Travis Hasenour

Travis Hasenour - Designer

Louisville, KY, USA

Designer and map illustrator specializing in high fantasy maps—here to make your fantasy world a reality

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Overview

I am a book designer and map illustrator with a passion for children's, middle grade, and young adult books. My experience in publishing has given me the opportunity to work on NYT bestsellers, as well as books for Sesame Street, Disney, and Marvel.

Need a map for your fantasy novel? I’d love to work with you! My style is unique to each and every map, tailored to meet your vision. I am determined to make sure you are 100% satisfied with the end result.

As a writer myself, I know that world-building is a work of love. It’s personal. And I want to do whatever I can to bring your world to life. Maps have an amazing effect on the reader. They solidify your world, make it something that is tangible, concrete—a door in which your reader will love to step through time and time again.



My Process:

First, we'll talk strategy. What genre will the map fall under—high fantasy, contemporary, historical? Do you have any examples of maps that you've seen that you like? What locations will be labeled? Full color or black and white? Trim size?

Next, I'll start with a sketch and basic type in black and white. Providing feedback in a sketch stage helps ensure that the final result is solid and saves on rounds of revisions.

Finally, I'll send the final map for review. You'll copyedit and provide any feedback, and I'll make revisions until you are completely satisfied.



The Timeframe:

Map illustration can take anywhere from 15–40 hours total, spread over 2-8 weeks. I'm flexible and will do my best to work out a schedule that meets your needs. If it's a rush job, I may ask for an additional fee. The sooner we start working, the better!



The Fee:

Yep, let's talk about the not-so-fun part. I charge a flat fee for all map illustration, to be paid upon completion. This fee is calculated with an hourly rate and the estimated hours for the project, which I'll provide in a quote.

I understand that budgets can be tight. So whatever your budget may be, we can negotiate on the scope of the project—for example level of detail, full color vs black and white—to adjust how many hours the project will take. The important thing is, I want to work with YOU!



Thanks for reading this far! Please take a look at my work below, and reach out if you'd like to work together. I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks,
Travis
Languages
English
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Epic Fantasy
Middle Grade Fantasy
Picture Books
Science Fiction
Young Adult Fantasy

Work experience

Graphic Designer

Kidsbooks Publishing
February, 2020 – Present (about 3 years)

Design covers for a variety of children’s board books, activity books, workbooks, and coloring books for ages 0-13
Art direct children’s storybooks with freelance illustrators

Production Designer II

Sourcebooks
June, 2015 – February, 2020 (over 4 years)

Design internal pages for fiction, non-fiction, calendars, and children’s books
Design front covers in-house for a variety of children’s books
Set full cover layouts, including the spine and back cover to create an eye-catching packaging
Create cover treatments for each book—including lamination, spot gloss, emboss, glitter UV, foil stamp, print over foil, Pantone inks—and create the necessary spot files for the printer

Travis has 5 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

JacQueline Roe
Travis is wonderful to work with! His work is superb and I highly recommend spending the money to get quality illustrative maps from him. (Also, he has patience and a sense of humor, which helps when I make missteps in not stating what I need clearly.)

JacQueline Roe, October 2021


Shelley Nolden
Travis was an absolute pleasure to work with and I am THRILLED with the finished product. For my novel, The Vines, Travis created the first ever 3D-like map illustration of North Brother Island. To achieve this feat, he conducted significant research, as well as worked closely with me to gain an understanding of the buildings that needed to be depicted. Travis was professional, timely, and resp...
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Shelley Nolden, January 2021


Gabriela Quinones
Travis was so wonderful to work with! Went beyond expectations with the commission and kept in touch with updates and questions throughout the process.

Gabriela Quinones, December 2020


Macaulay Christian
Travis was excellent to work with. Delivered exactly what I envisioned and, with various subtle details, exceeded my expectations. I'm very pleased with what he created and would work with again in the future.

Macaulay Christian, November 2020


JacQueline Roe
Travis was able to take my amateur sketches and ask specific questions to create gorgeous maps for my series. My readers are so excited and I am thrilled. I look forward to continue working with him as we continue to uncover the journeys my characters are on!

JacQueline Roe, September 2020

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