As part of the Future Talks Creative Culture events organized by the Üsküdar University Career Center Department, an event titled “The Power of Design: Creative Approaches in Book Covers” was held. The event addressed the relationship between aesthetics, storytelling, and brand identity in the publishing sector.
The event, held at the Üsküdar University South Campus, hosted Epsilon Publishing Group Managing Partner Fırat Yenici and Epsilon Publishing Group Art Director and Graphic Designer F. Burak Evlice as guest speakers. The event was moderated by Semra Gül, Deputy Manager of Sectoral Collaborations at the Career Center Department.
F. Burak Evlice: “A book cover is the first point of contact with the reader”
Graphic Designer F. Burak Evlice explained his approach to book cover design through examples. Stating that he has worked in advertising agencies and design studios for more than 15 years, Evlice noted that in recent years he has been producing cover designs for Epsilon Publishing House.
Emphasizing that a book cover is not merely an aesthetic element, Evlice said: “A book cover is the first point of contact established with the reader on the shelf. You must attract attention there. Metaphor, contrast, typography, and the use of limited visuals are powerful tools at this point.”
“Abstraction is the most powerful method that invites the reader to think”
In his presentation, Evlice also touched on the concept of the “self-limiting designer” and stated that limitations in the design process can nourish creativity. Evlice said: “Thinking through a single color, a single shape, or a single typographic element can make a design more refined and stronger.”
Stating that design does not always have to communicate something directly, Evlice added: “Sometimes abstraction is the most powerful method that invites the reader to think.”
Fırat Yenici: “The balance between publisher, designer, and author is critically important”
Speaking at the event, Fırat Yenici addressed the design author relationship from the publisher’s perspective. Noting that authors are now much more involved in the creative process, Yenici said: “The era of ivory tower authorship has largely come to an end. An author who wants to meet the reader needs to accept that the cover is also part of this process.”
Drawing attention to the element of balance in cover design, Yenici stated: “The author’s concerns, the designer’s creativity, and the publisher’s reader expectations should be considered together. This balance is of critical importance. The designer takes on a much more critical role here.”
The event concluded with evaluations conducted through students’ design examples.
The event enabled students to establish direct contact with industry professionals and to closely observe current approaches in the world of design.
