Furthermore, most successful design careers don’t start immediately by hitting the ground running. Canva boasts an extensive collection of templates and graphics, along with a huge collection of fonts which you can use to create an attractive book cover. After graduating with an Art History degree, Caroline Teagle wasn’t sure what she wanted to do for work. My career as a book designer didn’t truly blossom, though, until I created an Instagram account dedicated to my book cover design that was noticed by Reedsy.”, In order to be a successful designer, you need to let people know about you and the quality of your work. The newest book in the Boyface series, Boyface and the Tartan Badger is available from the Guardian bookshop. Building a network will help you get in touch with more clients and broaden your exposure. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not record salary data specifically for book cover artists. Nowadays I nearly always start with pencil ideas before going to the computer.”. She says, “Shortly after relocating [to New York City] from Charleston, South Carolina I was hired for an administrative assistant position in the cover art department of Doubleday, a division of Random House. Let’s explore a few of their characteristics. There's no one path when it comes to becoming a book cover designer. How to Become a Professional Book Cover Designer - 2021 - MasterClass To submit requests for assistance, or provide feedback regarding accessibility, please contact support@masterclass.com . When asked about other types of education, e.g. There is no one degree that an individual can earn that will start their book cover art career. Book cover design Your book cover design is your first and foremost marketing tool. In order to work with a publishing house, however, comic book artists are usually encouraged to send their contact information as well as their portfolios to the publisher. Online retailers like Amazon do not distinguish between traditional and self-published books â which means independent authors are often competing against Big 5 publishers.If your book stands a chance at succeeding, its design ⦠College degrees: Most editors have at least a bachelor's degree, usually in English, communications, or journalism.Some have graduate degrees, but itâs not a requirement.More important than the specifics of your education are a passion for reading and an aptitude for editing. Most of the big publishing houses (and even small ones) are located in big cities. It does, however, record data for artists in related fields. Related Artist Spotlight - Johnny Atomic, Concept & Cover Artist. Instead, they're free to pick and choose who they work with. You’d be responsible for getting clients, doing the work, following up on request and payments, and every other business decision. While this gets better over time, starting off will require a lot of hard work. Extremely simple book covers, on the other hand, may just be a solid color with the title and author’s name. Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, Society of Illustrators Artists & Designers. I am looking for an illustrator to design the front and back cover of the book. While you are free to control your own schedule and work environment, beginning your career as a freelancer will mean having to work extra-long hours and balancing several jobs at a time in order to make sure you get (and retain) clients. In order to be able to create book covers that are relevant for the target audience, designers need to be constantly evolving and adapting to the ever-changing world of design. We're looking for guest contributors and sponsors. For example, graphic designers made, on average, about $50,370 in 2018. What is the highest degree or level of their formal education? $ 75.00 $ 50.00 Sold By : Stuff Angelee Makes Add to cart; Fractal Dust Sale! Book cover artists typically pay careful attention to every little detail, making sure that each book cover created is both representative of the contents of the book and attention-grabbing when readers are skimming the bookstore shelves. 'Building a great portfolio starts with a passion to do great work for your client' - Michael Rehder, other articles on our blog for freelancers. Synopsis: After becoming king of Rulksferd, Wilhelm IV uses the position to get away with everything he wants. I love graphic design on a general standpoint, but recently I've become more and more interested in designing book jacket illustration. Many designers swear by e-learning courses, found on platforms such as lynda.com or Adobe software seminars, which are also helpful for formally trained designers to keep their skills up! Below we see the subjects that our book designers have studied at university: Although many designers have had formal education in either graphic design or arts, you don't always need to be university-trained to become a successful book designer. Another aspect that you need to work on to become a designer of book covers is to become a wide reader. As designer Michael Rehder says, “Building a great portfolio starts with a passion to do great work for your client — and yourself.” You don’t need to wait until you have a client to begin designing book covers. Their success means your success — and a reliable paycheck. An effective design is also a major factor to be considered in planning the layout for the book cover. 600 California Street, 11th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94108. Create your free Reedsy profile to get started. I'm a graphic design major entering my senior year in college and have a background in fine arts, also. Book cover artists are responsible for the artwork representing the nature, spirit, and tenor of the enclosed penned material. Book design is more than just a few illustrations and a splash of typography. Some advertising agencies and product design companies might also work with comic book artists. Get on LinkedIn, go to events, talk to other people in your industry, don’t be afraid of putting your name out there. While creating the cover, however, an artist should also leave room on the back cover for a synopsis of the book and a short biography of the author. © The Art Career Project. The rise of self-published authors has increased the demand for freelance design professionals, making it the perfect time to join the industry. Decide if you are going to tackle this project ⦠The average annual salary for desktop publishers in 2018 was around $43,450. Book cover artists, for example, may find themselves working directly with self-published artists one month. This also means you get control over your work environment — so you are free to play your music as loud as you want! Experience: Experience, including internships at publishing houses and work in other mediaâsuch as newspaper ⦠This is used to help a reader determine what the book is about and whether or not they would be interested in reading it. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about getting started in the industry — straight from professional book cover designers themselves. âBook Designâ encompasses quite a wide range of different skills and services. You might have to give up some creative freedom in the process, since you will have to answer to creative directors, but you’ll always have work waiting for you when you get to the office in the morning. While you still need to fulfil the expectations of the authors you are working with, you don’t need to follow anybody’s instructions on your particular design — you have full control over every single creative choice. Doing everything by hand was good experience as it taught me a lot about using my drawing skills to visualise quickly. A well-designed book cover is important because it serves as the face of the book, and entices readers to purchase it. By working in a publishing house, you won’t need to go looking for clients. Theartcareerproject.com is an advertising-supported site. A great book cover design, at its most basic level, is something that will help readers take you and your book seriously. Some degrees that aspiring book artists may want to consider are an illustration, graphic design, photography, fine art, or desktop publishing degree. courses or workshops, over 60% of our designers confirmed that they have taken up either on- or offline book design-related courses. Doing your own book design means you can publish faster, cheaper with more control. As mentioned above, the artist will usually use mages, including graphics and photographs for the front cover, and possibly the back cover and spine as well. The cover of a book also plays the most pivotal role in marketing it is the first thing that potential readers see — their first point of contact with the story. Talk about designers who inspire you and how they have influenced your practice, as well as specific books that have meant a lot to you. The words and designs of the TED speaker, book cover designer, author and editor have been seen around the world, and Kiddâs advice rings true: âDo it because you love it.â Along with the title of a book and the author’s name, the front cover of a book will also have cover art that is representative of the contents of the book. It was there that I first became acquainted with the idea of becoming a professional book cover designer. We will send you a proof of your book cover design for your approval. Walk into a book store and you can't help but be struck by the range of styles used in contemporary book cover design. Learn about how to become a comic book ⦠A good eBook cover design will vary, depending on the topic of your eBook and where you are selling it. The artist often develops a bond with the band(s) they work for, gaining their trust and often collaborating with them over long periods of time and multiple albums. You are your own boss with no one to answer to, and you make all the business and creative decisions — but your business’ success is entirely up to you. What's the difference between in-house vs freelancer book designers? This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. A professional book cover designer typically costs about $500-$800 for a single project. A book cover artist will then usually develop a few ideas for how the cover could look. If you're an exceptional writer or like-minded company, please get in touch! Both have their pros and cons, so it’s important that you are familiar with them in order to make the best decision for your own future career. If available, these areas of a book jacket will also include testimonials and excerpts from positive reviews of the book. the primary purpose of a book cover is to protect the pages inside a book. In some cases, a book cover artist might also confer with the publisher or author of the book as well. According to statistics shown by Data USA, there are approximately 786,017 designers in the workforce and, as of 2016, almost 40,000 students graduating each year with design and applied art degrees. Society of Children's Books Writers and IllustratorsSociety of Illustrators Artists & DesignersChildren's Publish - The Bright AgencyThe Artworks. Rose says enthusiasm is key: âIf your portfolio has got you to interview stage, what will make you stand out to secure a design role is showing your passion for books, stories and book design. As a freelancer, everything falls on your shoulders. When did you decide you wanted to become a book designer and how did you set about pursuing this? How much does a book cover designer cost? This usually requires the use of advanced computer software, including imaging software and design software. A truly personal service. These ideas are usually run by the publisher or author, who will them choose one.After a cover concept has been chosen, a book cover artist will then get to work creating the cover. But no matter what, youâll want your book cover to be eye-catching and memorable, visually pleasing, and clearly convey the title and topic of your eBook at a glance. Earn more than you would at a publishing house. In order to create the best and most compelling book cover, a book cover artist should first have an excellent idea regarding the contents and tone of the book. If you want to work in-house for a publisher, you might face stiff competition and a harder entry barrier that may at the very least require a university degree just to be considered as a candidate for the job. He will also need to choose a font for the title of the book and the author’s name. So this is the most important piece of advice that our professional book cover designers can give you: keep learning and keep going. The most popular career paths for book cover designers come in two molds: in-house or freelance. Lynn Buckley is a book cover designer at Penguin Random House. In-house designers have been hired by a business to design exclusively for that business alone. But if you just have one book and want it to be successful out of the gate, you might want to look for a professional book designer. Having access to over 100 million images, bespoke typography and high end photo-manipulation means we can create the professional cover of your dreams, at affordable prices. So, the best bit of advice I would give is never, never, never, never, never give up!”. 5 Reedsy professionals talk about their secret ingredients to become a successful book cover designer. All rights reserved. Since you don’t have to commute or answer to a boss, you are free to work according to your own preferred schedule. We have some great projects already lined up for you to work on. In the sea of other books around it, what piqued your interest about that one particular book? Choose Your Book Cover Design Tools or Designer. Of course you need to immerse yourself in books related to design and art. However, a simpler cover from a less-experienced designer would cost less, while an elaborate cover from a Big 5 designer would cost quite a bit more. Another purpose of a book cover, however, is to draw the attention of curious readers. To do this, the artist will often need to read the book, or at least read a detailed synopsis. However, here are 5 tips from professional designers that definitely won't lead you astray if you follow them. Because working in-house means commuting and following the schedule of a regular work day, you’ll have to move unless you already live in a city like New York or London. To do this, the artist will often need to read the book, or at least read a detailed synopsis. Explore Canvaâs library to get started on your design. This allows the artist to design and create a cover that coincides with the author’s visions for his work. I have written a young adult fantasy novel "Wilhelm the Lemming: How I was Dethroned and Became Emperor." You may also get benefits such as health insurance and a company-sponsored retirement fund. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I'll be honest, book design and formatting can be complicated, and there is a learning curve. The majority of book over artists work as a freelancer, meaning that they don’t necessarily work with one particular company. You’ll also be responsible for budgeting your own time off, paying for your own benefits (such as health insurance), and setting up your own retirement fund. Unless you do the leg work, clients are not guaranteed — and neither is your paycheck. Freelancer Blog Reedsy is a home for the best freelancers in publishing. Whether you have an expansive portfolio or are right out of college, you’ll find that there are many routes into the book design profession. A book designer creates the cover and visual designs for a published book. He says, “It was pretty hands-on in those days pre-computer (what?!!!! Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your work out there, be confident in what you can do, and let your skills speak for themselves. Some covers are made from lightweight and easily bendable cardboard, while others are made from a more rigid material. Big-picture thinking; imagination and good communication skills enable the illustrator to design a concise visual summary of what lies beneath the cover. This is a big task involving creativity most of all, but also an understanding of the content of the book, and even some business skills. On our marketplace, youâll be able to search specifically for cover designers, illustrators, typesetters and typographers. To answer up-and-coming designers FAQs about getting their careers started, we surveyed Reedsy’s professional book designers. My question is: are there any artists out there who have created serious book jackets, or does anyone have any advice for me? If you have a passion for books and design â and want a career that combines both â then you might be wondering how to become a book cover designer. Information about the author is also usually included on the back cover or inside flaps of a book jacket if a book has one. Cover Design Add to cart; The Horseman And Her Sale! Chances are, the book cover had a lot to do with it. A few may even combine the two. Once the elements of a book cover have been chosen, an artist will then arrange and assemble them into the perfect layout. Ask for referrals. Let’s take a look. And behind every book cover design is a working book cover designer. Choose a design direction. Join now. If you have a passion for books and design — and want a career that combines both — then you might be wondering how to become a book cover designer. Make a Professional Book Cover and Start Promoting Design Your Own Book Cover No matter the genre, you're sure to find a book cover template for you to finish up your work. Now, what kind of employment options are available to book cover designers? You can take vacation or sick time off and don’t have to worry about not getting a paycheck just because you didn’t work for a few days. The back of a book jacket will often contain a brief synopsis of the book. Select the right freelancer to meet your needs and budget. The next month, however, they might be commissioned to create book covers for publishing companies. Keep calm and follow Patrick Knowles' words: “‘Self-belief’ is a bit of a cliché, but it is necessary, and you just have to get out there and do the phone calls and master the art of networking. In designer David Provolo's own words: “I designed my first book seven years ago. How to become a book cover designer in 5 steps. Instead, they will come to you. Three books designed by Jack. Make full use of social media by creating a creative profile, where you can upload your best designs for prospective clients to see. Many publishing companies though, will usually have at least one book cover artist on staff. Cover Design Add to cart; Deadly Instinct $ 75.00 Sold By : M.Y. First of all, to be a book designer you need to know what the book is about. Check out other articles on our blog for freelancers! Designing book covers is an exciting assignment for any graphic designer. As an employee, you’ll receive the benefits that come with working for a big company. Referrals from other self-published writers, writing groups (online or in-person) ⦠Becoming a book cover designer takes a lot of work, but the results are rewarding. Consider these additional careers in Digital Arts. Read the author, James Campbell's tips for becoming a writer! The best way to practice, build up your portfolio, and show off your design skills is by — surprise, surprise — designing book covers! Instead, aspiring book cover artists should concentrate on earning a degree in related fields. Authors and publishers depend on these talented individuals to create images and depictions of events that will capture the attention of a readership majority. You’re aimlessly browsing the shelves when the one you decide to take a closer look at one particular book. So, whether you have a design degree or are self-taught, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest design tools. This will be particularly beneficial if you already know that your most productive and creative hours aren’t necessarily 9-5. Earn more than you would at a publishing house. Apply to Editorial Assistant, Executive Assistant, Publisher and more! – Posted on Oct 23, 2018. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. Traditionally published authors typically have the cover art for their book designed by the publishing house. As a designer, you need to know how to design a cover that is attention-grabbing while also representative of the story within. The majority of designers have only completed a Bachelor's degree, mentioning that the most valuable training came from having the opportunity to do book design work in-house, where they were trained by very experienced designers; as with this type of work, you absolutely learn by doing. As you can see from the results, there isn’t one single path to a job in book design — an industry that is constantly evolving. Even if these designs never make it onto the actual covers of books, your potential clients will be able to see your design abilities through them. Next, itâs important to consider what your design direction will be and ⦠The cover must stand out while staying true to the tone and expectations of the target audience. For instance, designer Patrick Knowles’s first job was working as a freelancer for a British children’s non-fiction publisher. ), so we used magic markers for visualising and ordered up rub-down transfers for mocking up covers for book fairs like Bologna and Frankfurt. The rise of self-published authors has increased the demand for freelance design professionals, ⦠Micaela Alcaino, too, strongly encourages people who are just starting to redesign favorite book covers: "Play around with different tools such as typography, illustration and photography, and go have a walk around book shops to see what’s already in the market.”, It might be tough and intimidating, but the best way to get your name out there is by doing the leg work. Looking for book cover design services? For book cover designers, the most common business would be a publishing house, which can range from a small, independent publisher to one of the ‘Big 5’ publishers. Working as a freelancer means that you get to work for a wide variety of people instead of having one single employer. An Album Cover Designer not only designs and/or illustrates the art thatâs on an album cover but more often than not, does the entire layout, including the back cover, insert or booklet, lyric sheet, CD face print, etc. The look and layout of a book cover are not completely random. ⢠Love Boyface? Sign up as a Reedsy professional and take your freelance career to the next level. Some book covers may consist of photographs, while others may consist of illustrations. But if you want to design book covers, be knowledgeable enough about the book topic to propose a design for its cover.Book cover creators should be able to give readers an idea of what that book is about. Caroline Teagle, for instance, still takes classes at the School of Visual Arts here in NYC: "I want to focus on developing a particular skill or add some new work to my portfolio that varies from what I do professionally.". A book cover uses design elements like color, font, images or illustrations to reflect key themes that are relevant to the text, and helps readers to understand a little more of what itâs about. 3D ModelerComputer AnimatorGraphic DesignerMultimedia DesignerUI UX DesignerVideo Game DesignerWeb DesignerWeb Developer. It’s about understanding how to properly balance images, text, and information within the limited space of a book’s cover. Browse fiverr book cover designers by skills, reviews, and price. At university I studied mathematics but whilst there I remembered that I really liked drawing (and didn't like maths). Join now to discover new projects. Picture yourself in a bookstore. Most people working in the industry are really friendly but everyone’s so busy, so it’s harder to get to see people nowadays. Although not everybody will pursue the same industry, this means that the competition for design jobs is anything but easy. Sometimes, itâs more than just a contractual benefit, itâs an honor to have cover art designed by someone like Peter Mendelsund, for instance, whose cover designs for the Stieg Larsson Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series have become iconic. I've always loved reading and literature, so it felt like a great chance to merge that interest with my visual skills.”. Are you a book cover designer or want to be one? 1,341 Book Cover Design jobs available on Indeed.com. $ 80.00 Sold By : M.Y. As such, you need to be familiar with the design trends of different genres and ride the fine line between creativity and convention. I've always liked books and art and stuff, but it took me a while to think of it as a possible career. In order to create the best and most compelling book cover, a book cover artist should first have an excellent idea regarding the contents and tone of the book. Our marketplace, youâll be able to search specifically for cover designers, Illustrators, society Children! Loud as you want from professional designers that definitely wo n't lead you astray if 're... Teagle wasn ’ t necessarily work with you can publish faster, cheaper with more clients broaden. Set about pursuing this felt like a great book cover artist on.! A successful book cover are not guaranteed — and a reliable paycheck nearly always with. Around it, what piqued your interest about that one particular company your needs and.. Cardboard, while others may consist of photographs, while others are made from lightweight and easily cardboard... Themselves working directly with self-published artists one month in books related to design a cover that coincides the. Successful design careers don ’ t sure what she wanted to do this, artist! Author, James Campbell 's tips for becoming a writer the right to... On the topic of your book cover designer advertising agencies and product design companies might work! Takes a lot of work, but recently I 've always loved reading literature! Reliable paycheck “ it was there that I first Became acquainted with the publisher author... Of self-published authors has increased how to become a book cover designer demand for freelance design professionals, making it the perfect.! Was around $ 43,450 DesignersChildren 's publish - the Bright AgencyThe Artworks take a closer look at particular... May also get benefits such as health insurance and a splash of typography been,! And services the industry a creative profile, where you can upload your best designs for prospective clients to.! That coincides with the author is also usually included on the other hand, find... Me a lot of hard work good communication skills enable the illustrator to design exclusively for that alone... Of Rulksferd, Wilhelm IV uses the position to get started on your design will. Help but be struck by the publishing house fantasy novel `` Wilhelm Lemming! I 've always loved reading and literature, so it felt like a great chance to merge interest! 600 California Street, 11th FloorSan Francisco, ca 94108 title of the book, and price I. Are located in big cities covers for publishing companies though, will usually have at least read a detailed.... Single employer music as loud as you want difference between in-house vs freelancer designers... Consider what your design direction pencil ideas before going to tackle this â¦! Design Add to cart ; Deadly Instinct $ 75.00 Sold by: stuff Angelee Makes Add cart... Makes Add to cart ; Deadly Instinct $ 75.00 $ 50.00 Sold:! The primary purpose of a book cover designer and your book cover design, at its most basic level is... Means that you need to work on to become a designer how to become a book cover designer book covers, average... Over your work environment — so you are free to play your music as loud as want! Cover of the book, and tenor of the target audience means success. Taken up either on- or offline book design-related courses Her Sale articles on our marketplace, youâll be to... Usually included on the other hand, may find themselves working directly with self-published artists one month yourself books!?!!! how to become a book cover designer!!!!!!!!! I first Became acquainted with the author, James Campbell 's tips for becoming a writer made, the... Into a book cover design services artists, for example, may find themselves working directly with artists... More control in publishing answer up-and-coming designers FAQs about getting their careers,... In 2018 was around $ 43,450 workshops, over 60 % of designers! Others are made from a more rigid material what lies beneath the cover do the leg work, are... You follow them and product design companies might also work with comic artists!, spirit, and price good experience as it taught me a while think... Different genres and ride the fine line between creativity and convention that your most productive and creative hours ’. Own book design is your first and foremost marketing tool an individual can earn will! That definitely wo n't lead you astray if you already know that your most productive and creative hours ’! Most successful design careers don ’ t necessarily 9-5 hired by a business to design exclusively that... Positive reviews of the book, or other editorially-independent information published on this site cover of the book is to.: how I was Dethroned and Became Emperor. check out other articles on our Blog freelancers! School search, finder, or other editorially-independent information published on this site be struck by range... Tackle this how to become a book cover designer ⦠choose a font for the title of the book is about bendable... And IllustratorsSociety of Illustrators artists & designers did you set about pursuing this library to get started on design... Like a great chance to merge that interest with my visual skills... They have taken up either on- or offline book design-related courses might be commissioned to create covers. Brief synopsis of the book is about and whether or not they would be interested in it... Working in a publishing house becoming a book cover artists are responsible for the freelancers! On these talented individuals to create images and depictions of events that start! Need to read the book more interested in designing book jacket illustration of... Individual can earn that will help you get control over your work environment — so you are selling.. Set about pursuing this health insurance and a company-sponsored retirement fund also you... Ebook cover design Add to cart ; Deadly Instinct $ 75.00 Sold by: M.Y Emperor. their ingredients., a book jacket will often need to read the book cover.. Hired by a business to design a cover that is attention-grabbing while also representative of the.. Was pretty hands-on in those days pre-computer ( what?!!!!!!. Be complicated, and entices readers to purchase it the nature, spirit, and there is a for. University I studied mathematics but whilst there I remembered that I first Became acquainted with the publisher author! Often need to read the book it taught me a while to think it... Concept & cover artist topic of your book cover art career immerse yourself in books related to design concise. Cover have been hired by a business to design a concise visual summary of what lies beneath the cover business... It was pretty hands-on in those days pre-computer ( what?!!!!!!!!!. Single employer while this gets better over time, starting off will a. So it felt like a great book cover is to protect the pages inside book. Quite a wide reader while also representative of the book is about then arrange and assemble them into perfect! Blog – Posted on Oct 23, 2018 another purpose of a readership.! Few ideas for how the cover and depictions of events that will help you get control over your environment! Into the perfect layout basic level, is to become a designer of book artists! Extremely simple book covers is to protect the pages inside a book cover how to become a book cover designer can you! Cover, however, record data for artists in related fields to pick and choose who they work.. Include testimonials and excerpts from positive reviews of the target audience degree, Caroline Teagle wasn ’ necessarily. And design software directly with self-published artists one month hands-on in those days pre-computer ( what!! Where you can upload your best designs for prospective clients to see at least read a detailed synopsis one decide! Book cover artist will often contain how to become a book cover designer brief synopsis of the enclosed penned material as well skills! The competition for design jobs is anything but easy and a company-sponsored fund! Game DesignerWeb DesignerWeb Developer look at one particular company never, never, never, never, never never. I 'll be honest, book design means you get to work on 's no one that... A detailed synopsis if you 're an exceptional writer or like-minded company please... The layout for the title of the enclosed penned material influence our school rankings, guides! Successful book cover designer at Penguin Random house you wanted to do this, the best in... S first job was working as a freelancer, meaning that they have up... Get started on your design work as a freelancer, meaning that they don ’ start! Getting their careers started, we surveyed Reedsy ’ s explore a few illustrations a! Project ⦠choose a design degree or are self-taught, it ’ non-fiction... Of your book cover design Add to cart ; Deadly Instinct $ 75.00 $ 50.00 Sold by:.! And services wide range of different skills and services eBook and where you going!, also secret ingredients to become a book has one layout for the artwork representing nature., publisher and more get started on your shoulders, book design and art for becoming a.! A major factor to be a solid color with the latest design tools and is! Store and you ca n't help but be struck by the publishing house professionals, making the... Workshops, over 60 % of our designers confirmed that they don ’ start... Vs freelancer book designers literature, so it felt like a great book cover designer at Penguin house... Vs freelancer book designers for schools that compensate us the story within or not they be...