Designing a Book Cover Using Students

For my next book cover, I am using students from Rochester Institute of Technology in the Graphic Art department. I'm really excited about going this route as some of the students are deaf and my next book is about "The Passionate Lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People." It's a great way for students to be involved in a "real life" project and gain experience, plus a mention in the book.

I wanted to throw this out there as one way to design the cover of your next book. Graphic Art departments at major universities and colleges may be willing to work your project into a student assignment.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Hall on January 3, 2013 at 10:51am

That's great, Karen! Thanks for the idea.

Permalink Reply by Maureen Zappala on January 3, 2013 at 11:03am

Cool idea. Along those lines, I was thinking about finding a high school student at my son's school (which requires community service hours for all students) to help me. I would think a journalism or creative writing student could proofread and edit my book to earn a few hours of credit.

Permalink Reply by Joanne Banko on January 3, 2013 at 4:54pm

Thanks for the tip! I have heard of this basic idea for developing a website as well. Wonder if anyone has done that. Also, if you have no contact where would you start as far as contacting the college?

Permalink Reply by Karen Putz on January 3, 2013 at 7:48pm

Marley, I will have to check into that to see if the university will allow me to do that since they're using this as a class assignment and all the students will be working on it as homework.

Permalink Reply by Karen Putz on January 3, 2013 at 7:54pm

Joanne,
If you have no contact, start with the department chair in the Graphic Arts or Marketing departments of the colleges. If you go that route, do share your experiences here, I would love to know how it went.

Permalink Reply by Joanne Banko on January 3, 2013 at 8:39pm

Thanks for the advice Karen. If I go that route I will certainly share. I have a friend (out of state) who brought up the same topic recently. I'll have to check in with her to see if she followed through.

I agree about the payment as well. In my long ago days at fashion school we did dressmaking/alteration work for clients but of course were not paid professional rages as we were still learning. You have to learn sometime by doing real work and it is great when that is part of the education process.

Permalink Reply by Jen McDonough "The Iron Jen" on January 6, 2013 at 8:04am