Design services with both brains and beauty.
The design goods
Whatever project you’ve got on your mind, I’ll make sure it’s rooted in smart strategy, professional polish, and design that’s just plain good-lookin’.
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Let’s team up to create smart, clear, and effective publications that don’t just look good but also have revenue-generating power.
Rather than relying on a clunky Word doc from Cathy in Accounts Payable, I’ll craft a publication that reflects your brand’s visual language and elevates your message, mission, and thought leadership into something polished, professional, and trustworthy.
Brand publishing can take many forms, and I’d love to be part of the early brainstorming to shape a design solution that communicates beautifully and effectively with your clients and stakeholders.
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You’ve agonized over plot lines and have edited and honed your writers’ voice and now you’re ready to have a cover that adequately represents the thought and care you’ve dedicated to this book project.
As an expert in my field, I’ll turn your sharp-as-a-tack manuscript into thumbnail and shelf eye candy that will both fit within your genre while standing out from the pack.
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Do you or your art department need a visually dynamic cover that looks great in mailboxes and bookstore shelves, or you might be wondering how to find and manage a photographer for your interior layout.
With the ability to create magazine covers and interiors that win fancy awards and global acclaim, I am the magazine wizard you need to have in your pocket.
Branded Publications
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A well-designed publication doesn’t just look good—it builds credibility, sparks connection, and drives action.
I consistently hear from clients that working that a publication for their organization helps:
Advance donor support
Engage potential clients, customers, or students
Position their organization as a professional thought leader
Strengthen brand identity and recognition
Share important information in a clear and engaging way
Establish trust and loyalty with existing audiences
Provide a tangible asset that’s easy to share and reference
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Annual Reports
Alumni / Recruitment Magazines
Pitch Decks + Keynote Presentations
Advocacy/Impact Reports
Coffee Table Books
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Regardless of where you’re at in the process of creating a publishing piece, my strategic and flexible process will meet you where your at.
I’ll walk you through each step by clean comm, Loom and Zoom videos, PDFs, feedback loops, and easy-to-use editing systems.
Already have all creative assets and polished copy ready to go, but need a designer to bring it all together—I’ve got you.'
Are you in the early stages with just a spark of an idea and no clue how to bring it to life—let’s talk.
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Sometimes that means full art direction—cover to interior. Other times, it’s just a few key spreads and maybe some bonus social graphics to tie everything together.
Whatever the case, we’ll get clear on the scope and expectations before anything kicks off. No surprises, just good design.
Book Design
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If you’re here to find a book designer that knows her stuff, you’re in the right place. I will take your prompt, metaphor, vibe and iterate deliciously clever concepts that perfectly encapsulate the content within and the genre it’s made for.
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With my expertise as an editorial designer, I bring a strategic approach to creating sharp, highly formatted interiors. Cookbooks, how-to guides, lookbooks, art books—these are my jam. My work is organized, clean, and professional while being totally kick-ass.
You can provide all the assets, and I'll work my magic on the page, or I can take a hands-on approach to direct and design the entire visual experience, coordinating with other creatives (photographers, food stylists, illustrators, etc.) to bring your vision to life.
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1. Welcome To kick things off, I’ll send over an invoice for the initial deposit via my bank, NOVO (powered by Thread Bank). This non-refundable deposit is 50% of the total project quote. Once it’s paid, your project is officially locked into my design calendar—cue the confetti!
2. Discovery Through Google Docs, I’ll guide you with a series of thought-provoking questions designed to help you uncover the core of your project. Some will be straightforward, while others may feel more abstract or even a bit vulnerable. My best advice? Don’t hold back, share as much as you can! The more juicy details you share, the more insight I’ll gain into your intentions, motivations, and desired outcomes.
3. Research + Experiments This is where I start to geek out. I’m researching, word-mapping, thumbnailing, cutting, pasting, experimenting—letting curiosity run wild as I explore what this project could be.
4. Designs Delivered Once I’ve landed on the strongest visual direction, I’ll head to the screen to bring the concepts to life. As I design, I continuously circle back to your responses—asking “why?” at every step to ensure every choice supports your story and goals.
5. Feedback Loop
Once the final concept is selected, we can begin the feedback loop. Together, we’ll go through a few rounds of revisions including both high-level and low level revisions. You know your story best, and I’m here to help shape it into a visual that feels juuuuust right.
6. Final! Final! Final! And voilà! You’ve got yourself a smart, creative, finished piece that feels even better than you imagined. Once the final payment is received, I’ll upload all final files to our shared Google Drive, prepped for print and ready to shine. to our shared Google Drive, ready for print and primed to shine.
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We can customize your cover menu to fit your specific needs. Most clients typically require one or more of the following deliverables: print cover wrap, eBook cover, and audiobook image.
To create a cohesive and professional book experience, we also offer additional elements that amplify the visual and experiential impact, such as social media images and ads, website banners, and other marketing collateral.
Magazine Design
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My editorial wheelhouse runs a wide gamut where I can seamlessly come on board under the direction of an AD to workhorse out some interior spreads.
I can also help craft and guide the entire creative direction of a magazine from the first brainstorming session to sending that editorial baby off to the printer.
If you’re under the gun of press deadlines and need someone extra to pitch in or are just unsure how to bring your stories into a visual landscape, I’m the full-rounded pro you need.
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Depending on the role you need me to step into, the process will look a little different.
If you’re looking for full art direction, I’ll walk you through my standard design process, which includes research, discovery, and feedback loops to make sure everything is spot-on.
If you need me to jump into an existing magazine or project, I’ll be your work-for-hire pro. With years of experience collaborating with creative teams, I’ll seamlessly integrate into your systems and get things moving.
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Before we dive into our creative collaboration, we’ll have a detailed discussion to nail down all the deliverables you’ll need.
But beyond the physical deliverables, each project will include design strategy, research, ideation, concepting, and full proofs—so we can create the snappiest magazine this side of the Mississippi.
How does this rigmarole design process work?
The Design Process
Each project is a little different and calls for a custom design process to make sure the scope and deliverables are clear and achievable.
At project kick-off, we’ll walk through your goals, define key milestones, and set up a feedback loop that works for everyone.
The design process outlined here is client-loved and battle-tested. It gives us a solid, strategic foundation to stay on track, on budget, and on time.
Don’t you worry your mind. I’ve got you covered.
1.
Project Kick Off
2.
Discovery
3.
Research + Experiment
4.
Design Concepts Delivered to client
5.
Feedback Loop
6.
Final Deliverables
1. Project Kick-off
To kick things off, I’ll send over an invoice for the initial deposit via my bank, NOVO (powered by Thread Bank). This non-refundable deposit is 50% of the total project quote. Once it’s paid, your project is officially locked into my design calendar—cue the confetti!
2. Discovery
Through Google Docs, I’ll guide you with a series of thought-provoking questions designed to help you uncover the core of your project. Some will be straightforward, while others may feel more abstract or even a bit vulnerable. My best advice? Don’t hold back, share as much as you can! The more juicy details you share, the more insight I’ll gain into your intentions, motivations, and desired outcomes.
3. Research + Experiments
This is where I start to geek out. I’m researching, word-mapping, thumbnailing, cutting, pasting, experimenting—letting curiosity run wild as I explore what this project could be.
4. Designs Delivered
Once I’ve landed on the strongest visual direction, I’ll head to the screen to bring the concepts to life. As I design, I continuously circle back to your responses—asking “why?” at every step to ensure every choice supports your story and goals.
5. Feedback Loop
Once the final concept is selected, we can begin the feedback loop. Together, we’ll go through a few rounds of revisions including both high-level and low level revisions. You know your story best, and I’m here to help shape it into a visual that feels juuuuust right.
6. Final! Final! Final!
And voilà! You’ve got yourself a smart, creative, finished piece that feels even better than you imagined. Once the final payment is received, I’ll upload all final files to our shared Google Drive, prepped for print and ready to shine. to our shared Google Drive, ready for print and primed to shine.
When I say everyone RAVED about Version one, I want you to know I mean everyone. This email is gonna be an ego boost, so please, enjoy.
I am SCREAMING!!!!! You are a mf GENIUS!!! OMG I am *really* loving the tongue cover. Holy moly (':
Danika Isdahl, Managing Editor at Sarabande Books
