Faber & Faber to Little Island
Book cover design since the 1990s
Publishing is a sector where the brand is on the cover. Literally.
Most publishers look and sound the same. Same heritage cues. Same reluctance to say anything distinctive. But the books are extraordinary. The brand is an afterthought.
A clear, confident and distinctive brand helps publishers stand out, compete for the best authors, and build loyalty with readers and booksellers. It gives your team something to believe in. Done right, it pays for itself.
From our days at Faber and Faber, through to working on the Waterstone’s brand, designing identities for Palgrave Macmillan and Pearson Life, books and publishing have been a constant in our working life for more than two decades.
When publishers rebrand
01 / A new strategic direction
The publisher has grown, changed, or clarified what it stands for. The brand needs to catch up.
02 / A new name or ownership change
A merger, acquisition or structural change calls for a single, clear identity. One voice. One brand.
03 / To reach a new audience
New readers, age groups or markets require a brand that works harder. Not just on the shelf, but across social, events and digital.
04 / To attract the best authors and agents
The best writing goes to publishers with the strongest brand. Yours needs to match your ambition.
What we do for publishers
Brand strategy and positioning
The positioning that makes you distinct. A clear argument for what you stand for and why readers, authors and booksellers should choose you.
Brand identity
Logo, typography, colour and the full visual system. Built to work across books, covers, social media and events.
Brand naming
For new imprints, series, prizes and publishing ventures.
Tone of voice
How your house speaks. Consistent across catalogues, social media and author communications.
Digital
Website strategy, design and build, built around your brand.
Our work for publishers has helped independent presses and established houses build brands they are proud of. Here’s the evidence.
“We now have a strong identity which expresses our independent spirit.” Matthew Parkinson-Bennett, CEO, Little Island
Little Island was founded by Siobhán Parkinson, Ireland’s first Children’s Laureate. Champions of quality books for young readers, they are leaders in children’s publishing in Ireland and beyond. Their identity had to match their ambition. DC&CO created the brand positioning and the line ‘Books create waves’. We then refined the identity to appeal to young adults as well as younger children, and to work across social media, events and book covers. A clear set of guidelines gives the publisher a brand built to last.
“Thank you for your great creativity and skills. It’s been a pleasure working with you.” Sir John Sorrell
Conceived by design-industry champion John Sorrell, ‘What is Design? 100 Definitions’ gathers the thoughts of influential designers, artists and cultural innovators. Contributors include Jony Ive, Thomas Heatherwick, Paula Scher, Eddie Opara, Neville Brody and Margaret Calvert. A beautifully crafted object: printed at Gwasg Gomer, Ceredigion, hand-bound at Ludlow Bookbinders, Shropshire. It won a Gold.
Publishing is a sector built on ideas. Your brand should be too. Let’s talk.
