From $15 to Custom: How One Designer Makes Cover Art Accessible
For independent creators—authors, musicians, podcasters, and filmmakers—professional cover art can feel out of reach. But M. Anthony Harris, the designer behind M. Anthony Harris Creations, is working to change that. His premade covers start at $15, and custom work remains surprisingly affordable. We asked him how he does it, what creators should prepare before reaching out, and the most common mistake he sees.
Keeping Prices Low Without Sacrificing Quality
Harris explains that his $15 premade covers are built on a simple math: "The lowest price of $15 is for premade covers, which usually take me about half an hour to make, so I'm going off of a $30 hourly salary as the base." For custom projects, the initial design takes about one to two hours, with subsequent edits requiring only a few minutes. But the real driver is empathy. "As an author, music producer and creative, I know how expensive and how much a pain in the butt the process of creating covers with an artist can be, and I want to take that burden off of other creator's shoulders."
One Process, Many Formats
Whether designing a book cover, album art for Spotify, a podcast cover, or a film poster, Harris's workflow stays consistent. "Honestly, the process doesn't really change at all, all that changes are the 'frames' of whatever I'm creating," he says. The only variables are dimensions and DPI requirements—print-ready book covers need different specs than streaming-ready album art. This streamlined approach allows him to serve multiple creative fields without reinventing the wheel each time.
What Creators Should Prepare
To get the best results, Harris emphasizes that clients need a clear vision before reaching out. "The client needs a solid idea of what they're looking for," he says. He recommends looking up books, albums, or films with a similar vibe and providing a detailed brief. "Basically, it's up to them to come up with the skeleton of the design that matches their genre so I can put flesh to their ideas." For book covers, that means knowing the page count and print size (e.g., 5x8 vs. 6x9). For any project, thinking about genre, themes, and overall tone is essential.
The Most Common Mistake
Harris sees one error repeatedly: "People often don't have a full idea of the tone of the cover and the whole visual package." He gives a concrete example: "If your novel is more Romance than Fantasy, have the cover show someone beautiful with magic, not a battle scene." The cover must signal the right genre and mood to attract the right audience. A mismatch can confuse potential readers or listeners before they even engage with the work.
When Clients Are Unsure
For creators who don't know what style they want, Harris has a practical method. "I ask them to give me their blurb for their book, or if they haven't written it yet, I ask them for an overview of the story." Then he researches books with similar premises and creates mock-ups inspired by prominent titles in that genre. "I play with a handful of designs similar to more prominent titles in their genre and see which one my client likes best. From there we just tweak it as needed." This approach grounds the design in market expectations while leaving room for personalization.
Practical Takeaways for Creators
- Come with a clear brief: Know your genre, themes, and desired tone before contacting a designer.
- Research similar work: Look at successful covers in your field to articulate what you like.
- Understand format requirements: Print books need specific dimensions and DPI; digital platforms have their own specs.
- Align cover tone with content: A romance shouldn't look like an action thriller, no matter how dramatic the story.
- Be open to inspiration: If you're unsure, let the designer use your blurb or story overview to create genre-appropriate options.
Harris's approach proves that affordable custom design doesn't have to mean sacrificing quality or personalization. For independent creators on a budget, his process offers a clear path to professional visuals without the usual headaches.