Lorena
Lack of integrity
Unprofessional Experience -Brief Ignored, Poor Quality, and Legal Threats I hired BookDesigners at the end of May 2025 to design a cover for my nonfiction book. As requested, I paid a 50% deposit upfront. From the outset, I made it very clear that I had a specific concept and creative vision in mind. To support this, I submitted: • A mockup (created via AI) to visually convey the layout and design idea • A specific three-color palette • Font files and written instructions on font usage (e.g. subtitle placement, styling, and hierarchy) • Clear tone and style direction (elegant, minimalist, modern) • Reference images and past covers as examples • Notes on layout structure and recurring design elements to ensure visual consistency for future books in the series They agree with these terms, and just because of that, I decided to hire them. Despite this detailed brief, the results were far from what was requested. The designs ignored the colour scheme entirely, used unrelated fonts, and applied random stock imagery with no relation to the concept I had outlined. The layout and overall tone felt cluttered and amateur, and bore no resemblance to either my mockup or the stylistic cues discussed. None of the foundational elements I provided were integrated. When I expressed my concerns—clearly and respectfully—I was met with defensiveness. Shortly after, the designer blocked me on Instagram, despite all project communication having taken place via email. This move appeared more like an attempt to avoid responsibility than resolve a professional disagreement. To make matters worse, I then received a written warning that publicizing my experience could be considered “defamatory” and lead to legal action. In a follow-up, they explicitly stated: “We’re terminating further communication. If you choose to pursue this further, you’ll be hearing from our attorney. We’re fully prepared to take this to small claims court with the signed contract and documentation of our work.” This kind of intimidation is not only unprofessional, it’s deeply troubling. A client voicing dissatisfaction with a poorly delivered service, especially when supported by extensive documentation, should never be met with threats of legal consequences. To put it plainly as an analogy: if you walk into a store, ask for a simple white T-shirt, show a reference, pay in advance, and are handed a loud yellow shirt covered in red print—how would you feel? Would it be acceptable for the seller to insist they “followed your brief,” refuse a refund, accuse me of exploiting and then threaten legal action when you raise your concerns? This is not a matter of subjective taste. It is a breach of creative responsibility and professional conduct. I have thoroughly documented every step of this project, from the brief to the design drafts to the correspondence. This was not just disappointing; it raises serious questions about the studio’s integrity, accountability, and treatment of clients—particularly those who select their lower-tier service packages. Clients deserve transparency, professionalism, and respectful dialogue, especially when things go wrong. This experience, unfortunately, delivered none of those!!
Response from theBookDesignersJun 4, 2025
Hi Lorena, We are disappointed to see the situation continue to escalate with online harassment, a PayPal dispute, and threats against our professional reputation. What you’re now engaging in does not reflect what actually occurred. You signed an agreement that clearly states the 50% deposit functions as a non-refundable kill fee. This is standard industry practice, put in place to protect designers from exactly this kind of abrupt termination after work has been delivered. You did not walk into a store and return a t-shirt. This is not a transactional chain like “Book-Covers-R-Us” where you pick something off a shelf and demand a refund. We are a professional studio with 25 years of experience, working with major publishers like Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. Creative services involve time, judgment, skill, and collaboration—not guarantees of instant personal satisfaction. We carefully reviewed your extensive brief, synthesized its ideas, and produced six original cover concepts. These reflected both your direction and our design expertise. Instead of engaging in the normal collaborative process, you dismissed the work entirely, chose not to offer constructive feedback, and demanded a full refund. That’s not how this works—legally or ethically. We do not work for free, and we do not continue communication with clients who resort to threats and disrespect. Should the harassment continue, we reserve the right to pursue legal remedies to protect our business. We are a two-person studio supporting our families, and we expect to be treated with the same dignity and professionalism we extend to every client. This matter is now closed.