Donna Esiri

Donna Esiri – Designer

Former Harlequin (Mills and Boon) cover designer of romance, chick-lit and thriller books. Experienced designer with a passion for design

Overview

I've been a designer for 20+ years and spent over 8 of them working in book publishing working on designing book covers, advertising, POS and web material something I love to do.

I have a huge amount of enthusiasm as design is my passion. I have the work-ethic to go that extra mile as I pride myself on creating high-quality material that delivers the brief. At times customers have a clear idea of what they are after and I can translate that into a tangible piece of work. At other times, customers require far more input from me and this is where my creative flair comes into its own. I am equally comfortable with either approach and enjoy working collaboratively with as much or as little input or involvement as needed.


Something I think I do particularly well is to consider the designs I produce and how they will appeal to different audiences, either through the style of design, or the media used to present the design. Design is about grabbing the attention of a wide and varied audience, I’m confident my strength in these areas will be ideal and just what you’re be looking for.


Historically I have been successful in producing positive results. All my roles have been fast-paced and have involved learning new methods of doing things which I enjoy. Meeting deadlines and getting designs delivered on time is another key skill. I have an extensive portfolio of work, along with experience in different sectors, all of which required an entirely different approach.

One of my strengths is I don't take feedback personally, I will take on the feedback provided, question what I need and will happily explain what or why the design has been created in this way.


Areas of Expertise:

Graphic Design | Content Creation | Brand Development | Digital Design | Creative Communications

Brochures and Newsletters | Online Presentations | Studio Management | Workflow Processes
Project Management | People Management | Budget Management


Services
Fiction
Chick Lit Contemporary Romance Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English
Certifications
  • Btech National Diploma Multi-Media
  • GVNQ Art & Design

Work experience

Harlequin UK Ltd

Mar, 2005 — May, 2013 (about 8 years)

Succeeded in improving and streamlining the design process by reviewing workflows and managing budgets and schedules.

Established and grew the team and recruited 10+ new freelance designers ensuring all project goals were met.

Played a pivotal role in establishing a pool of 22 freelance designers, developed a backlist of 1000+ cover titles for digital publishing, and led cover production/imagery selection of 50 to 60 Mills and Boon books.

Delivered a significant reduction in image costs to save the business £35k per annum through effectively negotiating image costs and establishing trust partnerships with suppliers.

Self-employed

Aug, 2020 — Present

Currently working on a freelance basis to develop brand guidelines, social media campaigns, website materials, and graphic design collateral in line with client requirements.

Self-employed

Jul, 2015 — Feb, 2016 (7 months)

Worked with clients on a freelance basis to provide a range of graphic design, website graphics, flyers, brochures, and other marketing collateral in line with client brand guidelines, timelines, and budgets.

Portfolio

Under the covers... and unexpected! When Melanie Hawthorne sneaks into her new man’s bed one very dark night, she gets quite a few surprises. Great sex – toe-curling in fact. Intense emotion and real feelings – even better. But it’s all with the wrong man! Wak... read more
She takes hers tall, dark and extra hot! To coffee-shop owner Eva Meyer, the California coast is beautiful, mellow...and boring. The solution? Swapping lives–and coffee shops–with her twin sister for one month. Now Eva's settled in the bustling Big Apple, wher... read more
Paediatrician Cassie Ross has never forgotten her whirlwind affair with Dr Leith Ballantyne. But that was a lifetime ago. Now she needs a temporary job with the chance to start over. Only this time she has to ask Leith for help. And soon Leith’s determined to ... read more
Head nurse Scarlet Miller’s takenoprisoners attitude makes her a force to be reckoned with on the neonatal ward. But A&E doc and struggling single dad Lewis Jackson ties her heart up in knots! Suddenly this tough cookie nurse is wondering if she’s finally met ... read more
When gossip headlines announce that reluctant socialite Eleanor Aston is in a ‘relationship’ with smooth-talking Texan Tyler Donaldson, for one glorious night this fake fling becomes fact, not fiction! Devoted nurse Eleanor knows she’s in over her head with ne... read more
Dare Sydney dream of saying ‘I do’? The attraction between A&E doctors Marco Ranieri and Sydney Collins is instantaneous – and becomes a magical whirlwind affair, sweeping from London to sun-drenched Italy. It was supposed to be a strictly no-strings-attached ... read more
A daring night-time escape...inside the Marquis of Aldeborough’s carriage Mistaking Miss Frances Hanwell for a runaway kitchen servant, Hugh only realizes his grave error the next day. With scandal imminent, a reluctant marriage seems the only course of action... read more
ELIGIBLE! They have been summoned to London to enjoy the “delights” of the Season, yet neither Theodora Wooton-Devereux nor Lord Nicholas Faringdon is an enthusiastic participant in the game of love. IN LOVE! Until a chance meeting sets their lives on a differ... read more
The psychic world will never be the same again. Lucia Garza is trapped in a supernatural power struggle. To save a friend she agreed to work for sinister psychic organisation The Cross Society. But after a death threat that almost succeeds, she’s starting to t... read more
Jazz Callender’s whole life just got turned upside down. Her friend Ben’s been convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and Jazz is determined to clear his name, even if it means enlisting the help of dark forces. Enter James, a stranger with a mysterious offer. ... read more
Back On Blossom Street

Debbie Macomber

Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy' – Candis NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ‘Soon we were laughing and crying at the same time. That’s how it is sometimes. The laughter can be as healing as tears.’ Every Wednesday on Blossom Street a group of women meet for a k... read more
Susannah's Garden

Debbie Macomber

Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy' – Candis It was the year that changed everything. . . When Susannah Nelson turned eighteen, she said goodbye to her boyfriend, Jake–and never saw him again. She never saw her brother, Doug, again, either. He died unexpectedly ... read more
Home, heart and family. Sherryl Woods knows what truly matters. Heather Donovan never thought she’d be leaving Connor O’Brien, with their son in tow. Connor may be the love of her life, but she and her son deserve more than what Connor is willing to give. Ches... read more
Home, heart and family. Sherryl Woods knows what truly matters. After years apart, Mick and Megan O’Brien are finally ready to make it official...again. Most of their grown-up children couldn’t be happier about their rekindled love and impending marriage this ... read more
Step into a world of sophistication and glamour, where sinfully seductive heroes await you in luxurious international locations. A Ferrara should never share a bed with Baracchi – however high the stakes! Dark-hearted Santino Ferrara has always remembered how ... read more
The Italian’s baby bombshell! Two months ago, Irena and Vincenzo spent a heady week together. Their connection was instant, deep, strong. Yet it could never last – she was destined to marry another. But now Irena is pregnant and alone... Vincenzo has never for... read more
Step into a world of sophistication and glamour, where sinfully seductive heroes await you in luxurious international locations. The last woman he would ever marry The last time Andreas Ferrante saw Sienna Baker she was naively trying to seduce him. Whilst her... read more
What money can’t buy... Lucas Vieira needs a translator to seal a high-profile business deal, and also a woman to pose as his girlfriend to fend off a colleague’s over-eager wife – so why not kill two birds with one stone? Translator Caroline Hamilton jumps at... read more
This fearless playboy has everything to lose... For Franco Tolle, the golden boy of Europe’s jet-set society, life is just a playground – filled with racing speedboats on the azure Mediterranean Sea. When you’re rich and famous money is no object...and to hell... read more
From one desert prison to another... Jewelled veil weighing heavily on her head,?Zoe Martin waits for her sheikh husband-to-be. The shame of her adoptive family, orphan Zoe has endured six years of being kept as a slave – now she’s been sold into marriage...to... read more
Dares she defy the terms of her marriage? Ariston Spiridakou had one reason and one reason only for marrying Chloe: he needed a biddable bride to provide the requisite heir. Yet three years later Chloe’s status as good Greek wife is a distant memory – and her ... read more
What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It’s time to kick some hellion butt... After not-really-surviving her junior year (after all, she did die), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing ... read more

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