Shelby Gates – Designer

I’m a graphic designer specializing in book design, art direction, and marketing. With over a decade of experience in the publishing field, I will work with you to create visuals that speak to your audience and set you apart from the competition.

While my professional background is rooted primarily in educational texts and reference materials, I have a wealth of experience designing novelty books, including home bartending guides, cookbooks, lifestyle magazines, and children’s activity books.

From concept to completion, I can help you navigate the design process and create a book you are truly proud of. I look forward to learning more about you and your project!

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A few kind words...

"It's my sincere privilege to recommend Shelby for any design-related position. During her tenure at Cider Mill Press, she consistently produced top-quality book covers, interior layouts, and marketing collateral, always with an impressively sharp eye for the perfect typography, composition, and color to suit the aesthetic of the project. Shelby proved equally adept at creating high-end designs for discerning adult consumers as well as charming and whimsical designs targeting children—two very different markets.

A gifted and communicative collaborator, Shelby proved highly proficient at working with our domestic and overseas printing partners to create the elaborate special effects and ornate embellishments that define our innovative gift book publishing program. Her ability to create a design on-screen that translated beautifully and elegantly to an eye-catching, tactile physical product speaks volumes about her vision as a designer.

Shelby's mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite was also invaluable to our publishing program. Shelby possesses strong InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop skills, as well as an impressive ability to troubleshoot unexpected challenges and self-teach design techniques on-the-spot to completing any type of design project. Shelby often had to work with complicated templates from our printers to execute our desired designs, such as multi-component kits, spinning pop-up books, and even complicated die-cut elements.

Her unwavering commitment to deadlines was vital to maintaining the fast-paced nature of our operation, and yet, even more impressive, she never took shortcuts in order to complete a project on time. She sees every project through to completion, regardless of the amount of time involved in delivering her best possible work.

Shelby would be a huge asset to any team, and I recommend her without any hesitation."

—Alex Lewis, Publishing Director, Vice President, Cider Mill Press

"It has been my pleasure to work alongside and directly manage Shelby Newsted at Wayside Publishing for the past four years.

Shelby is everything a creative professional should be: organized, innovative, and proactive.

Shelby has a way of distilling creative challenges into actionable, successful results. She always has her eye on the goal and usually arrives ahead of schedule. She is resilient when faced with the hurdles found while working at a growth-stage company and can maintain a positive attitude.

I was delighted when an opportunity came for her to begin leading the creative work for Wayside's brand as Graphic Design Team Lead, but really operating as our company’s de facto Art Director.

Shelby's cross-business unit experience is a credit to her ability to adapt and think strategically and intuitively no matter the goal. I would highly recommend her for any position where her creativity and experience will be valued and appreciated."

—Nicole K. Lyons, Manager of Marketing, Wayside Publishing