It was Back to the Future when I found this list of ideas from 2004 on an old CD while I was looking for something else. Remember when Marty McFly travels back to 1955? Well, this blog post isn’t a flux capacitor, but the advice still holds true ten-plus years later. I bet you’re familiar…
How to avoid common mistakes and time wasters when you work with a graphic designer If you are like most new authors, you’re probably making some common mistakes that are slowing down your projects. When you work with a graphic designer, as a client, you can prevent slow downs and misunderstanding by avoiding the following…
What do authors want to know? At the 2015 St. Louis Publishers Association (SLPA) Vendor’s Showcase, I found out. The room was packed, and authors had many questions. Those who stopped by my table asked … Q: What do you do? (Authors often ask me this question. I guess it’s an icebreaker.)A: I design books.…
Good news—I won a book award this week: Hi Timothy, Just letting you know that your submission, There and Back Again: A Decade of Travel Tales, has received a gold star in TheBookDesigner.com’s June’s e-Book Cover Design Awards. Please accept our congratulations! I’ve attached a badge that you might want to display on your website…
Looking back at a 1958 design book, 27 Chicago, I noticed some timeless design messages that still apply today. First, what was 27 Chicago? it was a series of self-promotional books that predated current “source books,” such as Workbook.com. The 1958 spiral-bound book highlighted 27 Chicago designers, illustrators, and typographers. Art directors and art buyers…
Beware of these mistakes on your marketing materials. You might think nothing is wrong until you get feedback from a “fresh set of eyes.” Here are a few examples of poor-quality marketing materials that we saw at a small local trade show. #1) Vendor A handed us her business card. The type was miniscule, and…
It’s easy to confuse your book designer. Here are a few examples of how to do it (in other words, if you’re confused, what you, as a client, should never do). 1. Confuse your designer with wrong file names, duplicate names, and missing files. • Betty sent me her book files. She said her manuscript…
Brand Challenge: Hatching an Ad Series Motivated by it excellent personal service, the Berg-Salus Wealth Management Group decided to distinguish its wealth advisor group from the larger financial institution of which it was a part. Because “people buy from people whom they know and trust,” investors were not choosing the larger brand when they were…
Challenge: Expense is an important consideration for HOME WORKS! The Teacher Home Visit Program, a new nonprofit organization with a very limited budget. It is also a challenge for the designer. Undaunted, N-K created an identity and cost-effective design solutions. We used economical resources, including stock photos, online printing, low-cost copier printing, and ordinary office…
“What’s tonight’s topic?” asked a St. Louis Publishers Association (SLPA) member, as I was setting up the welcome table. I’m membership chair of SLPA, and I arrive early. It never fails that someone arrives just as early or even before I do! “Tom” (not his real name) was there when I arrived; this was a…