Susan Malikowski

Susan Malikowski – Designer

I’ve designed covers for 20+ years, with award-winning and bestselling titles in management, leadership, self-help, spirituality in work.

Overview

I’ve found the most important aspect in book design is open communication and an effective, enjoyable working relationship with clients. Putting the right cover to a manuscript is so essential and I understand how much work has already been done by the time it hits my desk. Together we’ll discuss your goals, visual preferences, timeline and budget. It’s crucial to your cover’s success to be eye-catching, polished, and professional. I offer a variety of concepts to nail down the message, and strong design and imaging skills to accomplish this. My interior designs are clean, clear and inviting.

An obsession with great book covers and love of art and design fueled my enthusiasm for breaking into the book design industry in the 1990s, and I haven’t looked back. I’ve worked with creative, art, and marketing directors, project managers, editors, as well as directly with authors. Clients include Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Thomson Learning/Wadsworth, Jossey-Bass, Brooks-Cole, Key Curriculum Press, San Francisco Book Council, New Leaders Press, non-profit Heifer International, and self-published authors. My cover work has been in management, business, self-help and spirituality in the workplace, and also fine art, biography and children's fiction works.

Some bestselling titles include Repacking Your Bags, Humble Inquiry, and The Power of Failure. Design, business industry, and publication awards include titles such as Networking for People Who Hate Networking, Wired and Dangerous, Humble Inquiry, The Power of Having Fun, Owning Our Future, and Ask Outrageously!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, or consult about your book project.
Services
Non-Fiction
Business & Management Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English
Awards
  • Winner, book design, Bookbuilders West Annual Book Show
  • LDSPMA Praiseworthy Award winner
  • Independent Publisher Book Award, Self-Help

Work experience

Self-employed

Mar, 2011 — Present

Own and operate graphic design studio. Work closely with authors and publishers in book design. Creative direction, concept development, design, illustration and production services for book covers, interiors, catalogs, newsletters and marketing pieces. Client, talent and vendor communication and management. Projects also include identity packages, web design, digital advertising.

Verve Marketing & Design

Aug, 2006 — Aug, 2009 (about 3 years)

Design and production of fine art books, children's books, trade magazines. Art directing, concept development, design, traffic management, and production of creative work, in a team environment. Brand identity—logo and stationery design, advertising campaigns, website design, signage, brochures and email promotions. Digital illustration. Project management, client, talent and vendor communication, management and direction.

Self-employed

Jan, 1995 — Mar, 2011 (about 16 years)

Own and operate graphic design studio. Work with publishers in book design services. Creative and art direction, concepting, design execution, scheduling, illustration and production services. Client, talent and vendor management and direction. Projects include book covers, interiors, catalogs, newsletters, promotional marketing pieces, identity packages, digital advertising, web design.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Field Guide to Living a Life of Commitment, Courage, and Honor: 10 Principles to Ignite Your Inner Compass

Solt, Tamara

Grey Point Publishing

Cover Design Book Interior Design
How to Have Antiracist Conversations: Embracing Our Full Humanity to Challenge White Supremacy

Manning, Roxy

Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Cover Design Typography
Make It, Don't Fake It: Leading with Authenticity for Real Business Success

Horn, Sabrina

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Selling from Your Comfort Zone: The Power of Alignment Marketing

Hall, Stacey

Cover Design Typography
Made with Reedsy
School Leadership: Learner-Centered Leadership In Times Of Crisis

Butler, Tom

Cover Design Typography
Inside Your Customer's Imagination: 5 Secrets for Creating Breakthrough Products, Services, and Solutions

Bell, Chip R.

Cover Design Typography
The Cactus and Snowflake at Work: How the Logical and Sensitive Can Thrive Side by Side

Zack, Devora

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Good Life

Richard J. Leider

In this revised and updated new edition of a classic—over 560,000 copies sold and translated into 18 languages—is a practical guide for "unpacking" your physical, emotional, and intellectual b... read more
Cover Design Illustration
The Art of Active Listening: How People at Work Feel Heard, Valued, and Understood

Younger, Heather R.

Cover Design Illustration
Made with Reedsy
The Age of Separation: A Holistic Framework to Reclaim Our Power and Save Our Planet

Kemp, Ryan J.

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Half a Million Dollars: A Journey Through the Ups and Downs of Entrepreneurship

Wilson, Trevor

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
The Antiracist Heart: A Self-Compassion and Activism Handbook

Manning, Roxy

Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Cover Design Typography
Humble Inquiry, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling

Schein, Edgar H.

Cover Design Typography
Made with Reedsy
Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey in Organizational Culture Change

Walters, Ashleigh

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Ask Outrageously!: The Secret to Getting What You Really Want

Linda Swindling

Stop Holding Yourself Back—It's Time to Go Ask!The strongest relationships, top sales groups, and most successful organizations have one thing in common: people who have the courage to ask out... read more
Cover Design Typography
The Power of Having Fun: How Meaningful Breaks Help You Get More Done

Dave Crenshaw

Fun is the key to success! If you want to be successful, having fun is not an option. It’s a necessity. By making fun a top priority—taking meaningful, enjoyable breaks each day, week, month, ... read more
Cover Design Typography
Yoga Wisdom at Work: Finding Sanity Off the Mat and On the Job

Maren Showkeir

Everyone knows that yoga helps reduce stress and increase the body’s flexibility and strength. But the physical aspects barely scratch the surface of yoga’s transformative powers. The poses ar... read more
Cover Design Typography

Susan has 9 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Tamara S.

Tamara S.

Aug, 2023

Pinned
I had the privilege of working with Susan in creating the interior and cover of my book. From the get-go, Susan proved to be an excellent communicator, attentively listening to my vision and translating it flawlessly onto the pages. Her attention to detail and dedication to ensuring every element was just right truly shone through. Not only was Susan timely, but she also brought a level of pro...
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Susan M.
Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful review, Tammy. I’m so pleased we could collaborate on your book interior, in addition to the cover, to tie the two together and create a unified, complet...
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Julie H.

Julie H.

Jan, 2021

Pinned
I have now worked with Susan on two books and she is amazing. I plan on making my books a series and can't wait to use her for the whole series. She is not only extremely talented but she is so nice and easy to work with. As a first-time author, she helped me to make sure I was doing everything right. I can't recommend Susan enough.
Susan M.
Thank you Julie! Your review is very much appreciated. You've been a delight to work with, in every aspect. I look forward to the chance to work together again.
Tom B.

Tom B.

Nov, 2020

Pinned
Susan was a consummate professional throughout the process of my book design. I liked the amount and clarity of her communication. As a first time author, she helped guide me through the process of book cover design. I appreciated her design process and how we went from 6 options down to the one I finally chose. She incorporated my "wish list" of design elements while also pushing me to inc...
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Susan M.
Tom has been a wonderful client to work with. He’s been very responsive, professional and personable. He’s made the work process very smooth and offered great information to help us hit our “target...
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Tamara S.

Tamara S.

Jul, 2023

I recently had the pleasure of working with Susan on my book cover design. From the very first interaction, it was evident that her passion for design and commitment to delivering excellence was outstanding. Susan's ability to understand and translate the essence of my book into a visually stunning cover was spot on. The level of professionalism exhibited by Susan throughout the design process...
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Susan M.
Thank you very much for your shining review, Tammy. I really appreciate your professional, upbeat, enthusiastic and flexible approach along the journey of creating a book. The learning curve is a s...
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Ashleigh W.

Ashleigh W.

Jan, 2021

Susan did an excellent job designing the cover and interior of my book. She even gave me advice along the way on ISBN and bar code issues. Susan was the perfect person to lead the way on a first time author’s journey.
Susan M.
Dear Ashleigh, Thank you for your great review. It was a delight to work together. Your professional, friendly, thinking-outside-the-box approach to our work was refreshing. I’m very happy that you...
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