17+ Best Book Designers for Hire near Chicago

Ashley

Chicago, IL, USA

A book nerd with a decade of experience in solving the puzzle of interior page design. Big time romance, memoir, & weird science reader.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, New Adult, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, True Crime, Dark Romance, and Sex & Relationships.

Work experience:

Sourcebooks

View Ashley's full profile

Ashley

Chicago, IL, USA

I'm an agency Sr. Art Director with a MFA in creative writing. Background in illustration and branding. Designed 40+ books for Reedsy.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, Poetry, LGBTQ Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

Write Bloody Publishing
NPR - Austin, TX
Gap Online
Ladders
Democratic National Committee
Bully Pulpit Interactive

View Ashley's full profile

sarah

Chicago, IL, USA

Illustrator with a passion for drawing delicious food and drink! Also a comics nerd, and the artist behind the Let's Make! cookbook series.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-Employed
fathead design

View sarah's full profile

Sarah

Chicago, IL, USA

Professional artist and designer specializing in portraiture. Let me bring your stories to life!

Genres: Holiday, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Young Adult, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-Employed

View Sarah's full profile

WJ

Chicago, IL, USA

Do you want stress-free outsourcing? A communicative picturebook Illustrator / character designer / general illustrator. Feel free to reach

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, Contemporary Fiction, and Design.

Work experience:

co.Aniframe
Self-employed

View WJ's full profile

C.J.

Chicago, IL, USA

I'm an award-winning illustrator, well-versed both in realistic nature-based and fantasy painting and children's media ✨

Genres: Nature, Non-Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Children's, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
U.S Chess Federation (Freelance Client)
Gallopade
Cepia, LLC

View C.J.'s full profile

Samantha

California, United States

Children's Illustrator and designer specialized in colorful, whimsical illustrations with experience from Disney.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Jam City
RockYou Inc.
Walt Disney Interactive
Book Buddy Media

View Samantha's full profile

Andrea

Chicago, IL, USA

I’m an artist with a knack for illustration, hand lettering and painting. I love creating bold and colorful pieces!

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Romance, True Crime, Non-Fiction, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

Self-employed

View Andrea's full profile

Heather

Chicago, IL, USA

Experienced cover designer of adult fiction and non-fiction genres. Let's make your book a best-seller!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Coming of Age, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Magical Realism, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

Sourcebooks

View Heather's full profile

Hokyoung

New York, United States

I am an illustrator interested in making images with strong moods and narratives.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Classics, Mystery & Crime, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

Self-employed

View Hokyoung's full profile

Taylor

San Francisco, CA, United States

Experienced designer (+ avid reader) previously of Chronicle Books | Thoughtful editorial layout + covers | Booking for May 2026 + beyond

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Poetry, Fiction, Career Guides, Entertainment, Contemporary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

Chronicle Books
Gershoni Creative Agency
Self-employed

View Taylor's full profile

Ashley

Portland, ME, United States

I'm an art director, graphic designer and illustrator that loves book design, typography and the interplay of graphics and text.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Nature, Home & Garden, Middle Grade, Education & Reference, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

HarperCollins Publishers
Macmillan Children's Books
Sellers Publishing, Inc.

View Ashley's full profile

Ellen

Chicago, IL, USA

Art director with more than ten years of experience in publishing, finding delight in all kinds of book design.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

Cottage Door Press
Albert Whitman & Company

View Ellen's full profile

Candice

Iowa City, IA, United States

Award-winning fantasy illustrator. 100% hand-made with no generative AI. Providing cover design, typography, marketing assets, and more!

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Bovard Studio, Inc.

View Candice's full profile

Judith

Chicago, IL, United States

Lettering artist and illustrator for 25 years. Bold, clean, graphic style—bright color palettes—contemporary look.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Design, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Themes & Motifs, and Plays & Screenplays.

Work experience:

Self-employed

View Judith's full profile

Annemieke

Seattle, WA, United States

Hi! I'm a cover designer with 10 years of experience, specializing in YA fiction. Clients include HarperCollins and Galison/Mudpuppy.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Architecture, Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Design, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

Self-employed

View Annemieke's full profile

Nicole

Chicago, IL, USA

Designer and Art Director with 10 years of industry experience, specializing in YA and Adult. Has worked on 15 New York Times bestsellers.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Horror, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience: