17+ Best Book Designers for Hire near Chicago

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

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

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

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

Jon

Chicago, IL, USA

Bold yet practical, cold-brew-drinking book designer with 20+ years in publishing, ready to help make your book a bestseller.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Sports & Outdoors, Political Science & Current Affairs, Music, Parenting & Families, True Crime, and Travel.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Independent Publishers Group, Chicago Review Press, and Triumph Books
Chicago Review Press

View Jon's full profile

Daimon

Chicago, IL, USA

Daimon is an comic book illustrator and Designer from Chicago who believes in honesty in art and in life.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, African American Fiction, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

Dc comics
Chirp RADIO Chicago
The Microphone Misfitz
Eddie Klinker
Shein
Round table Companies

View Daimon'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

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

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:

Sourcebooks
Self-employed

View Nicole's full profile

Penny

Holbrook, United States

I have been lucky enough to work as a Children's Book Illustrator since 2007.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, and Middle Grade.

Work experience:

self employed

View Penny'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

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

Alan

New York, United States

Book design and production specialist with more than 35 years experience working for self-published authors through major publishers.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Sex & Relationships, Technology, Engineering, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Oxford University Press
Courier Corporation

View Alan'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

Caroline Teagle

Brooklyn, NY, United States

I am not accepting any new requests to collaborate at this time.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Entertainment, Mystery & Crime, True Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Penguin Random House
Random House
Penguin Publishing Group
HarperCollins

View Caroline Teagle's full profile

Taylor

San Francisco, CA, United States

Experienced designer (+ avid reader) previously @ Chronicle Books | Thoughtful editorial layout + covers | 1 more project spot Sept 2026!

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

Work experience: