S2 E35 - AI Generation and the Future of Cover Art, w/ cover designer Steve Leard Publishing Rodeo: The Good, The Bad, and the Bloody Ugly

Steve Lead is a freelance cover artist and industry podcaster, with many years' experience working on book cover designs in the publishing industry. Today, he sits down to help demystify the complicated process that goes into creating a book cover. We discuss briefs, trends, industry pay (or lack of it), the impact of thumbnail images on print books--and finally, the elephant in the room: the burgeoning technology that is generative AI, and what it might mean for us all.


00:00 Introduction and Background
03:08 Interactions with Authors and the Design Process
07:03 The Design Brief and Constraints
09:02 Pay and Salaries in the Design Industry
12:04 The Impact of Thumbnails on Book Covers
32:31 The Role of AI in Writing and Design
34:00 Concerns and Fears about AI in the Creative Industry
35:06 Legal Ramifications of AI in Publishing
36:27 The Need for Accountability and Fair Compensation
37:21 Controversies and Criticisms of OpenAI
39:16 The Impact of AI on Artists and Creators
41:14 The Dark Side of AI and Social Media
44:34 The Use of AI in Social Media Platforms
46:18 The Potential Benefits and Limitations of AI
48:08 The Controversy of Cover Quotes on Book Jackets
53:43 The Frustration with Front Cover Quotes