Beyond Translation: Graphic Design Trends in Contemporary Romanian Book Covers

While e-books and audiobooks have gained popularity, traditional print books continue to hold significance in both physical and online bookstores, contributing to a rich reading landscape. The globalization of cultural industries, including the book sector, is a dynamic process shaped by contemporary economic mechanisms and global exchange. In this context, the evolution of book cover design is closely tied to advancements in digital technology and shifts in consumer behaviour. Digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator have revolutionized the aesthetics of book covers, leading to the proliferation of certain design styles. This study explores how global graphic design trends influence the aesthetics of book covers in Romania. The research corpus comprises fiction book covers published in January 2025, selected from four prominent online bookstores in Romania. The analysis seeks to identify visual trends using a defined set of categories, with an emphasis on how international design trends have been integrated into the Romanian publishing industry. Selected covers were systematically coded and evaluated by two independent coders to ensure consistency. Trends that exhibited the highest frequency scores were retained for further analysis and discussion.