CJarret Design

11/22/2023

Marketing for the non-marketer - some tips to help set your big idea up for success.

In working with people over the years, a lot of them have one thing in common when it comes to their business/book/service (i.e., their big idea): If I build it, they will come. It may have worked for Kevin Costner (I ...

07/09/2023

In the final installment of the font series, I design a simple cover using the concepts that we've discussed so far. I also touch on some other things to consider like font weight, using multiple fonts, and 'extras'.

So! We've gone through all the things to consider when choosing a font, but then I realized that I never actually chose one and shared it with you! So, we're looking for something that speaks to a 19th century man writ...

04/06/2023

The final topic about the importance of fonts - the Untouchables! Why you should avoid some fonts, the difference between font and typeface, and how to find fonts that are 100% free for commercial use.

Okay, so by now you're familiar with how fonts can speak to mood, era, and region, you know which fonts are overused and tired, so now let's look at the ones to stay away from for some other, more critical, reasons. The...

04/03/2023

We all love to hate these fonts... Take a look at this post for some tips on avoiding tired, overused, and just plain worn-out fonts on your books covers.

Aaaahhhhh, Comic Sans.. where would the world of typography be without you? In the world of fonts, there are some definite standouts that EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. On Earth knows and is familiar with. And, while some can be...

03/27/2023

Today, we're moving on to regional fonts - characters that can help to convey a sense of place, for better or worse, on your cover (or wherever you use fonts).

Okay, so we've talked about so many aspects already, but now let's address region; what does your font say about the location that your book takes place? We all use some variation of a written language and a lot about ...

03/14/2023

In today's post, I speak to how font can convey a certain era or time period in human history. From cavemen to aliens, which typeface you choose definitely helps set the expectations of readers!

Did you know that a specific font can also convey what time period the book takes place in? Just like when you see a photo of someone with their bangs spiked up and wearing neon colors - you KNOW it's the early 90's, ri...

03/02/2023

Part two of my series on font choice is up! Today, I speak to defining the mood that you want your cover to invoke.

To me, the most important thing to get right at the very beginning of designing a cover is MOOD, so let's start there. I always ask my clients and then myself, "What do you want a potential reader to immediately feel whe...

02/28/2023

I'm starting a series today with some graphic design tips, starting with the importance of fonts. Don't miss it!

https://cjarretdesign.com/blog/f/the-importance-of-fonts-part-1-intro

01/16/2023

On Thursday, January 12, four (yes, FOUR) tornadoes ripped through my little town, destroying homes, businesses, and schools. It's looking as though one of them may end up being in the top 10 list of widest tornadoes on record in the US! To help, I'll be donating 50% of the sales of my Extreme Weather coloring book (published just a few weeks ago!) to local relief efforts. Thank you for keeping our small city in your thoughts.

01/06/2023

With Valentine's Day in mind, I released this Inked Heart tattoo-esque coloring book for teens and adults this morning. It features 50 unique designs of various human'ish and traditional hearts with a goth / steampunk / tattoo aesthetic. 🖤🖤🖤 Now available in my Amazon shop.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRLYB95D