“Creator to Cover”, when looking into similar ideas and existing services is quite unique on the front of book cover design. As the name I have come up with suggests, it would focus more on taking the creator’s idea (the author) from just a concept to a full professional design. I could not find any services themselves that actually catered specifically to creating book covers from scratch, taking into account the creativity and influence from the author, and instead just found a myriad of independent sellers who sold pre-made designs.
I couldn’t find any ideas that were exactly similar to this concept of mine, but there are many services out there for other design areas such as business cards or websites that can be hired to create your dream content. This I think is probably the most similar to my idea, a service which designs something specific for a customer and works with them to bring an idea to life. For example the company seen below, Plasma Design, offers a free design service along with the ability to upload your own designs. They offer a questionnaire that asks for information about your business, what you’re considering for the design, any sketches you may have etc. to help to design what you are envisioning. They will send designs and garner feedback from you to help make revisions and produce exactly what you are needing. This is the type of service I would like for my business idea to provide just to a different audience and selling a different product. I like how they offer this service additionally for free along with uploading your own content as they of course manufacture the designs. This as I said in post 1 could be a possible expansion for my idea if it were to be come successful and gain the facilities and funds to print the books that were being designed, a print on demand kind of service that could then offer low or even free cost design services.
Whilst researching I found many examples of this practice of pre-designed covers, allowing no true input from the buyer. Many of these could only be minimally customised (e.g adding the author name or changing the title) and some others were being sold solely as shown with the titles and information being unable to be added or changed, sometimes only available with further spending. These instances of pre-made covers I was able to find on sites like Etsy, a creative market place, and varied in price from the cheapest I saw being £30 and some of the most expensive I saw being close to £300 for a pre-made set. Even though I think there is room for this to be eventually an option for “Creator to Cover” when looking for expansion, the idea of almost off the shelf designs and the ability to customise to some degree, I believe that this does not offer adequate control to the clients looking for a design service. The idea that a lot of individuals out there create covers themselves then sell those pre-made ideas may work for some people but I’d think that most authors would want a lot more customisation and control over their book’s outcome. Below is an example of one of the designs I found whilst looking on Etsy at pre-made design sets.
Honestly I do not think there is a service out there that is like my business idea. There are no services that uniquely specify in this subject area or that are able to give the amount of customisation that this idea could offer clients. Having a site that is specialised in the area of design you are seeking is really important as if you asked a designer with no experience or interest, you may not be able to get your vision realised as they would not be as knowledgeable about what your needs would be or what would be best for the cover of your novel. This makes this idea more attractive to potential clients as they would feel like they knew they were getting a personalised service and something that will match their vision successfully. I think for this level of care and attention the prices could comfortably be set around those of the pre-made covers on Etsy but they would be more justified in my eyes as you have some one dedicated to bringing your idea to life working with you to create it.
PlasmaDesign. n.d. Plasmadesign – The World’s Most Innovative Business Cards. [online] Available at: <https://www.plasmadesign.co.uk/> [Accessed 5 November 2020].
MagicalBookCovers (Etsy) , n.d. 5 Pre-Made Urban Fantasy YA Book Covers | Etsy. [online] Etsy. Available at: <https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/875317782/5-pre-made-urban-fantasy-ya-book-covers?ref=shop_home_feat_3> [Accessed 6 November 2020].