“Can you help teach a graphic design high school class about good book cover design?” asked Rob Durham, a teacher at Marquette High School. “The students are making their own e-books from short stories they have written. I’m showing them how to self-publish on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).” “Sure,” I replied. “I would love to…
DetailsIn April 2013, I attended IBPA Publishing University in Chicago. I had heard good things about this event from members of St. Louis Publishers Association and decided to go with my SLPA friend, Kim Wolterman. Kim said, “There’s always something to learn.” She was right! Some take away lessons and ideas worth sharing: A. Publishing…
DetailsMost people are curious and overwhelmed by self-publishing. At a recent St. Louis Publishers Vendor Showcase, local author-services providers, such as book designers, editors, book coaches, printers, and illustrators, had the opportunity to display our products and services and explain to authors what we do. Many aspiring authors stopped by my table and asked questions.…
DetailsCover and interior book design for Our Father’s Voice began with a call from author Felicia Graber. She and her brother. Dr. Leon Bialecki, spent many years of transcribing, translating, and editing their father’s interviews about his experiences during the Holocaust. The interviews with Salomon Lederberger were originally recorded in 1981. Felicia had turned them…
DetailsLast-minute print ad? No problem. Here’s how it’s done. We often receive last-minute calls for print advertisements. They go something like this: “Peggy, can you do this ad quickly for me! I let this slip through the cracks.” Yes, we’re available. Yes, we can create the ad. However, before we start designing, we need more…
DetailsThere are many design decisions involved in creating a new magazine. When Melanie Paticoff, editor of a new publication Hearing Our Way (HOW), contacted me, I didn’t hesitate. What a fun, creative design opportunity! The first issue was a prototype issue. While future issues would be more theme-based, the first one needed to just be…
DetailsDesigning a trade show display required rebranding a logo for Sophie’s Tales, an entrepreneurial start-up that offers innovative products and services for children with hearing loss. Owner, Melanie Paticoff, provided an Adobe Illustrator file. The assignment wasn’t to redesign the logo. Melanie gave me the “green light” to enhance and update her brand logo. Improvements The…
DetailsYears ago, we had a wonderful opportunity to design a series of historic lapel pins for a Coca-Cola. This point-of-purchase promotion was an offer to collect all five commemorative “World Championship Pins” for only 99¢ with any Coca-Cola purchase. The project consisted of three elements: a counter card to be displayed at participating convenience stores;…
Details