Musings from N-K projects. How do you find a graphic designer? Review the portfolio, read client testimonials and blog posts.
For many years, I have been amassing book marketing plans from various self-publishing experts. As a book designer (and admitted packrat), my interest in this topic runs deep. Recently, I revisited most of these plans to gather ideas for an upcoming meeting. While some are nearly a decade old, they remain remarkably relevant. Although book…
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If you are someone who loves typography as I do, you should treat yourself to a magnificent book on the subject by Steven Heller and Louise Fili. The book—Scripts: Elegant Lettering from Design’s Golden Age—contains more than three hundred pages of vintage magazine images, signage, advertisements, stationery, food labels, wine bottles, packaging, and more. Script…
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In a world where things are constantly changing, self-publishing and book marketing have remained relatively constant over the years. I recently re-read Peter Bowerman’s book, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher (my copy was published in 2007) — it has been on my shelf for many years — and realized that much of his advice is just as relevant today as it…
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Have you seen Magic Spoon cereal at the store? I saw these colorful boxes at Target. This brand is different from the other breakfast cereals—its uniquely crafted package makes it stand out in the cereal aisle. Eye-catching Each Magic Spoon flavor has a different illustration on the box made up of modern, fanciful characters. The…
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Sometimes the most impactful design projects arise from modest beginnings. Recently, I had the privilege of working on a small catalog project for a group of dedicated Sisters who manage bookstores and publish materials for a religious order. Targeting the vibrant and diverse Hispanic community, this project yielded successful results at a recent conference. Meeting the Challenge The Sisters…
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The task of redesigning the book cover for Corinne’s poetry collection, The Rings of Nature, was an exciting opportunity to breathe new life into the visual representation of her book. The existing cover, though depicting a scenic outdoor landscape, lacked the visual impact needed to capture the essence of Corinne’s poetry. The goal was to create…
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Setting the table for success is a phrase I heard on the Book Marketing Tips & Author Success podcast. This thought was fitting for a post-Thanksgiving episode. The podcasters, Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell said, “Look at everything you’re doing as a way to present your book to the reader—setting the table for success. You can’t force…
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Elegantissima, the Design & Typography of Louise Fili by Louise Fili is a beautiful book filled with impressive designs—a compilation of identity projects, branding, and logo designs. While I was watching an online course called, “Expressive Lettering with Swashes and Flourishes,” the speaker, designer Dan Forster, was inspired by Louise Fili and showed examples from her book. I was…
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