Berenice Howard-Smith

Berenice Howard-Smith – Designer

Award-winning book cover and interior page designer, project manager and website designer.

Overview

Imagine if you could have...

- Have a reliable set of files that you can send to press

- A beautiful print book design that’s bespoke to your project and right for your readers

- A gorgeous cover with illustrations or images which are copyright cleared so there’s no problem with legals

- A set of concept designs that you can mix and match

- Guidance on the production and workflow so your project runs simply

- Experienced image source


“We have relied heavily on Berenice’s design skills and have received fantastic results. She is a trusted member of our team who always keeps us well informed of her progress. She is exceptionally efficient, whilst always giving attention to detail. Her friendly, approachable disposition is an added bonus. She is a true asset to our book project.” Debra and Naomi, The Association of Jewish Refugees (clients from Reedsy)


I love to work with authors and small independent publishers across fiction, reference and academic fields in print and ebook. I offer a complete design and project management service, including commissioning illustrators and image research from the moment you type 'The End' to the book launch.


My fees include planning, development, project management and three revision stages (or proofs) and a whole load of other relevant skills that I’ve gained over the years including scheduling, fonts and colours. What you’ll get is a professional, senior-level creative with a Masters Degree in Graphic Design and Typography and a library of practical hands-on, real-life experience based on years of working efficiently in creative studios.


You get one set fee for the entire scope of the work with any extras listed up front, so you always know the exact cost and exactly what’s included. There are no hidden fees or nasty surprises — if your project starts to stray into ‘scope creep’, I’ll always let you know first.


I live in lovely Cambridge in the UK where I'm owned by my rescue dog.


Let's bring your words to life through collaborations, I can't wait to get started!

Services
Fiction
Anthologies Classics Literary Fiction Middle Grade Short Story Women's Fiction
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction Education & Reference History Writing & Publishing
Languages
English
Works with
Squarespace
Awards
  • White Fox 2018 award for Unsung Hero in Publishing
  • Digital Woman One to Watch 2020
  • Member of AQA Product Team of the Year 2019
  • Cambridgeshire Digital Awards for website design (culture)
  • Endorsed by Alliance of Independent Authors
  • Digital Women Creator 2022
  • Digital Women of the Year Website Designer 2023
Certifications
  • UX Academy
  • Publishing Training Centre Picture Research
  • Publishing Training Centre Publishing Management
  • Publishing Training Centre Copywriting
  • Typefi XML Certification
  • B.A. Hons English Literature (Open University)
  • B.A. Hons Fine Art
  • Masters in Graphic Design and Typography

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2016 — Present

Hello Lovely provides the services of larger agencies with the close attention of a small business. Based in Cambridge, I established this collaborative design service which works across print and websites, to detangle design. All too often I'd hear of stories where communication had failed or there was an issue of poor practice and I wanted to create an ethical and transparent design service.

Hello Lovely is award-winning yet remains true to my ethics of professionalism, freely sharing knowledge with clients and a friendly and educational approach. The design services are endorsed by The Alliance of Independent Authors for good practice and fair pricing.

Cambridge University Press

Nov, 2013 — Feb, 2019 (over 5 years)

Developing a new brand for UK Schools publishing team. Delivery the concept design on award-winning print, digital media, websites and ePublishing for GCSE and A/AS Level products. Supervision of Masters in Publishing students and delivered design workshops to undergraduate design students. I have represented the Press at careers workshops and school events. Recommended for the role by former Pearson colleagues.

Pearson and Penguin

Jul, 2010 — Sep, 2013 (about 3 years)

I delivered the concept design and handled design project management for global print and book publishing including covers and inner pages for fiction, academic and educational markets. Working on complex publishing products in a fast paced environment. Attention to accessible design and sensitivity to global markets was a key part of this role. Handled budgets, bought artwork and commissioned freelance staff, contributed to schedules and development of DAM systems.

M&M Communications

Apr, 2002 — Jun, 2010 (about 8 years)

Manager of design team comprising mid and junor weight designers. Responsible for team development, attending client pitches and leading the concept design of new projects. Work included branding development and communication delivery for including weekly and monthly magazines, guides, programmes, newsletters both print and online. Working with marketing teams at clients on the development and application of branding. Creation of exhibition stand and promotional material for Young Designer of the Year, held at the NEC for The Interiors Show. Attention to detail, creativity and great communication skills was an important part of this senior role, dealing with high value accounts including United Parcels Service, Ercol, Parker Knoll and The Teenage Cancer Trust.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
The Evangeline Series: Persist

Aurelius, Astrid

Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Evangeline Series: Collide

Aurelius, Astrid

Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Fifth of August

Lombard, Carl

Cover Design Illustration Typography
A Midlife Baby

Cary J Hansson

Helen's week in Cyprus has left her on a high! She's back home, and determined to make changes as she forges ahead with the second half of her life. But events soon take an unexpected turn, leaving her plans in tatters and her loyalties divided. Overwhelmed by... read more
Cover Design Production Management
Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Production Management
The Fifth of August

Lombard, Carl

Cover Design Illustration
Cover Design Illustration Book Interior Design
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Rex Gibson Teaching Shakespeare is a major contribution to the knowledge and expertise of all teachers of Shakespeare in schools, colleges and institutions of higher education. It makes explic... read more
Cover Design Typography Production Management
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Illustration Production Management
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Essential study guides for the future linguist. Language Change is an introduction to how English has developed, grown and changed through history. It is suitable for students at advanced leve... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
A new series of bespoke, full-coverage resources developed for the 2015 GCSE English qualifications. Written for the AQA GCSE English Literature specification for first teaching from 2015, thi... read more
Cover Design
GCSE English Literature for AQA Poetry Student Book
Cover Design
Cover Design
Explores life on the Makuyu and Kameno ridges of Kenya in the early days of white settlement. Faced with an alluring, new religion and magical customs, the Gikuyu people are torn between those... read more
Cover Design Illustration
Paperback. Pub Date :2008-03-04 Pages: 64 Language: English Publisher: Pearson Precious Ramotswe is a kind. warm-hearted and large African lady She is also the only female private detective in... read more
Cover Design Illustration
A new series of bespoke, full-coverage resources developed for the AQA 2015 A/AS Level History. Writ....
Cover Design

Berenice has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Carl L.

Carl L.

Apr, 2021

Berenice was great to work with. She produced the cover design and page layout. She offered five cover suggestions working from a two page synopsis of the book and I was very impressed with her design suggestions which interpreted the synopsis perfectly. Berenice also gave me page payouts in a number of formats suitable for different online publishing platforms. All in all I would highly recom...
Read more
Berenice H.
I enjoyed working with Carl, his brief was great and shows his past experience. He took the time to come back to me with clear and precise feedback and I would happily work with him again. And his ...
Read more
H.D. M.

H.D. M.

Oct, 2020

Working with Berenice exceeded my expectations in every way. She is extremely talented and her work is of the most amazing quality. She is so easy and flexible to work with and answered my many questions quickly and clearly. I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Berenice H.
I really enjoyed working with H D Michaels. She's such an original writer and her text was an interesting creative challenge which I loved, it got my grey cells working hard! It was a joy to work o...
Read more
Debra B.

Debra B.

May, 2018

It has been a pleasure working with Berenice. She has over-exceeded my expectations and delivered an excellent book design at a reasonable price to the approval of everyone concerned. I came across Reedsy by chance as I really didn't know where to start in looking for someone to help with our book design and it has been a great success. Highly recommended!
Berenice H.
Thank you Debra. I have really enjoyed working on this moving and interesting project. It's been great to work with a professional and friendly editor who is so experienced in publishing.

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