Book Design for Publishers

From nonfiction to picture books, genre fiction to poetry, image-oriented to text-centric, I work with you and your team to create the cover designs that excite all stakeholders and interior layouts that engage your readers.

Working with Illustrada is smooth and efficient. Your project will arrive on time and on budget—the last thing you need is another problem to manage!

More than just design, we believe in indie publishing because independent voices are our power.

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

Cover Design: Audience-focused, engaging—working with you and your author to dig below the superficial to deliver distinctive concepts and well-executed final results.

Layout & Typesetting: Showcase the underlying beauty of your book—the ideas, information, and emotion—in a way that ensupports and engages readers.

Extra Services: 

  • Custom illustrations
  • Custom photography
  • Graphic development (charts and infographics)
  • Photo retouching
  • Special editions

Inspired Design

When you work with me, you are hiring an artisan with the creative and technical skills to design a unique book that stands out. And a partner in the process from finished manuscript to finsihed book. 

I encourage questions and open communication because I care deeply about you, your authors, and your books. My industry experience and problem-solving skills help resolve any issues before they arise.

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.
The cover laying on a open spread of “Midadventures in My High Heels.” Cover features a prominent illustration of a red high-heeled shoe, while the interior shows high-heeled footprints.
The ups and downs of this bold life-in-stories memoir, including the fabled red stilettos.
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.
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Design Services that Meet You Where You’re At

Organizations

Thoughtful design and production assistance for artists, organizations, and businesses creating limited-run or special-purpose books—visual statements that will endure the test of time.​
Imagine the Possibilities

Trade Publishers

Design for small press trade books—collaboration with your editorial and production workflow, while meeting the needs of marketing and the author.​
My Portfolio

Self Publishers

Publishing guidance and bespoke book design that make indie authors’ books look and feel every bit as professional as the big houses.
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Cover design, interior layout, typesetting, publishing consultation, photo editing, illustration development, and production assistance.

Whether you are an established press or an up-and-coming publisher, we’ll work together to create something unique and beautiful.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Design and indie publishing perspectives from Illustrada Design

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