Describe the reader and the promise
Begin with the genre, audience, and emotional or practical promise of the book. A quiet literary memoir and a fast-paced thriller call for different visual signals. Add a short synopsis and tell the designer which part of the story matters most to the cover.
Supply the words that must appear
Provide the exact title, subtitle, author name, and any approved series text. For print, prepare the back-cover copy, author biography, imprint details, and barcode requirements. Mark anything still provisional so a late change is not mistaken for an approved final version.
Name the editions and physical specifications
List ebook, paperback, and hardcover requirements separately. Include trim size, printer, paper choice, and final page count when available. The printer’s template determines the full wrap and spine dimensions. A new page count can require a new wrap even when the front design stays the same.
Use references thoughtfully
Choose a few relevant covers and explain what you notice: restrained typography, a limited palette, an illustrated atmosphere, or a sense of place. References help communicate a direction. They are not instructions to copy another artist’s composition or reuse someone else’s artwork.
Clarify assets, rights, and deliverables
Identify which photographs, artwork, fonts, or logos you can legally supply. Ask whether licensing, source files, additional editions, and printer-specific adjustments are included. Agree the number of concepts, revision rounds, and who approves the final production files.
A concise brief is better than a mystery
A useful brief can be one or two pages: reader, genre, synopsis, exact cover text, formats, technical details, visual references, supplied assets, and timing. If an item is unknown, say so. The designer can then plan when that decision is needed.
Explore cover design or compare the proposed packages to plan the next stage.