About book design

When I design a book, I want help the author to speak directly to their readers. Whether they aim to be clear, compelling, persuasive, or whatever.

Reading or using a book is something that occurs in time and space. It is an embodied act. A book is a three-dimensional object and turning the pages takes time. It also engages more than just the eyes: books have weight, temperature, smell, tactile values. And there is the content: does it make you laugh, or cry, or does it just make you bored, does it even make you wish to conquer nations?

When I design a book, in order to help the author communicate with the reader, I think about the physical dimensions of the book, and the sort of paper and binding to be used. I think about selecting and editing the pictures. I think about how the text and the images fit together. I might typeset the book, and turn the typesetting and illustrations into made up pages. And I might prepare the files for print.

I’ve designed more books than you can shake a stick at, that has given me a lot of time to think about the subject. But I still find new and different challenges in every book I design.

You can find out more about my practice as a book designer in the extended essay Backwards and in high heels: the glamorous work of book design that I wrote for Richard Hendel’s book Aspects of Contemporary Book Design.

To find out more please email me or phone +44 (0)7974 176656.

book detail
book detail
book detail
book detail
book detail