How A Book Designer Works For You
Every Book Must Be Designed
Every book must be designed. Many people don’t know that. Some writers don’t know that. Some published writers don’t know that. But without a book designer there is no book, just a manuscript searching for an audience.
A Well Designed Book Promotes Sales
A well-designed book is recognizable at a glance. The cover draws interest, the text is inviting and comfortable to read, and the visual logic is evident.
Essentials of Book Design
So what does a book designer actually do? He or she determines the general physical appearance of a book starting with its size and proportions, creates a visual theme by utilizing appropriate type fonts on the cover and the interior text, creates a format for all pages, and judiciously positions illustrations and captions. It’s not simply about making things pretty, it’s about creating an intelligent visual organization of the author’s story or message. In addition, the designer also does all the essential computer stuff with software specific to book design and image editing.
Your book designer can also serve as liaison to your printer, and offer technical guidance throughout the publishing process. For a more detailed description of the design process and working with Longfeather Book Design please read our articles: The Book Design Process.
The Author/Designer Partnership
The best way to design a book is to have an author and a professional book designer sit down together (physically or electronically) to do the job as partners. An exchange of ideas leads to visualizations which lead to design options which lead finally to a printed book that both parties are pleased with. The process requires cooperation, common sense, and good taste.
Ready For Sales
If common sense, good taste and sound typographic practices are employed, the result is a book that is handsome to look at and a pleasure to read, one that can compete with the best on a bookseller’s shelves. If this sounds like a creative partnership you would be interested in, please read our description of What Longfeather Book Design Offers You.