Jay Martsi

Jay Martsi – Designer

Classically inspired book designer and typographer with a focus on non-fiction, particularly historical and political titles.

Overview

I'm a book designer and typographer. I've worked with clients like the Associated Press and the Winston Churchill estate, and for publishers including the MIT Press (where I currently work full-time as a designer), Melville House, and RosettaBooks. I'd love to talk to you and see how I can help your project!

With a dozen years of experience in the publishing industry, I have a well-rounded understanding of how to present authors' work professionally as well as how to tailor it to specific audience/market expectations, to come out with a finished book that serves the years of labor and love that you as an author have poured into it.

I also like to carve wooden eating spoons; probably that hobby flows from the same sculptural appreciation of balancing form with function that makes me love the fine details of good typography!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs History Political Science & Current Affairs
Languages
English

Work experience

The MIT Press

Jan, 2022 — Present
I design custom book interiors for general-audience and academic nonfiction titles, including the image layout and typesetting, and also oversee creating and updating templates for interior designs.

The MIT Press

Aug, 2016 — Dec, 2021 (over 5 years)
I supervised the proofreading and prepress stages of book interiors and covers, including managing the work of typesetters and designers, and oversaw the physical manufacturing process including vendor and paper selection, cover printing, and reviewing press proofs for quality.

RosettaBooks

May, 2013 — Aug, 2016 (over 3 years)
I helped authors edit, design, print, digitize, and publish their trade nonfiction books, and shepherded e-books and print titles through the editorial, design, and production pipeline,

Melville House

Jan, 2013 — Nov, 2013 (10 months)
I supervised the internship program, handled sub-rights requests, bought office materials, kept minutes for some of the meetings, and did whatever else my publishers and editors needed help with. Great intro to the field at a fantastic indie publisher.

Portfolio

The House at Capo d'Orso

Brandolini, Sebastiano

The MIT Press

Book Interior Design Production Management
Book Interior Design Production Management
Book Interior Design Production Management
Book Interior Design Production Management
From Book 1: “A milestone, a monument, a magisterial achievement… rightly regarded as the most comprehensive life ever written of any age.”—Andrew Roberts, historian and author of The Storm of... read more
Cover Design
Saigon Has Fallen

Peter Arnett

“Peter Arnett is the best reporter of the Vietnam War.” ―David Halberstam, Journalist and HistorianIn this intimate and exclusive remembrance on the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, cel... read more
Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Thomas Code: Solving the mystery of the Gospel of Thomas

Laurie, S. P.

Hypostasis

Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Four Acres under Slavnik: A Slovenian Migration Story

Fradel, Amy

Head of Tide Press

Book Interior Design
Production Management
On the Perspective of Painting

della Francesca, Piero

The MIT Press

Book Interior Design Production Management
Production Management
On trial in Santiago for leading a bloody assault on the city’s Moncada garrison, young revolutionary leader Fidel Castro uttered a phrase in court that would come to serve as a rallying cry f... read more
Cover Design
Midnight Cowboy

James Leo Herlihy

Midnight Cowboy is considered by many to be one of the best American novels published since World War II. The main story centers around Joe Buck, a naive but eager and ambitious young Texan, w... read more
Cover Design
“The general reader, turning over the pages, will learn many things that are not of the slightest importance to him, but which he may, nevertheless, wish to know because other people occasiona... read more
Book Interior Design
“Let Kathryn in,” said Coretta Scott King to authorities. Three simple words that provided Kathryn Johnson, a reporter for The Associated Press’s Atlanta bureau, unprecedented access to the gr... read more
Book Interior Design

Jay has 4 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Amy F.

Amy F.

Oct, 2023

Pinned
When I decided to go with a professional designer for Four Acres under Slavnik, a history book I spent 12 years writing, I was mostly trying to relieve my stress caused by watching my husband trying to format my book. I am so glad that I went with Jay. I never realized how much difference a well-...
Read more
Amy F.

Amy F.

Jan, 2025

Jay was the original interior designer of my book, and when I needed to make a few changes, he did it in a gracious and timely manner. I enjoy working with him.
Fuzzy M.

Fuzzy M.

Aug, 2018

Great working with Jay, Very professional. The quality of work was great and Jay was more than will to ensure the end results were satisfactory. I'd would use and recommend his services again.
Stephen L.

Stephen L.

Feb, 2018

Jay typeset the print version of my book, The Thomas Code, and also produced the ebook file. The layout of the book was fairly complex with diagrams, notes and bibliography etc.. The quality of Jay's work was excellent. The interior of the final book is very professional and indistinguishable fr...
Read more

Professionals similar to Jay

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Catherine Williams

Catherine W.

Making books beautifully easy to read. Design + production services from edited script to print-ready + digital files for indie authors.

Knebworth, United Kingdom

100% reply rate

View profile
Aura Lewis

Aura L.

Designer and illustrator specializing in book cover design, interior book design, and women's lifestyle illustrations.

100% reply rate

View profile
Danna Mathias Steele

Danna Mathias S.

Cover/interior designer with 15+ years experience. Worked for Amazon.com and small publishers. A passion for beautiful, simplistic books.

Charleston, SC, USA

100% reply rate

View profile