Berenice Howard-Smith – Designer

“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 (clients from Reedsy).

Hello!

I help authors bring their books to life with thoughtful design based on years of hands-on experience. Whether you’re publishing your first book or adding another title to your list, my goal is to create a bespoke design and I do my best to make this process smooth, collaborative, and genuinely exciting. I'm typically booked up to a month in advance.

My portfolio spans nonfiction, guides, marketing material, interactive PDF files and complex layouts.

When you work with me, you’ll always have a clear picture of what’s included, how much it costs, and any extras or options — no hidden extras or surprise charges. If the scope changes, I’ll let you know right away so we can decide together how to move forward.

I have a Master’s Degree in Graphic Design and Typography, and my work has been recognised with awards from Cambridgeshire Culture, IPSE, Digital Women, and AQA. After gaining hands-on skills in creative studios and publishing environments, I now run my own design micro-agency.

If you’re looking for an art director with design skills honed at leading publishing houses, who genuinely cares about your book and knows how to make it stand out, I’d love to collaborate.

I offer a complete design service:

- Covers that work for your genre and readers, with attention to market trends.

- Book interior design that's so good, it's invisibly supporting your words. It includes perfect typography, great use of space, and useful page navigation such as headings, chapter openers, pull quotes, sidebars, and icons.

- Custom visuals such as infographics, data tables, diagrams, and fill-in forms.

- If you’re new to indie publishing, I am happy to support you wtih advice so you understand the process for platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

My process is collaborative. Once you've agreed to work with me this is what happens:

- We have a video call to discuss your goals, audience, and vision.

- I review your manuscript and create sample chapter layouts to establish your design style.

- Once approved, I apply the design to your full book, ensuring consistency, clarity, and polish.

It's really helpful for me to quote with these files:

- A sample chapter from your manuscript

- Any required visuals

- For covers, a few examples of designs you admire

I love working with authors who appreciate the power of good design, who have a copyedited manuscript and are ready to invest in a professional finish.

My design services offer equal services regardless of sex, marital or civil partnership status, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, maternity, childless or childfree or religion. I am an EDIB (equity, diversity, and inclusion facilitator) and ally to LGBTQIA+.

If this sounds like the right fit, I’d love to hear more about your project.

Berenice