We Design Custom Covers for Ebooks and Publication, and other awesome stuff too.

“If you do it right, it will last forever.” 

–Massimo Vignelli

about me

I enrolled in college design courses and life drawing at Montserrat college of art when I was fifteen. I’ve been using Photoshop and teaching it to others since a sophomore in high school. That was over twenty years ago. After winning the 5th Congressional art award for a watercolor piece that hung in the Capitol building in Washington DC, a scholarship to Savannah College or art and Design, acceptance to Montserrat College of art, I elected to receive my higher education as Mass College of Art and Design, the nation’s oldest publicly funded institute for the arts.

I received a bachelor’s degree in Interrelated media in 2004, after spending my time between the Design and Interactive, time based media disciplines. I’m also an avid digital photographer and have been working in that medium since 1999, pushing the limits of a shoe-box sized point and shoot, since then I’ve upgraded to a  DSLR.

In short I pre date Facebook with my prom date removal prowess, and want to use my skills for you.

No matter what your needs are visually, 

we are here to provide you with the very best.

How It’s DOne

Our process is singular and unique, just like your work.

So we gave It it’s own page here:

“Talent Ain’t $h!t If you don’t have the skills to back it up“

When I first heard my technical drawing professor proudly exclaim those words I was taken a bit aback. For years, all of us in the room were lauded as talented and essentially based on the acceptance rate of 1 out of roughly 100 applicants we were naturally a talented group, loose math aside.

What shook me to the core, simply was what if I wasn’t naturally skilled? Talent is a aptitude, skills are all about attitude and perseverance. Anyone can learn to draw. Or to paint. It’s a skill. You can paint a barn, or make a painting of a barn. But the technique is a little different you’ll agree. Techniques are learned, expression is inherent. Skills take practice, organization, opportunity, and a whole lot of patience.

I never realized that I was honing my skills until that day. I found the synergy to develop the skills to match my talent, and further my talent by advancing my skills.

You learn something new every day. 

My skills

I am proficient in Adobe® Creative Cloud®, Specializing in Photoshop®, Illustrator®, and InDesign®. I am supporting member of AIGA (American Institute for Graphic Arts). Also a bit of a crazy typophile and have a great love of typefaces.

I’ve always found myself surrounded myself with talented writers, editors, illustrators, and photographers.

Art is my passion, and, in short my life.

Photoshop

Chops

Illustrator 

Illness

Into 

Indesign

Typographic 

Typophile

Design Demiurge

Our WOrk

      
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
Polished Pen Business Card, Front
Polished Pen Business Card, Front
  
466
466
  
The Gingerbread Collection
The Gingerbread Collection
  
Polished Pen II
Polished Pen II
  
Polished pen
Polished pen
  
Legs
Legs
  
Recycled
Recycled
  
Good Side
Good Side
  
Captive of A Commoner
Captive of A Commoner
  
Saftey Locks
Saftey Locks
  
Sirens rising Tide
Sirens rising Tide
  
Polished Pen Business Card, Front
Polished Pen Business Card, Front

Pricing

.

Don’t take my Word For it: 

Take it from  a list of my own personal Ginsbergs, Salingers, Hemmingways And Keroacs…

Click Quote to read the full review

    Victor A. Davis; Author, The Gingerbread Collection

    After going the DIY route on my last book, I decided to invest in a pro this time around. How incredibly grateful I am for that decision! The resulting cover, something I never imagined beforehand, came together like magic, perfectly capturing the mood and thesis of my book. Whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover” was probably a DIY author. Judge mine by its vivid, seductive cover!

    Maxanne Dobson; Editor, On The Polished Pen Branding

    Words are my thing. Being an editor, they kind of have to be. When it came time to branch out and start my own company, I needed a little more than a catchy slogan. I needed a brand and Paul gave me that. He’s a visual rapist. He created a logo for me that draws people in and subliminally conveys a message, through color choice, illustration, design, etc. The Polished Pen P he designed is something that authors can’t get out of their mind. That’s what makes him a true artist. His work leaves a mark that can never be erased. 

    T.L. Zelecki: Author Of Sirens, Rising Tide
    I was extremely picky in choosing an artist to do my book cover for Sirens as
    I wanted someone who had not only the talent to design a beautiful cover,
    but the willingness to understand the meaning of my book and bring it to life.
    Paul has the perfect blend of graphic design skill, creativity and literary
    finesse to do just that. During our consultation call, as well as
    future conversations, he took the time to listen to what Sirens was about,
    what symbols were important to me, what themes I wanted to show in the art.
    I was amazed at how, through the process, he actually helped me uncover
    themes and meanings that I hadn’t even seen before.
    He laid out several ideas and worked with me to narrow it down
    to just what I wanted. He was patient, receptive and very easy to work with.
     And most importantly, his end product was nothing short of fantastic.
     I could not be happier with my cover. It says everything I want it to say about Sirens-
     what more could an author ask for?
    C J Pastore; Author of Captive Of a Commoner

    Paul Copello could double as a mind reader. He designed a cover that exceeded my visual and artistic expectations and didn’t stop until he felt it reflected the characters’ lives and met his creative demands. 

    M. Turano; Author, On 466

    You are some kind of graphic design God…

    Nic Golson; Author of Recycled
    The process of self-publishing is quite daunting for any author−especially us newbies. I’m so thankful that I was referred to Paul of Designistrate.com.
    The entire process was painless, exceeding all of my expectations. Paul was infinitely patient and flexible.He was open to my ideas and encouraged me to be involved every step of the process,even when I had no clue what I wanted.He asked what I wanted the cover to convey, what emotions I wanted to evoke in the reader, and then intertwined my vague opinions and ultimate goals with his artistic vision. The end result is the perfect cover for my book; a cover that is as unique as the manuscript it represents.I’m actually looking forward to starting the process all over again with my sequel!
    Maxanne Dobson; Editor, On The Polished Pen Branding

    Words are my thing. Being an editor, they kind of have to be. When it came time to branch out and start my own company, I needed a little more than a catchy slogan. I needed a brand and Paul gave me that. He’s a visual rapist. He created a logo for me that draws people in and subliminally conveys a message, through color choice, illustration, design, etc. The Polished Pen P he designed is something that authors can’t get out of their mind. That’s what makes him a true artist. His work leaves a mark that can never be erased. 

    T.L. Zelecki: Author Of Sirens, Rising Tide
    I was extremely picky in choosing an artist to do my book cover for Sirens as
    I wanted someone who had not only the talent to design a beautiful cover,
    but the willingness to understand the meaning of my book and bring it to life.
    Paul has the perfect blend of graphic design skill, creativity and literary
    finesse to do just that. During our consultation call, as well as
    future conversations, he took the time to listen to what Sirens was about,
    what symbols were important to me, what themes I wanted to show in the art.
    I was amazed at how, through the process, he actually helped me uncover
    themes and meanings that I hadn’t even seen before.
    He laid out several ideas and worked with me to narrow it down
    to just what I wanted. He was patient, receptive and very easy to work with.
     And most importantly, his end product was nothing short of fantastic.
     I could not be happier with my cover. It says everything I want it to say about Sirens-
     what more could an author ask for?
    Nic Golson; Author of Recycled
    The process of self-publishing is quite daunting for any author−especially us newbies. I’m so thankful that I was referred to Paul of Designistrate.com.
    The entire process was painless, exceeding all of my expectations. Paul was infinitely patient and flexible.He was open to my ideas and encouraged me to be involved every step of the process,even when I had no clue what I wanted.He asked what I wanted the cover to convey, what emotions I wanted to evoke in the reader, and then intertwined my vague opinions and ultimate goals with his artistic vision. The end result is the perfect cover for my book; a cover that is as unique as the manuscript it represents.I’m actually looking forward to starting the process all over again with my sequel!
  • Victor A. Davis; Author, The Gingerbread Collection
    Victor A. Davis; Author, The Gingerbread Collection

    After going the DIY route on my last book, I decided to invest in a pro this time around. How incredibly grateful I am for that decision! The resulting cover, something I never imagined beforehand, came together like magic, perfectly capturing the mood and thesis of my book. Whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover” was probably a DIY author. Judge mine by its vivid, seductive cover!

  • Maxanne Dobson; Editor, On The Polished Pen Branding
    Maxanne Dobson; Editor, On The Polished Pen Branding

    Words are my thing. Being an editor, they kind of have to be. When it came time to branch out and start my own company, I needed a little more than a catchy slogan. I needed a brand and Paul gave me that. He’s a visual rapist. He created a logo for me that draws people in and subliminally conveys a message, through color choice, illustration, design, etc. The Polished Pen P he designed is something that authors can’t get out of their mind. That’s what makes him a true artist. His work leaves a mark that can never be erased. 

  • T.L. Zelecki: Author Of Sirens, Rising Tide
    T.L. Zelecki: Author Of Sirens, Rising Tide
    I was extremely picky in choosing an artist to do my book cover for Sirens as
    I wanted someone who had not only the talent to design a beautiful cover,
    but the willingness to understand the meaning of my book and bring it to life.
    Paul has the perfect blend of graphic design skill, creativity and literary
    finesse to do just that. During our consultation call, as well as
    future conversations, he took the time to listen to what Sirens was about,
    what symbols were important to me, what themes I wanted to show in the art.
    I was amazed at how, through the process, he actually helped me uncover
    themes and meanings that I hadn’t even seen before.
    He laid out several ideas and worked with me to narrow it down
    to just what I wanted. He was patient, receptive and very easy to work with.
     And most importantly, his end product was nothing short of fantastic.
     I could not be happier with my cover. It says everything I want it to say about Sirens-
     what more could an author ask for?
  • C J Pastore; Author of Captive Of a Commoner
    C J Pastore; Author of Captive Of a Commoner

    Paul Copello could double as a mind reader. He designed a cover that exceeded my visual and artistic expectations and didn’t stop until he felt it reflected the characters’ lives and met his creative demands. 

  • M. Turano; Author, On 466
    M. Turano; Author, On 466

    You are some kind of graphic design God…

  • Nic Golson; Author of Recycled
    Nic Golson; Author of Recycled
    The process of self-publishing is quite daunting for any author−especially us newbies. I’m so thankful that I was referred to Paul of Designistrate.com.
    The entire process was painless, exceeding all of my expectations. Paul was infinitely patient and flexible.He was open to my ideas and encouraged me to be involved every step of the process,even when I had no clue what I wanted.He asked what I wanted the cover to convey, what emotions I wanted to evoke in the reader, and then intertwined my vague opinions and ultimate goals with his artistic vision. The end result is the perfect cover for my book; a cover that is as unique as the manuscript it represents.I’m actually looking forward to starting the process all over again with my sequel!
  • … something I never imagined beforehand, came together like magic, perfectly capturing the mood and thesis of my book…
    Victor A. Davis; Author, The Gingerbread Collection

    After going the DIY route on my last book, I decided to invest in a pro this time around. How incredibly grateful I am for that decision! The resulting cover, something I never imagined beforehand, came together like magic, perfectly capturing the mood and thesis of my book. Whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover” was probably a DIY author. Judge mine by its vivid, seductive cover!

  • That's what makes him a true artist. His work leaves a mark that can never be erased…
    Maxanne Dobson; Editor, On The Polished Pen Branding

    Words are my thing. Being an editor, they kind of have to be. When it came time to branch out and start my own company, I needed a little more than a catchy slogan. I needed a brand and Paul gave me that. He’s a visual rapist. He created a logo for me that draws people in and subliminally conveys a message, through color choice, illustration, design, etc. The Polished Pen P he designed is something that authors can’t get out of their mind. That’s what makes him a true artist. His work leaves a mark that can never be erased. 

  • I was amazed at how, through the process, he actually helped me uncover themes and meanings that I hadn't even seen before.
    T.L. Zelecki: Author Of Sirens, Rising Tide
    I was extremely picky in choosing an artist to do my book cover for Sirens as
    I wanted someone who had not only the talent to design a beautiful cover,
    but the willingness to understand the meaning of my book and bring it to life.
    Paul has the perfect blend of graphic design skill, creativity and literary
    finesse to do just that. During our consultation call, as well as
    future conversations, he took the time to listen to what Sirens was about,
    what symbols were important to me, what themes I wanted to show in the art.
    I was amazed at how, through the process, he actually helped me uncover
    themes and meanings that I hadn’t even seen before.
    He laid out several ideas and worked with me to narrow it down
    to just what I wanted. He was patient, receptive and very easy to work with.
     And most importantly, his end product was nothing short of fantastic.
     I could not be happier with my cover. It says everything I want it to say about Sirens-
     what more could an author ask for?
  • Paul Copello could double as a mind reader…
    C J Pastore; Author of Captive Of a Commoner

    Paul Copello could double as a mind reader. He designed a cover that exceeded my visual and artistic expectations and didn’t stop until he felt it reflected the characters’ lives and met his creative demands. 

  • You are some kind of graphic design God…
    M. Turano; Author, On 466

    You are some kind of graphic design God…

  • The process of self-publishing is quite daunting for any author− especially us newbies. I’m so thankful that I was referred to Paul of Designistrate.com.
    Nic Golson; Author of Recycled
    The process of self-publishing is quite daunting for any author−especially us newbies. I’m so thankful that I was referred to Paul of Designistrate.com.
    The entire process was painless, exceeding all of my expectations. Paul was infinitely patient and flexible.He was open to my ideas and encouraged me to be involved every step of the process,even when I had no clue what I wanted.He asked what I wanted the cover to convey, what emotions I wanted to evoke in the reader, and then intertwined my vague opinions and ultimate goals with his artistic vision. The end result is the perfect cover for my book; a cover that is as unique as the manuscript it represents.I’m actually looking forward to starting the process all over again with my sequel!
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