Assigned Reading #7

Chapter 5; The Publishing Brief

"Digitization is here and books will never be the same again. Digitization frees books to reach new audiences in new ways. Books used to furnish a room....now they will furnish a virtual world." ~Gail Rebuck

 Illustrating for the Modern Publishing Brief

  • Cover illustration must attract and intrigue
  • Cover illustration must imply content
  • Cover illustration must stand out
  • Cover illustration must imply genre

Components of the Modern Book Market

  • Animals (photo)
  • Art and Design (stock imagery)
  • Audio Books (reproduction of book cover)
  • Business (typography)
  • Children's Books (illustration)
  • Classics (illustration, photo, stock imagery)
  • Computing (typography)
  • Cookery (illustration and photo)
  • Crafts and Collectables (photo)
  • Crime (illustration and photo)
  • Diet (illustration and photo)
  • Drama (illustration and photo)
  • Education (photo and typography)
  • Erotica (photo and illustration)
  • Fiction (illustration and photo)
  • Games (imagery based on visual language of game)
  • Gardening (photo)
  • Graphic Novels (illustration)
  • Health and Medicine (illustration and photo)
  • History (stock imagery)
  • Homes (photo)
  • Horror (illustration and photo)
  • Humor (illustration and photo)
  • Math (typography)
  • Media (photo and typography)
  • Mind/Body/Spirit (illustration and photo)
  • Music (stock imagery)
  • Parenting (illustration and photo)
  • Philosophy (typography)
  • Poetry (illustration, photo, stock imagery)
  • Psychology (typography)
  • Reference (stock imagery)
  • Religion (stock imagery)
  • Romance (illustration)
  • Science (illustration and photo)
  • Science Fiction (illustration)
  • Social Sciences (photo and typography)
  • Sport (photo, some illustration)
  • Teen Fiction (illustration)
  • Transportation (photo)
  • Travel (photo)
  • True Crime (stock imagery)

Creative Roles Within a Publishing House

  • Publishing Director
  • Commissioning Editor
  • Editor
  • Sales Director
  • Marketing Director
  • Art Director
  • Book Designer
  • Picture Editor/Researcher

Creative Roles Within Children's Book Publishing

  • Publishing Director
  • Commissioning Editor
  • Author
  • Editor
  • Sales Director
  • Marketing Director
  • Art Director
  • Book Designer

Summary of Procedure

  1. Initial Research
  2. Prospecting for Work
  3. Securing the Commission
  4. Starting Work
  5. Submitting the Brief
  6. Producing the Final Artwork
  7. Securing Payment