The Design of Books: An Explainer for Authors, Editors, Agents, and Other Curious Readers -- Debbie Berne, Paperback

Seasoned designer Debbie Berne presents an accessible introduction to book design for authors, editors, and other book people.

Design is central to the appeal, messaging, and usefulness of books, but to most readers, it's mysterious or even invisible. Through interiors as well as covers, designers provide structure and information that shape the meaning and experience of books. In The Design of Books, Debbie Berne shines a light on the conventions and processes of her profession, revealing both the aesthetic and market-driven decisions designers consider to make books readable and beautiful. In clear, unstuffy language, Berne reveals how books are put together, with discussions of production considerations, typography and fonts, page layouts, use of images and color, special issues for ebooks, and the very face of each book: the cover.

The Design of Books speaks to readers and directly to books' creators--authors, editors, and other publishing professionals--helping them to become more informed partners in the design of their projects. Berne lays out the practical steps at each stage of the design process, providing insight into who does what when and offering advice for authors on how to be effective advocates for their ideas while also letting go and trusting their manuscripts with teams of professionals. She includes guidance as well for self-publishing authors, including where to find a designer, what to expect from that relationship, and how to art direct your own book.

Throughout, Berne teaches how understanding the whats, hows, and whys of book design heightens our appreciation of these cherished objects and helps everyone involved in the process to create more functional, desirable, and wonderful books.


Author: Debbie Berne
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 03/12/2024
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 8.70h x 6.00w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780226822952

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 11/01/2023 pg. 3
Library Journal 02/01/2024 pg. 92
Shelf Awareness 04/05/2024

About the Author
Debbie Berne has been a professional book designer since 2002 and has designed hundreds of books and book covers. This is the first book she has both written and designed.