Cassava Republic is now accepting submissions for a cover design competition! Black designers from across the globe are invited to submit their designs for consideration until October 10, 2025 at 23:59 BST.

Cassava Republic is seeking striking cover designs for their forthcoming anthology “Echoes of the Earth: Black Voices Reclaiming Ecology and Justice.” This competition is part of their ongoing commitment to amplifying Black voices in the publishing industry, with particular encouragement for new and emerging designers.

Competition Details

Who Can Apply: The competition is open to Black designers aged 18 and above based anywhere in the world. No previous book design experience is required.

The Prize: The winning cover designer will receive $750 and have their design used for “Echoes of the Earth” in all formats, including a full back cover and spine design. Two runners-up will receive $200 each and will be considered by Cassava Republic Press for future design work.

Submission Guidelines

Application Process: Submissions must be made via Google Form. Only original designs will be accepted—generative AI is not permitted.

Submission Requirements:

  • A maximum of 2 original front cover designs for “Echoes of the Earth”
  • A portfolio showcasing previous design work
  • A brief statement (maximum 250 words) explaining the design concept

Design Considerations: Cassava Republic advises applicants to ensure their design fits with the publisher’s list, consider how it will look on a bookstore shelf, research similar titles, and avoid clichés and overused tropes such as sunsets and trees to denote African/Black themes.

About “Echoes of the Earth”

“Echoes of the Earth” will bring together African and Afro-Diasporic perspectives on climate, environmental repair, and ecological thought. The anthology aims to reframe global ecological discourse by foregrounding Black people’s relationships with land, water, air, memory, and technology; relationships shaped by survival, resistance, and renewal. The collection will feature writers engaging with ecology from ancestral and spiritual traditions to political economy, urban ecologies, environmental grief, and speculative visions.

The winning design will be used across all formats and territories, with the final cover design subject to revisions in collaboration between the publisher and designer. The winner will sign a contract with Cassava Republic Press for the full cover design.

For more information and to submit, visit the competition’s Google Form.