Stuart Tolley – Designer

Hello, I’m Stuart, a British book designer, magazine art director, and editorial consultant with over twenty years of experience collaborating with high-profile publishers to create and design non-fiction book covers and coffee table book interiors.

I specialise in the editorial design process, encompassing concept development, flat-planning, graphic design, commissioning illustrations and photography, and managing the print production.

I’ve developed and designed visual culture books for some of the world’s most prestigious arts, culture, and lifestyle publishers, including Thames and Hudson, Dorling Kindersley, Bloomsbury, The Smithsonian Institute, Telegraph Travel, UniPress, and Quarto.

My passion for visual culture is reflected in my diverse portfolio, which features titles on art, design, photography, screen-printing, travel, fashion, gardening, and the universe.

In addition to my book work, I have extensive experience with leading magazine publishers. I’ve served as a full-time designer at Esquire UK and as the art director for The Independent on Saturday Magazine. I’ve also art directed the launch of various publications for brands and organizations, such as Show Media (Schweppes, TagHeuer, French Connection), Glenmorangie, and Wella Professionals.

I have a deep understanding of the writing process, having authored, curated, and art directed two visual culture art books published by Thames & Hudson. My first title, Collector’s Edition: Innovative Packaging and Graphics, explores the latest trends in limited edition graphic design for the music and publishing industries. My second book, MIN: The New Simplicity in Graphic Design, documents the resurgence of minimalism in graphic design.

To celebrate the launch of Collector’s Edition, I curated the ‘Cover Bomb’ series, inviting prominent artists and musicians to create unique artworks directly on book covers. These one-of-a-kind pieces were auctioned to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society, with contributors including Sir Paul McCartney, Nick Cave, Wayne Coyne, Peter Gabriel, Jessica Hische, Stanley Donwood, Alec Soth, Robert 3D Del Naja, The Designers Republic, and Oliver Jeffers.

I thrive in collaborative environments, working closely with authors and editorial teams to develop beautiful editorial projects. I also share my passion and knowledge as the Editorial Design lecturer at LABASAD School of Design in Barcelona.

My work is frequently featured in graphic design publications, with articles appearing in Creative Review, Eye Magazine, It’s Nice That, Pitchfork, Wired, Étapes, Design Week, and HarperCollins. Please feel free to contact me to learn more about my creative process and discuss any upcoming projects.