Books = My Design Playground!

If you’re a book lover like I am, you love not only the stories but also the smell, the weight, the cover, the turning of the page…the entire experience.  

I can spend hours in a bookstore – it's like a candy store for me. I find myself gravitating to books that are eye-catching, be it a linen cover, a belly band, some form of foil stamp, embossing, you name it; if it’s unique and intentional, I’m drawn to it.  

As a freelance graphic designer, I have a lot of go-to programs and platforms to use, depending on the project. And when I design books for self- or independent publishers, I get to use most, if not all of them – it’s my professional playground!

Book design that elevates rather than detracts from the contents might seem simple, but in fact, it’s quite complex, with a lot of moving parts. For starters, an elegant, beautifully designed book with balanced white space, essential typography, fantastic imagery and the perfect binding takes an experienced and aesthetic eye. Also crucial is resisting the temptations of flashiness or showcasing myself because I want my work to serve the material and the client rather than the other way around.

Beyond the final InDesign files that will be printed into physical books, things like paper stock, cover materials, type of print process, budget, and a host of other considerations will be just as important as the contents.

My approach to book design includes providing my deep experience in this production process as well. I work closely and collaboratively with my clients and printers at every stage to transform the author’s vision into a beautiful reality.  

I recently toyed with a conceptual cookbook book design for fun and was thrilled to be the freelance designer of choice for Her Helm, an incredible portrait photography book showcasing female captains of the Chesapeake Bay, see a brief page through bellow! 

I've been lucky to have some incredible projects come my way, and I am ready to open my calendar for designing memorable, touchable books that serve a purpose...yours!