Book design and layout

The purpose of layout is to make reading effortless — so effortless that the reader does not notice the layout at all and focuses on the content. To achieve that we choose the right typeface, line spacing, margins and rhythm that keep the eye fresh page after page.

With substantial works, consistency and clear structure matter especially — headings, the table of contents, indexes and references have to form a logical whole. This is exactly where our experience with large, complex manuscripts pays off.

We help throughout the journey: from choosing the design to the print-ready files. If needed we also advise on format, paper and printing technique so the end result matches expectations.

Whether it is a memoir, a company publication or a work of fiction — we give your book a polished, professional look.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, although they mean different work. Layout is placing the content on the pages: choosing the typeface and size, line spacing, margins, the hierarchy of headings, the placement of images and tables, the table of contents, indexes and signature counts. It is the work that decides whether the book is pleasant to read.

Book design is broader — it also covers the cover, the title page, the colour scheme and the overall impression the book leaves. Most clients want both, and we do them as one job, because the cover and the interior have to speak to each other. If you already have the layout and only need a cover (or the other way round), we do that too.

Layout starts at €690 and, together with cover design, at €990. The biggest factors are the page count and the complexity of the content: ordinary prose can be laid out quickly, but a work with tables, lists, footnotes, photographs and indexes takes many times more work. For substantial, data-heavy works we quote after seeing the manuscript.

We always give a fixed price before the work starts — not an hourly rate whose final sum nobody knows in advance. Send us your manuscript or an extract and within a couple of business days we will tell you what the work costs and how long it takes.