Sarah O Flaherty – Designer

I’m a book designer with over 14 years’ experience working in publishing, designing covers and interiors for fiction, non-fiction and illustrated books. I’ve worked with publishers including Watkins, Angry Robot, Datura, Repeater, and Mercier Press, creating designs for individual titles, series and special editions.

My particular strengths are contemporary fiction, thrillers, crime and fantasy, where I enjoy creating covers with atmosphere, strong typography and a clear visual identity. I also design interiors for illustrated non-fiction, cookbooks and lifestyle books, combining practical layouts with a strong editorial feel.

I like to start by understanding the story, audience and positioning of a book before developing the visual direction. I work collaboratively and aim to make the process clear and enjoyable, while creating a finished design that feels distinctive and right for the book.

Books I've designed include the winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award and a title shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards. I'm experienced in professional publishing workflows, taking projects from initial concept through to final artwork.