Professional General Book Designers
The structure of a book is basically divided into front, body and back matter. The front consists of title, preface and introduction; while the body consists of chapters and sections, and the back includes glossary, bibliography and index. In order to produce a perfect book, you have to incorporate all the important components like style, format, content and design into a coherent whole.
A step-by-step approach to general book designing process
The entire process of book design can be categorized into several steps which includes meeting with the client, research, content, layout of the page, typography, image and format. They key to success in general book designing is to understand the importance of all the elements and to produce a visually appealing and quality book that gets accepted at all important platforms.
Step 1: Know your audience
It is important to keep in mind the audience of the book, because you will have to design the book according to their taste and likings. If you are designing a cover for a fiction work, you should be able to capture the essence of the story in such a way that not only appears honest, but also influences the sale of your book. Similarly, a trade publication cover should be designed in such a manner, that not only retains its professional vibe and pleases advertisers, but also keeps the readers engaged with information and fun element.
Step 2: Focus on the requirements of the audience
You should give your primary attention to the needs of the audience. If you are publishing an annual report, your focus should be to disseminate information to the shareholders and the employees in a professional manner that includes the use of graphs, charts and layouts. It will help them to understand the information in an easy manner.
A perfect image for a book cover is vital for attracting potential clients. It will also encourage the readers to buy a book from the same author, once they see it in any book shop. Further, a great cover gets shared online and enhances exposure for the author.
Step 3: Meeting with the client
A detailed meeting with the client is one of the important aspects of book designing process. Meetings enable the client a chance, to explain their terms and conditions. You should discuss clearly the budget of the client as well as his expectations from your team. You must agree on a payment schedule and the number of revisions that would be required in the entire process. If possible, keep a track of the number of hours spent in the book designing process. This will not only make you accountable to the client, but also to yourself.
Step 4: Research
It is advisable to research different kinds of publications related to your current assignment. If you find something attractive and interesting in the publication, you can jot down the things and appreciate. Further, pay attention to what is being done and try to emulate the same in your work. And, never try to plagiarize someone’s work. Instead, you can draw inspiration from it.
If you find a major pitfall in other people’s work such as an ugly word or a poor layout, you can note down the same. While executing your work, you can avoid these design blunders easily.
It is important to be well versed with the latest industry trends as well as on the subject of your project. Further, you should have a keen understanding of the popular culture so that your work stands out from the crowd.
Step 5: Sketching
After the completion of the following steps, you can concentrate on making designs with pen and paper. Allow the ideas to flow freely on the paper. Initially, sketch some rough concept how you would like to book to look. You can also make a selection of the words which you want the book to convey.
Step 6 : Digital Services
This stage includes the use of design layout software. While most of the publication houses use Adobe design, some companies use other software as well.
Your discussions with the client and industry research will serve as a valuable tip for your designing process. You must focus on the personality and feel of the company, brand and the publication. You can select the type, colors, layout design and appropriate images depending upon the budget allocated for the process. You should never include an image just for the purpose of covering space. Instead, select an image that is relevant to the content.
Step 7: Revision
This is the most important step of the entire book designing process. You must revise, edit and proof read the entire book. Remember, factual errors and typos can undermine all the hard work invested into the creation of this book. Even after your revision, the client can suggest some changes. It’s all a part of the book designing process.
Step 8 : Publishing the book:
You can send the book for print after double checking the margins and bleeds. Ensure the resolution is set at 300 dpi or higher. You can include all the important files with fonts and links and send it to final printing.
Our experienced book designers follow all the above steps strictly and make sure that the book satisfies both the author as well as the readers.