Akihiro Nakayama

Akihiro Nakayama – Designer

Designer with 23 years of experience creating innovative covers and layouts for major publishers, blending creativity with precision.

Overview

I am a highly experienced Graphic Designer specializing in book publishing with a focus on typography. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Graphic Design from Central St Martins, where I honed my skills in typography. Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, I have extensive experience across a wide range of book genres, including cookery, adult reference, and illustrated and non-illustrated books, covering trade, co-edition, and promotional markets.


Over the course of my freelance career, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with prestigious publishers such as Google, Ebury Publishing, Penguin Books, Hachette, Bloomsbury, Palgrave Macmillan, and many more. This exposure to diverse projects has provided me with unique insights into the needs of different audiences—an advantage that in-house designers may not always experience.


I am adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously, adjusting to different design styles, and meeting deadlines efficiently. With strong communication skills, I ensure clear and effective collaboration with clients and stakeholders, confidently giving and receiving feedback.


Beyond layout and cover design, I have comprehensive experience preparing files for print, commissioning photography and illustration, managing budgets, and overseeing the print process, including co-editions. Additionally, I have worked on digital media and marketing campaigns, designing assets for various platforms and creating Instagram videos using After Effects.


Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Design Photography
Certifications
  • BA (Hons) Graphic Design
  • MA Communication Design

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2016 — Present

Based in London, I’m an Art Director with experience in both print (books, magazines, brochures) and digital design (websites, eBooks, iOS apps). With a passion for typography and a strong background in branding and photography, I focus on minimalism and modernism to create effective, visually engaging designs.

Guided by the principle of “simple and effective graphic design,” I tailor each project to meet my client’s needs, whether it’s corporate, personal, or somewhere in between. My work spans from sophisticated, history-driven designs to fresh, youthful aesthetics, always ensuring the visual identity aligns with the client’s vision.

I’ve collaborated with top publishers, including Google, Penguin Books, and Bloomsbury, gaining a unique insight into diverse audience needs across multiple non-fiction genres.

ARCTURUS PUBLISHING

Jan, 2010 — Sep, 2016 (over 6 years)

The principle skills demanded by my current post include designing book jackets, layouts, picture editing, subbing and designing marketing products, including sales catalogues, stationery materials and promotional posters . I also have worked on Arcturus’ digital list. For one of their most successful titles Alan Carr Easyway I

designed the App and UI.

QUINTESSENCE, QUARTO GROUP

Nov, 2006 — Dec, 2009 (about 3 years)

In my role as Art Director I expanded my skills within the framework of co-edition publishing. I was responsible for all aspects of the process from designing book jackets to layouts, art directing photo-shoots, commissioning photographers and illustrators, picture editing, subbing and designing marketing products, such as sales catalogues, stationery and promotional posters.

Portfolio

Cover Design Typography
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
The Heinz Tomato Ketchup Book

H.J. Heinz Foods UK Limited

Ebury Digital

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Drive to Succeed

Mansour, Mohamed

Ebury Press

Cover Design Typography
The Art of Peace

Khalili, Sir David

Ebury Press

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography
Beatlemania in America: Fan Culture from Below

Hunt, Andrew

Bloomsbury Academic

Cover Design Typography
The Heinz Cookbook: 100 delicious recipes made with Heinz

H.J. Heinz Foods UK Limited

Ebury Press

Cover Design Illustration Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
The Heinz Beanz Book

Heinz

Ebury Press

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Hamilton-Paterson, James

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Chocolate Fit For A Queen

Historic Royal Palaces Enterprises Limited

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
How to Live Japanese

Yazawa, Yutaka

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Film Fables (Bloomsbury Revelations)

Ranciere, Jacques

Bloomsbury Academic

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Mindfulness (Bloomsbury Revelations)

Heidegger, Martin

Bloomsbury Academic

Cover Design Illustration Typography
The Odyssey (Bloomsbury Revelations)

Homer

Bloomsbury Academic

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Libidinal Economy (Bloomsbury Revelations)

Lyotard, Jean-Francois

Bloomsbury Academic

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Cover Design Illustration Typography
Made with Reedsy
STEADFAST: Saint Maur’s 150 Years atop the Yokohama Bluff

Scoggins, Glenn

Independently published

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Doctor Who: Paper Dolls: A Coloring Book

Guerrier, Simon

Harper Paperbacks

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
501 Movie Directors

Schneider, Steven Jay

B E S Pub Co

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
1001 Foods You Must Try Before You Die

Case Frances (Ed.)

Penguin

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
1001 Foods

Frances Case

Edition Olms

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
1001 Historic Sites: You Must See Before You Die

RICHARD [ED.] CAVENDISH

Barron's Educational Series, I

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
1001 Inventions That Changed the World

Challoner, Jack

B E S Pub Co

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
1001 Days That Shaped the World

Furtado, Peter

B E S Pub Co

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
1001 Days That Shaped the World

Unknown

Cassell Illustrated

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design

Akihiro has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Glenn S.

Glenn S.

Jun, 2024

Pinned
My collaboration with Akihiro (Aki) Nakayama was extremely successful and enjoyable, thanks to his professionalism, experience, and engaging personality. He always responded punctually to any query, and his solutions showed his talent and creativity. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to any other author.
Eric Y.

Eric Y.

Jun, 2021

Pinned
Akihiro’s design work was excellent and it was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with him! Not only is he skilled, professional, and timely, but from the very first meeting he helped me set clear goals and objectives in order to ensure a quality product. Communication is key when collaborating and Aki was very attentive to my ideas while also offering helpful feedback, alternatives, and sampl...
Read more

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