What a Book Designer Needs to Know Before Starting Your Project
Essential information to share with your interior designer, cover designer, or typesetter for smoother timelines, accurate quotes, and a seamless experience.
Wow—October flew by! Lately I’ve been feeling like a hamster on a wheel that’s spinning too fast, and I can’t hop off—my little legs are moving as fast as they can to catch up. Anyone feeling similarly?
Full disclosure: I’m a perfectionist. I’m always holding off writing this newsletter because I’m not sure that I’ve created the “perfect” checklist or “perfect” walkthrough of how to do something. I’m constantly improving my processes, and part of me hates the idea of creating a post that’s destined to sit on the internet after I’ve amended something, because I want to share the absolute perfect way to do it (which leads to me putting off writing this newsletter and not sharing the information that I have).
And, well, I’m not exactly sure why I’m telling you this, but I suppose it’s a sort of disclosure (that is likely not necessary), but also maybe you feel similarly (putting things off because you’re waiting until it’s perfect and thus become paralyzed instead of just doing the thing). Well, this little newsletter is me “doing the thing” I suppose, and what I share here is always what’s working best for me right now, and I hope it’s helpful for you (whether you’re a fellow book designer, freelancer, or a publisher/author).
Alright, alright—let’s get to the meat of things, shall we?
Before I even accept a project, there are certain things I need to know. Most other book designers will need to know the same, or similar, things. And, I think it’s also important to note that as a freelancer, every project I take on seems to throw me something new and unexpected (different clients will have different workflows, projects will be more or less complex, and thus their requirements may differ), and so I feel like I’m always adding one more extra thing to these checklists (or a bit more explanation to things if I’m finding that my clients are unsure about what I’m asking for).
I also use the term “publication” instead of “book” sometimes (because I think the word publication is more appropriate as it encompasses a broader range that includes books as well as magazines, ebooks, reports, etc.). But, I use “book designer” in my headings a lot because most people would call publication designers that (and, well, I’d like people to find these Hadley House newsletters on Google—so I have to use the language of the people. That’s some SEO knowledge for ya right there too btw.)
So, what does your book designer need?
Well, first, they likely want to know what you need. Is it an interior design, cover design, typesetting, an ebook?
For every publication, you should be prepared to provide/answer the following:
Who is the publisher?
A summary/description of your publication
The subject matter/genre of your publication
Your target audience (who the publication is for)
When’s the publication date? (or an ideal date to have it on sale)
What’s your budget for that particular service?
Trim size (your designer should be able to help with this if you’re unsure)
The format(s) you’ll be publishing: paperback / hardcover / ebook / audiobook
Do you need help with print management? (Print management involves communicating with the printer, gathering quotes, submitting files to the printer—essentially dealing with all things print!)
Who is your printer?
Will you be printing offset, digital, or POD (print on demand)?
Any other printing specs. This could include color (CMYK, 2-color, 1-color, B&W, spot colors, etc.), type of paper (uncoated, coated, creme, white, etc.), special finishes (varnish, emboss, die cut, etc.) or bindings (saddle stitch, smythe sewn, wire-o, perfect bound, etc.). If you’re not sure yet, but would like to consider the different printing possibilities, it would be helpful for your designer to know that you’re open to considering options + what your budget is for print.
What are your goals for the publication? What do you want it to be known for?
When would you be able to start the project and have items ready to go for your designer?
When do you need the final deliverables (the end date for the project)?
They will also likely need you to sign a contract as well as pay a deposit.
Now, what about specifics? Your book designer will want to know some more information depending on the service you’re wanting.
What does a book designer need before starting an interior design or typesetting project?
Interior design vs. typesetting
It’s important to note that most book designers (myself included) treat interior design and typesetting as two separate services, but much of the time they’re completed together.
A publication’s interior design shows readers what to expect. It conveys the mood, genre, and what audience it’s for, while ensuring a satisfying reading experience. It is, simply put, the design of the pages in the publication. Interior designs are strategic, complex, and heavily influenced by the publication’s material. I’ve seen many book designers use templates for interiors—I think this is a big mistake (and if you’ve ever read Richard Hendel’s On Book Design, you’d agree!). I never use templates; I always create a custom interior design for every publication based on its needs.
Typesetting, however, is more technical. It minimizes distractions that interrupt reading comprehension, contributing to a seamless reading experience. Typesetting ensures the publication is polished and aligns with industry standards, including avoiding stacks (word/puncutation/hyphenation), utilizing appropriate hyphenation, keeping numbers and their measurements together, eliminating widows and orphans while ensuring spreads are aligned, and plenty more.
So: what does the designer need?
When working on any design, it’s important for the designer to understand what your goals are. How do you want people to feel when they’re reading your publication? Scared, sad, excited, confident?
If you’re a publisher, it may be helpful to consider if there are books from your backlist that are similar to the publication you’re inquiring about (whether it’s similar goals, target audience, or design).
Here are some other, more specific questions your designer may want to know:
Are there any graphics (images, charts, tables, graphs, etc.—basically anything that isn’t text) that need to be placed in the interior?
How many words are in your publication?
Do you need an ebook (EPUB file)?
If your cover is done, your designer will likely want to see it, and if you know the fonts used on the cover, this could be helpful to provide as well. Knowing this information will ensure your designer makes the book feel consistent and cohesive in its design (inside and out!).
They will also want to see your final manuscript (or, if you have a house style guide / template / master InDesign file you’re planning to have the designer work from, they’ll want to see this too). This ensures an accurate quote for the project because the designer will understand exactly what’s involved.
What about cover design? What does a book designer need for that?
Again, they’ll want to know about your goals, the audience, how you want readers to feel when reading the book / seeing the cover in a bookstore. And, if you’re a publisher, it’s helpful to see if you have any books in your backlist that feel comparable to the publication you’re inquiring about.
They’ll also likely want the following so they can really nail down what you want:
Comparative (comp) or example covers that you love (it’s helpful to see at least 3) as well as an explanation for what you like about these covers and why
Comp or example covers that you don’t like (again, it’s helpful to see at least 3) + an explanation for what you don’t like about them and why
What’s your budget for stock images, or have you already sourced artwork for the cover?
Will you need a separate ebook or audiobook cover?
If your interior is done, your designer will likely want to see it, and if you know the fonts used in the interior, this could be helpful to provide as well. Knowing this information will ensure your designer makes the book feel consistent and cohesive in its design (inside and out!).
All the text/elements that will be on the front cover (title / subtitle / reading line / author name / any additional copy, which could include awards, endorsements, etc.)
All text/elements that will be on the back cover (blurbs, summary, publisher logo, price, barcode, etc.)
They may also want to read the manuscript, so you should expect to provide them with a copy of it. This allows them to curate a unique design specific to your publication.
Why does my book designer need to know so much?
The best designers should be asking a lot of questions to ensure they understand all of the details before committing to a project.
Asking specific questions…
allows your book designer to understand whether they are the right person for your project, allowing them to feel confident in accepting it
allows you to feel confident knowing your book designer understands what you want out of this project
sets clear expectations before the project even begins, ensuring a smooth and organized process moving forward
avoids delays and disappointment. Knowing things such as your goals and your timeline allows for a well-thought schedule to be made, design direction to be aligned, and good communication to be established.
The more you ask, the more you know—and the more your designer knows, the better they’re able to not only provide deliverables you love, but also create an experience that’s tailored to you.
News for you!
Hadley’s Hangout
😮🫢 ooh what’s this? It’s my waitlist! This year has been a whirlwind for me, and since my schedule fills up so quickly, I’ve created a waitlist to easily inform both existing and future clients of my availability and any last-minute cancellations. There will also be some short-and-sweet tips on editorial design and publishing sprinkled in.
Design
꩜ Really cool PRINT article on why design craft still matters in a world of automation
꩜ Another great PRINT article on universal design / why we should design accessibly
꩜ Dealing with burnout in the creative industry (I’m intrigued to read this book when it comes out)
What I’m reading
★ Ixelles by Johannes Anyuru (Two Lines Press, 2024)
★ BOMB No. 166, Winter 2024 Issue
★ Melancholy I-II by Jon Fosse (Fitzcarraldo Editions, 2023)
★ House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Pantheon, 2000)
★ Inclusive Publishing and the Quest for Reading Equity by Agata Mrva-Montoya (Cambridge University Press, 2025)
What I’m listening to
☆ Locust | Morning Light (1997): trip hop / ambient pop / downtempo
☆ Malcolm McLaren | Fans (1984): pop / classical crossover
☆ Cult Member | Ethernet (2019): outsider house / ambient house
❤︎ Dear Hadley ❤︎
No submissions this month! (I probably need to be better about marketing this thing, huh?)
Send me your InDesign questions, typesetting dilemmas, design rants, freelancing struggles, hot takes—whatever. I’ll respond to them either privately or in my Dear Hadley advice column. Your submission can be anonymous.
Thank you for reading Hadley House!
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love it if you could “heart” it. Your support means a lot. Thank you <3
And, in case you missed it…
Need a designer or typesetter? Just want to pop in and say hi? I’d love to talk with you! You can email me at hadleynikolehendrix@gmail.com, or say hello on Instagram / LinkedIn. (^:
Hadley Hendrix is an Editorial Designer based in Chicago, specializing in publication design and typesetting. She works with publishers, magazines, and authors to design, layout, and typeset the covers and interiors of their publications.
Even when you are super busy you manage to create a quality newsletter. Nicely done!!