Harma Makken – Designer

I'm a graphic designer and illustrator, specialized in book design. I design books as a whole: concept, illustration and layout come together in one coherent visual system.

Illustration is central to my practice. I use it to translate complex ideas into clear, engaging visuals — ones that don't just support the text, but deepen it. I work on both fiction and non-fiction, with a particular interest in projects where content and form genuinely need each other.

I've designed over 150 academic and research publications — projects that often combine dense text with complex tables, data visualisations and large numbers of figures. Handling that kind of material has sharpened my eye for structure, consistency and visual clarity.

Working together is straightforward and transparent. I guide you from the first idea to print-ready files, with clear communication and room for feedback at every stage. My work is focused on print design — cover design, illustration and book interior layout for print.

I'm based in the Netherlands and work with clients internationally.