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Leard launches new book design podcast
Designer Steve Leard has launched a new book cover design podcast, “Cover Meeting”, with the first episode dropping on 12th September 2023.
Each of the eight episodes will feature Leard, who has been working with covers since joining Bloomsbury in 2012 before going freelance in 2016, in conversation with a different cover designer, discussing their work, the industry and everything in between.
In the first episode, Leard is joined by “design extraordinaire” David Pearson, discussing his time at Penguin Books, the challenge of low pay, the highs and lows of freelance design and his process in always trying to push the needle and the potential of cover design.
A new episode will be released every week and the podcast will then return for a second season in 2024. Guests will include, among others yet to be revealed, Micaela Alcaino, Jamie Keenan, Suzanne Dean and Coralie Bickford-Smith.
Leard told The Bookseller: “I’ve tried to speak with a variety of guests that will each bring their own unique perspective on book cover design. The idea of the podcast has been bubbling away for a while. Having been to lots of ABCD awards over the years, the community that’s been encouraged by Jon Gray and Jamie Keenan over the past decade feels truly unique and has given myself and others the chance to annually meet up with the amazing design talent here in the UK.”
He said, however, that he has “often wished there was a platform where I could listen to designers discuss their process and thoughts on cover design, so I thought I’d step up and have a go myself".
He continued: “I absolutely love my job – it’s truly a privilege – and I know that’s shared by other designers in our niche corner within design in general and the publishing industry. While there’s lots to celebrate and learn from, there’s also a lot of challenges that we all have to meet: pay, rights and artificial intelligence to name a few. But I’m hoping that the podcast can serve as a platform to discuss such issues now and in the future.
"I’d also love it for non-designers working in publishing to listen and gain an insight into designers’ work and processes.”
The podcast can be listened to on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and the podcast can be followed on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and Threads @covermeetingpod. Leard’s work can be found here.
