Berenice Howard-Smith – Designer

Award-winning book designer, ready to work with you.

"Berenice was a wonderful designer to partner with on our first book. She was impeccably timely, kept us consistently informed about progress and deliverable status, and brought a warm, professional presence to every step of the process. We instantly loved the cover design she sent us, and we've come to realize just how much it contributes to the whole feeling of the book and to the work itself. Beyond the design, Berenice was steady and supportive through a process that became more complex than we initially anticipated. Our manuscript wasn't copyedited as it should have been, and she stayed the course with us. When things got tough, she was also a genuine cheerleader: encouraging, calm, and able to walk us through options and possibilities in a way that helped us keep moving forward. Anne and I are very happy with the final book design, and we're grateful we had Berenice guiding the project from start to finish." — Patricia Pfost

My love of design began at school, watching a video about life as a commercial artist. Since then I've built a career in book design across agencies and publishers, working on covers and campaigns for titles by Chaucer, Shakespeare, D.H. Lawrence, and the African and Caribbean Writers series.

I hold an MA in Graphic Design and Typography, and I've won awards from Whitefox and various exam bodies, alongside consistently glowing client reviews. I'm an endorsed partner of the Alliance of Independent Authors, meeting their exacting standards through a rigorous review process, and I regularly guest-lecture on MA Publishing courses and run workshops on design, book design, and fonts.

"We have relied heavily on Berenice's design skills and have received fantastic results. She is a true asset to our project." — Debra and Naomi, The Association of Jewish Refugees

I help authors bring their books to life through thoughtful, bespoke design — whether it's your first title or your tenth. My portfolio spans fiction, nonfiction, classic reissues, interactive PDFs, and complex layouts, and I offer a complete service:

Covers tailored to your genre and readers, with an eye on market trends

Interior design that invisibly supports your words through strong typography, spacing, and navigation

Custom visuals — infographics, tables, diagrams, and forms

My process is collaborative from the start:

A video call to discuss your goals, audience, and vision

A sample chapter to establish the design style

Full manuscript design once that's approved

You'll always know exactly what's included, what it costs, and what's optional — no hidden charges — and if the scope changes, I'll flag it straight away so we can decide together how to move forward.

I love working with authors who value good design, come to me with a copyedited manuscript, and are ready to invest in a professional finish. If you're looking for a partner with design skills honed at leading publishing houses who genuinely cares about your book, I'd love to hear about your project.