Book design
What to prepare before hiring a book designer
A little preparation gives your book designer the context and materials needed to build a cohesive cover and interior.
Start with the reader
Think about who the book is for and how they will use it. A picture book read aloud, a journal carried in a backpack, and a memory book kept on a shelf have different design needs. Share your audience, your goals, and what you want the reading experience to feel like.
Bring a manuscript that is ready for layout
Complete your writing and editing before the interior layout begins whenever possible. Changes to text can affect line breaks, page counts, image placement, and the table of contents. If editing is still in progress, let your designer know so the scope and schedule can account for it.
Gather your illustrations and images
Collect the original image files and identify where they belong in the story. Share any illustrator credits and confirm that you have permission to use the artwork. Your designer can review the files against the intended print size and flag anything that needs attention.
Share your production plans
Tell your designer whether you need print, digital, or both. Include your intended book size, binding, publishing platform or printer, and any specifications you already have. If those decisions are still open, list them as questions to discuss before layout starts.
Make a short creative brief
A useful brief includes the title, author name, audience, a short description, visual references, target timeline, and budget range. Explain what you like about each reference—its typography, mood, color, or organization—so the direction is clear.
Agree on the handoff
Before work begins, confirm the deliverables, revision process, who supplies final text and artwork, and which file formats you need. Clear responsibilities give the project a more organized path from idea to finished files.
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