The best book designers for hire near Chicago

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Eugene 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

I'm a talented freelance illustrator who specializes in creating eye catching sci-fi, fantasy, horror and YA fiction illustrations.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Kids designer/illustrator who loves storytelling, fun facts, cute macabre, fantasy, + nature. Let's create rad books—for the kid in us all♥️

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

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks
  • Self-employed

C.J. 5 star rating

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

Kim 5 star rating

Austin, United States

Experienced print book designer/compositor specializing in photography, allied health, technology, academic, and other non-fiction.

Genres: Computers & Internet, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Photography, DIY & Crafts, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Pearson Education
  • BuildNet, Inc.

Annemieke 5 star rating

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

Ellen 5 star rating

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

Kelly 5 star rating

Wilmington, DE, United States

I love how good design can complete a writer's vision and make it engaging. Fantasy, thrillers, historical and fiction really get me going.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and New Adult.

Work experience:

  • Four Dog Creative
  • Delaware Today
  • Delaware Bride
  • Self-employed

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Ashley 5 star rating

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

Mary Ann 5 star rating

New York, United States

With 20+ years experience in fiction, rom-com, wellness and career guides, my clients include Simon and Schuster and PenguinRandomHouse.

Genres: Career Guides, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Penguin Random House

Brianna 5 star rating

New York, United States

I'm a freelance book cover designer and illustrator with nearly a decade of in-house experience at a top publishing house.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Travel, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Music, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sports & Outdoors, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ricardo 5 star rating

Philadelphia, United States

I'm illustrator and Graphic Designer. I love the freedom children's book illustration brings. I love small details just kids can understand.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Nature, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Fantasy, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Elynn 5 star rating

South Orange, United States

A versatile, creative, collaborative book design professional who designs covers and interiors with a focus on the children's market.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Picture Books, Children's, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Comics & Graphic Novels, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Freelance

Jakob 5 star rating

Portland, United States

Specializing in detail-oriented interior designs and layouts for print editions

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Poetry, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Education & Reference, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Tin House
  • Self-employed
  • Submit Magazine
  • Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Taylor 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, United States

Experienced designer (+ avid reader) previously of Chronicle Books | Thoughtful layout + covers | Booking for fall 2025

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

Alan 5 star rating

New York, United States

Book design and production specialist with more than 30 years experience working for self-published authors through major publishers.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Sex & Relationships, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Oxford University Press
  • Courier Corporation

WJ 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Check my work, trust me and I won't let you down. picturebook Illustrator / character designer / general illustrator

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

David 5 star rating

Guilford, United States

I believe that book cover design has the power to crystalize and elevate the author's intent and expression.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Hire the best book designers in Chicago

Poor book design and layout can make even a great book look sloppy, so it's important to get it right. But lots of authors don’t know where to start when it comes to formatting their book — it’s a complex process that requires very specific skills, after all. That’s why you need to invest in a professional book designer.

An experienced book designer knows how to present your work in the best possible way. They will look at your book cover, interior book design, and images (if you have any) to produce a polished and professional design. Whether you need clean formatting or detailed illustrations for your cover, you’re going to want a pro to do the job right.

At Reedsy, we have an extensive directory of skilled book designers in Chicago. All our professionals have been reviewed based on proven skills and experience — you just have to sign up to start browsing amazing book designers' profiles, and even request quotes from them for free.

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Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

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Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

Request quotes from up to five freelancers at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.