/lit/ - Literature

>>23499229
Sometimes I think about why book covers, and especially sff covers, are so lame in 2024. I think it's because:

• A strong convention was set in the 20th c. to hire talented illustrators for covers. There were some unbelievable illustrations and designs all through the 50s to late 90s.

• The bottom fell out of print publishing with the advent of the internet in the 2000s. Money got tight super fast. Readership is still going downward to this day, but is leveling off into the niche hobby we all know and love.

• A new convention was set at publishing houses from the top down, during these times of penury: "fuck it let's pay pennies for dogshit cover designs that any junior graphic designer can do in Illustrator or Photoshop in about 30 minutes." Meanwhile any designer or illustrator getting this treatment quickly learns to go where the money is (digital not print).

There are still some publishers who buck the trends and still do dank illustrated covers, and also there are big publishers who occasionally hire a rare and inspired designer who does a good job. But even then, a Chipp Kidd can never step up to a Frank Frazzetta or Stephen Fabian. etc.