Book Cover Design
For Lexham Press
The Client
Lexham Press seeks to increase biblical literacy, thoughtful Christian reflection, and faithful action around the world by publishing a range of Bible study materials, scholarly works, and pastoral resources.
The following quote from their own website sums it up best: “We strive for excellent design and prose and, most importantly, to be faithful to the word of God and to love the people of God. We believe God’s words and works are for proclamation—for the instruction, encouragement, endurance, and hope of all God’s children. And so we publish books filled with the good news of God’s word.”
The Body God Gives
This book focused on presenting “a biblical response to transgender theory”, and was aimed at a traditional evangelical audience. Because of that, this cover had to both handle a sensitive topic in a respectful way while also communicating clearly to its readers the message that the author puts forth.
Since the author heavily emphasized the dignity and distinctiveness of the two kinds of bodies God created, I looked to bring this message into the cover design. The final version seen here is of the silhouettes of a man and woman (suggesting Adam and Eve), but through their distinct forms we see the beauty of God’s intentional design in creation (Eden).
More than a Sermon (Alt.)
For this cover, we wanted to get away from common preaching book clichés, and represent the idea in some more interesting visual language. So, for this one, I focused in on the book's key metaphor of "The Rock and The Reed". These ideas come from Jeremiah and Isaiah, referring to how God's word can both crush hard, stony hearts yet also be gentle enough to not break the "bruised reed" of a hurting heart.
In this unused layout, I wanted to communicate the contrast between the two ideas, as well as how they ultimately come together. I also added in a touch of sermon notes in the background, to give the cover some more visual texture.
When Politics Becomes Heresy
This book was a sensitive one, covering one of the most divisive topics in modern public life. From the start, we knew that this cover needed to actively work against taking one particular “side”, and instead subvert expectations. This book is also primarily written to the church, and how it has traded in its reputation and witness of Christ in order to gain worldly influence, identity, and power through politics.
For the cover itself, I represented these ideas with a church sinking into the American flag, becoming so obsessed with politics it loses itself within it.
Days of Good News (And Series Planning)
This request was originally just to design a cover for Lexham’s new release of Abraham Kuyper’s “Days of Good News”, but this set ultimately provided concept art for what a larger series of Kuyper’s other devotionals might look like.
Design-wise, this style that looks to showcase the weight and beauty of 19th century imagery, while executing them in a modern style, in order to appeal to a modern audience already familiar with Kuyper’s legacy. A fun hidden detail for this one was the abstract “K” holding shape over the paintings.
Four Mountains
“Four Mountains” examines the beauty of Gospel from creation to the new creation, telling the story of how God meets with us through the lens of mountaintops. While not a narrative title itself, this book was largely about the story of the Bible, and how God tells His story through experiences on places like Eden, Sinai, Tabor, and Zion.
For such a complex theological concept, the Lexham Team expressed a desire to simplify the cover and bring a unifying feel to the theme. Using grain-shaded elements and an ethereal color palette, I constructed this symbolic mountain scene that helps communicate the spiritual weight of encountering the Lord.
Days of Good News (Alt.)
This request was originally just to design a cover for Lexham’s new release of Abraham Kuyper’s “Days of Good News”, but this set ultimately provided concept art for what a larger series of Kuyper’s other devotionals might look like.
Design-wise, this unused approach focused on a more traditional 19th century look, to reference the classical nature of Kuyper’s writings and the time period in which he ministered. However, modern type and colorful board backgrounds worked to bring the concept into the 21st century, while a simple engraving communicated the theme of each book’s content.
More than a Sermon (Alt.)
Like the other directions for this title, we desired to get away from common preaching book clichés, and represent the idea in some more interesting visual language. For this specific concept, I looked to focus in on the people-centered approach the book takes. The author regularly encourages preachers to let their sermons address the practical needs and real people in the congregation.
With that in mind, I chose to bring in an oil painting representing the moments just before church starts, with the people coming in, finding their seats, and anticipation in the air. The imagery underscores the title, emphasizing the other aspects of Sunday morning that remain just as important as preaching.
When Politics Becomes Heresy (Alt.)
This book was a sensitive one, covering one of the most divisive topics in modern public life. From the start, we knew that this cover needed to actively work against taking one particular “side”, and instead subvert expectations.
For this unused variant, the cover utilizes Caravaggio’s painting “The Taking of Christ”. The painting not only nails the somber tone of the book, it also serves as a reference to the book’s main thesis. Just like Judas traded Christ for worldly power and status, so too the Western Church has traded Christ for political power and influence. A broken glass effect drives this take home, symbolizing how there’s something broken in both Judas, ourselves, and our relationship with Christ when we do this.
More than a Sermon
For this one, the book focused on a key metaphor of "The Rock and The Reed". These ideas come from Jeremiah and Isaiah, referring to how God's word can both crush hard, stony hearts yet also be gentle enough to not break the "bruised reed" of a hurting heart.
Like the other directions for this title, we desired to get away from common preaching book clichés, and represent the idea in some more interesting visual language. For that, I crafted a custom notes-inspired background to represent the writing of a sermon, and pulled in oil paintings to call out each of the different themes in the book (including the rock and reed).
What did the client think?
“Gabe is a talented and thoughtful designer who consistently produces exceptional work. His quick learning, reliability, and eagerness to tackle new challenges have greatly contributed to our team's success.”
-Bryan Hintz, Senior Brand Manager at Logos (Parent Company of Lexham Press), and Designer of the Lexham Press Brand