers have so much heavy lifting to do to tell us the tone of the poetry inside and this one makes me want to dive right into something that feels so alive.

Oxford University Press/Hurst

Designer: Steve Leard

I love when a cover uses negative space in a way that is as jaw-dropping as this cover. It looks just like a classic political poster you'd see in a History of Graphic Design class, my highest compliments Steve.

NYU Press

Designer/Art Director: Adam Bohannon

I love the vertical movement this cover has with the long cord hanging down tying all of the elements together. It's a perfect visual for a subject that I am sure was VERY tricky to illustrate for a book while keeping things "NSFW."

Ohio State University Press

Art Director: Juliet Williams

Designer: Nathan Putens

This image is so compelling and haunting. The type is perfect in its simplicity against this image that I can't get out of my head. Just stunning!

Duke University Press

Design: Aimee Harrison

Art Director: Amy Ruth Buchanan

What a lovely collage! Sometimes it's hard to find just one image that conveys all the layers of complexity in an academic text so finding a way to marry different elements in an elegant way is the perfect solution. I also love that teal, an unexpected color that makes the orange in the type pop even more.

Arizona University Press

Design: Leigh McDonald

Art: Essence by Venaya Yazzie

I absolutely love this vibrant contemporary Navajo art and how the type is interwoven. The tone and the vibrancy fit perfectly with the topic of the book without resorting to stereotype or overused imagery for this topic. A uniquely refreshing take.

Harvard University Press

Designer/Art Director: Tim Jones

After mentioning books that look like perfect posters, this is another one I'd print and hang on my wall. The color palette is spot on for this era and the bold type contrasts flawlessly. Beautiful work. 

Princeton University Press

Designer: Matt Avery

Art Director: Maria Lindenfeldar

Illustrator: Lauren Nassef

This is such a lovely ink drawing that pairs perfectly with the classic understated sans serif. I also love the red-orange color choice with the subtle brush stroke in the bottom right. Such a handsome cover! 

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