Faber design team offers portfolio support to under-represented designers

Faber has launched a new initiative to help “communities that are under-represented” become book designers.

The design department of the 90-year-old publishing house, whose designers are responsible for making covers for its bestselling authors such as Sally Rooney, have put out a callout for submissions of portfolios and they will pick designers to support with “positive and constructive advice to tailor your work towards a job as a book-cover designer”.

The team plans to support up-and-coming designers with 30-minute one-off workshops. It requests that people who would like to participate submit a portfolio of six to eight pieces of their “best design work”.

The Faber design department said in a statement: “We have no expectations of you in terms of publishing knowledge, technical ability or experience; we are purely interested in aiding you to turn your passion for design and books into a career.”

They add: “We want to help you to build your portfolio towards a future in book-cover design and to feel confident that you are both welcomed and essential within our industry.”

The publisher described the initiative as “ongoing” but said sessions would be one-off rather than repeat, although this might change in future.

Portfolios should be sent to portfoliosessions@faber.co.uk with a brief bio.