Overview
A highly experienced art director and book designer with over 20 years' experience. As an ex Senior in-house designer at Penguin Random House NZ, I've worked across a wide range of genres, including cookbooks, self-help, children's picture books, biographies, and literary and commercial fiction.
I'm a typography nerd who keeps a close eye on current design and market trends. I understand what it takes to design a book that reaches the right audience, stands out on the shelf, and reflects the quality and care invested in your project.
I love the research phase, and will always take the time to properly understand a project's scope before design begins.
I'm highly flexible, open to ideas, and committed to the timelines my clients set.
I also offer package deals for authors who want one designer across cover, interior layout, EPUB, and marketing materials, just ask.
TESTIMONIALS:
‘Cat has been an absolute delight to work with, a consummate professional, and perhaps most importantly a talented, sensitive and highly productive designer. In other words, a total star.’ - Jeremy Sherlock (Sherlock & Co. Publishing)
‘I cannot recommend Cat highly enough. The quality of her work is excellent and always highly accurate while also being on-point, whatever its intended market. Her speed of delivery is super-human. She is always a mature, capable and low-drama contributor to any project – even (especially) – the biggest and most complicated ones. And she has great taste.’ - Claire Murdoch (Head of Publishing, Penguin Random House New Zealand)
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Cookbook. PANZ Book Design Awards 2025. That Green Olive, Olivia Moore
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Commercial Book for Adults. PANZ Book Design Awards 2025. At The Grand Glacier Hotel, Laurence Fearnley
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Children's Book. PANZ Book Design Awards 2025. The Witch of Maketu and the Bleating Lambs, Anika Moa & Rebecca ter Borg
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Children's Book. PANZ Book Design Awards 2025. Nanny Rina’s Amazing Nets/Nga Kupenga a Nanny Rina, Qiane Matata-Sipu & Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Children's Book. PANZ Book Design Awards 2024. Lucy in the Dark, Melinda Szymanik & Vasanti Unka
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Cookbook. PANZ Book Design Awards 2024. The Lucky Taco Cookbook, Sarah & Otis Frizzell
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Commercial Book for Adults. PANZ Book Design Awards 2023. Small Holiday Houses by Catherine Foster
- WINNER - Best Commercial Book for Adults. PANZ Book Design Awards 2023. Wawata - Moon Dreaming by Dr Hinemoa Elder
- WINNER - Best Cookbook. PANZ Book Design Awards 2022. Homecooked: Seasonal recipes for every day by Lucy Corry
- HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Cookbook. PANZ Book Design Awards 2022. Supergood by Chelsea Winter
- WINNER - Best Cookbook. PANZ Book Design Awards 2021. Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine by Monique Fiso
- HIGHLY COMMENDED – Best Commercial Book for Adults. PANZ Book Design Awards 2020. The Brilliance of Birds by Skye Wishart and Edin Whitehead
Work experience
Self-employed
Penguin Random House NZ
Cat has 1 review
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Steve O.
Aug, 2026
