Insightful Design on Every Page

Collaborating with authors, artists, small presses, and businesses, Illustrada crafts books that open minds and enrich souls.

My book design services encompass captivating cover creation, meticulous interior layout, precise typesetting, and supportive production and publishing/production assistance for trade edition and special edition publishing.

I am committed to transforming your ideas into the beautifully realized, visionary book you know it can be.

Curiosity: Why every book should surprise and delight readers

It is this sense of curiosity that I bring to each project, and why I work with you to craft a book that attracts readers and reflects your vision.

But a beautiful cover and immaculate interior aren’t the only goals.

As a small business owner, I understand the delicate balance of passion and pragmatism. In the end, the numbers need to add up. I provide a smooth and efficient process, helping your business stay on schedule and within budget.

Services Overview
Portfolio
About Me
Authors Only
A hardcover book featuring a narrow building orange glasses and a mustache, wearing a top hat with "book designer" written vertically

Crafting Distinctive Books

Illustrada specializes in bringing unique ideas to life through book design. Each cover and interior layout I develop aims to enrich the narrative and connect stories with their readers.

Imaginative design amplifies a book’s message, fuels the author’s enthusiasm, and captivates the reader, driving discovery and sales.

Beyond words and images, the success of a book hinges on its presentation, and my focus is on harnessing every element of design to maximize the book’s impact and reach.

“I don’t know what we would have done without you guiding us in so many ways.”
Betsy PeacockBlack Bears & Blueberries Publishing
Featuring Zimmerman's painted crane and loon, the book cover and open interior spread are colorful
“… his commitment to quality was apparent in everything from the font to the final design files.”
Heather BoschkeAuthor/Illustrator Of “Little Birdie Buddies”
Heather Boschke
“Paul was an integral part of the process from start to finish; his attention to detail and organizational skills were consistently on display; and the result has garnered immediate accolades.”
Shannon PennefeatherMinnesota Historical Society Press
Book cover featuring intimate look at St. Anthony waterfall atop an interior view showing the mill fires in vibrant reds and yellows
“Paul’s book design and graphic design skills are matched only by his patient and generous spirit.”
Mary TarisStrive Publishing
Mary Taris
“Paul listens, asks questions, interprets, and shapes the conversation … then translates that into visual art.”
Prof. Akshay RaoAuthor of “Patient”
Prof. Akshay Rao
“He cherished the work but kept a very level head when I was heading to la la land. This part of Paul is priceless.”
Mary McKayAuthor of “Fear Less”
Dark blue front and back cover featuring gold foil, along with an interior page showing an ornate script initial "A."
“The pleasure is mutual. You’ve added so much to the project.”
Ricardo Levins MoralesArtist/Author of “The Land Knows The Way”
The Land Knows The Way by Ricardo Levins Morals, shown open to a chapter page.
“We are so grateful for Paul’s knowledge, talent, persistence, experience, and patience with us! … helping our illustrators to be the best they can be, he is such an asset to our company!”
Betsy PeacockBlack Bears & Blueberries Publishing
The Makoons cover with a illustration of a black bear with her cub riding on her back.
My husband said, “Best Cover Ever!”
Katharine JohnsonAuthor of “Belzi’s Blizzard”
The cover of "Belzi's Blizzard" showing a reddish brown Finnish Spitz in the snow facing toward the distance where a cabin sits in the snow, with the silhouette of a girl walking out through the snow.
“Paul spent time getting to know me and my vision for the book. His design perfectly fits the visual I needed to communicate to the reader.”
Deb SchellAuthor of “Creator to Community Builder”
The cover featuring three illustrated women connected via dotted lines to a computer monitor. The book lies on top of another copy open to an interior page.
“Thank you for a thoughtful creative collaboration and a truly beautiful book.”
Amy HallbergAuthor of “Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival”
Amy Hallberg
“Having Paul on my team was truly key to the success of my book.”
Kami MendlikArtist and Author of “Color Relativity: Creating the Illusion of Light with Paint”
Dust jacket covered book lying atop book open to interior spread featuring a red autumn scene and a windswept tree.
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Design & Publishing Services

Cover Design

The cover is central to your book’s marketing—it must connect, yet surprise; fit in, yet stand out. My covers look as good online as in person.

Interior Layout

I create an intuitive interior design, invisible yet everpresent, guiding your readers from cover to cover. Mindful layout and typography enhance readability and communication of ideas, information, and emotion.

Typesetting

Typesetting sets the tenor of the entire project. I’ll ensure your book meets readers’ and reviewers’ expectations while stretching accepted practices in new ways.

Publishing Services

Photo retouching, custom illustration and photography, graphic development, design consulting, and production and publishing assistance are available, including ISBN and LCCN support. I can also provide marketing collateral, including press kits, banner ads, and bookmarks.

More About Illustrada’s Services
Let’s Talk About Your Project

Inspired Design

See for yourself how I have helped publishers and their authors connect with readers.

My Portfolio
A view of the book cover laying on top of the book open to an interior spread.
A spooky story with a fun twist, The Garden Ghost was a great collaboration between design, illustration, and author.
Debra Lee Won't Break by Katherine Pickett, looking at front and back covers
Developing the cover of a powerful debut novel about friendship, trauma, and inner strength—set in motion by two women, one bike path, and a ride toward healing.
"The Real-Life Story of Crazy Ralph" by Boppa Harmon, Illustrations by Dmitry Gitelman.
A grandfather’s bedtime stories—now illustrated—of the enduring bond between a family and their adventurous dog.
Picking Sweetgrass by Kent Estey cover and sample interior spread
A tender, intergenerational story of gathering sweetgrass, beautifully designed for young readers through close collaboration between illustrator and designer.
A sample interior spread of the book is shown with a sweeping red pine, shown under a cover featuring the title “Ishkode: A Story of Fire."
Principles of Anishinaabe land stewardship and Western scientific knowledge are intertwined in this stunningly illustrated and thoughtfully designed children’s story.
This collection of essays, stories, and poems of eleven Native authors combines haunting cover art with every possible writing style.
The Land Knows The Way by Ricardo Levins Morals, shown open to a chapter page.
A collection of essays and artwork by Ricardo Levins Morales, crafting a unified visual language that reflects the book’s themes of resistance, ecology, and transformation.
Cover and sample interior spread of the hardcover version of "Young Man Grown Old." Cover features a small old photo of a young man arm outstretched to lean on a tree.
A lifetime of poems by Kenneth Firnstahl, brought together with restored photographs and beautiful design to honor his legacy.
The cover of "Belzi's Blizzard" showing a reddish brown Finnish Spitz in the snow facing toward the distance where a cabin sits in the snow, with the silhouette of a girl walking out through the snow.
Caught in a blizzard with a grandmother she barely knows, 12-year-old Belzi uncovers a family secret that changes everything.
Cover of "Vendetta" with an illustrated silhouetted woman in front of a noir stylized view of the Louvre, the French flag proudly flying above.
A perilous quest to uncover hidden truths leads Colette Richelieu through a web of art, espionage, and family secrets in Vendetta.

Design and indie publishing perspectives from Illustrada Design

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