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Wichita State Graphic Design Students Design Published Book Covers with Dzanc Publishing

May 14, 2026
By Calleigh Hernandez, Shocker Career Accelerator

Five Wichita State graphic design seniors partnered with Dzanc Publishing to design original paperback book covers, gaining hands-on experience in a professional publishing environment. Guided by Joshua Smith, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, the students collaborated directly with authors and the Dzanc team to develop visually distinctive concepts that reflect each book's voice and audience.

As part of the project, the seniors reflected on their creative process, from initial concept development to final design. Supported by the State of Kansas Applied Learning Fund, these students applied classroom knowledge to a real-world client project, strengthening their skills, building their portfolios and earning compensation for their work.

Shelby DuVall

Shelby DuVall with the cover she designed for Dispatch From Every Second Guess.

Seeing my design become a published cover was incredibly rewarding and gave me confidence in my skills.

Shelby DuVall

Haley Nelson

Haley Nelson with the cover she designed for Book of Hours.

Designing for a real client pushed me beyond the classroom and helped me balance creativity with deadlines.

Haley Nelson

Madelyn Ramsey

Madelyn Ramsey with the cover she designed for The Wonder That Was Ours.

This project showed me how much strategy goes into design and connecting with an audience.

Madelyn Ramsey

Meaghan Roths

Meaghan Roths with the cover she designed for My Adventures With, and Without, The Knight of the Mournful Countenance, His Grace, Don Quiote.

Working directly with the publisher and author was a fantastic experience. Seeing the final result was my favorite part.

Meaghan Roths

Zayden Tomson

Zayden Tomson with the cover he designed for Stegosaurus Moon.

I faced challenges in using my own design to create a cover visually representative of another person's creative vision. I enjoyed creating variations to see what worked best for the team.

Zayden Tomson

Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.

For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.

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