In the Collective, we started using an excel spreadsheet that we shared around with members to review and add resources, but it was a bit archaic and tedious to update. It didn’t get used much and was quickly discontinued.

I started to brainstorm with members to figure out how to host all these great resources in an easy to access way. We quickly started referring to the project as the Resource Hub and Notion came to the forefront as the best place to host a database that would have flexible capabilities for linking related information. I began to work with some of our members on building the infrastructure, then slowly over time, added resources to the database. This is a living hub that I am continuously adding new information to. The database on Notion is now live, and while in it’s infancy, I’m excited to see how it grows!

How to use the Resource Hub:

Watch this introductory walk through video of the database.

You can now access our brand new Book Design Collective Resource Hub here!

This Substack’s purpose is to share knowledge with our members (subscribers). Future resources that are included in my resource roundup posts on this platform will also be archived in this hub so it can continue to grow. Anytime you engage and share information and resources with us in Slack, in the comments, or on a Zoom meet-up, you’re helping us grow this hub together!

The Book Design Collective is a member funded community. If you want to contribute to this growing community and help us thrive and continue to develop resources, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

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Leave me a comment or join the conversation in Slack to let us know about any resources we should add. Let’s grow this Resource Hub together!

As a reminder, here’s what we offer inside The Book Design Collective Substack.

As a free subscriber, you will have access to:

• A monthly roundup of resources and tips posted on the 1st of every month.

• The Bi-monthly Book Design Collective Zoom meet-up. Links will be posted in the Collective’s Substack free subscriber chat and on Slack.

• My Notes which provide a glimpse into the behind the scenes world of a book designer.

• The Book Design Collective Chat on Substack and Slack workspace to connect with other members, pose questions, share designs and learn.

Paid subscribers will get access to these additional features:

• Monthly co-working sessions/office hours: Work alongside me on Zoom and ask any design or publishing questions you may have. Links will be posted in the Collective’s Substack paid subscriber chat.

• Design prompt sessions: Virtual meet-ups where we will follow a brief to create a design to push our skills and learn new ones in an hour or less.

• A twice yearly book club: A Zoom meet-up where we facilitate conversations around books that speak to various aspects of the craft of book design. Links will be posted in the Collective’s Substack paid subscriber Chat.

• Recordings of the above sessions (co-working, prompt sessions and book clubs) will be uploaded and archived for paid subscribers.

• Protection from price increases. once you sign up at the current price, your payment will stay the same.

• I have big goals for the future too. With additional revenue from this subscription base, I would love to bring in guest speakers and renowned designers to talk to our community of subscribers. The sky is the limit but I need your help to make it happen!

Note: Zooms will be recorded and posted for members to rewatch. If you do not wish to have your face or name made public, please keep your camera off and change your name in your Zoom settings.

Hello, and welcome to The Book Design Collective!

This community has been going strong as a casual group of book designers who meet on Zoom bi-monthly and chat on Slack, since 2023. This year, we’re levelling up our game with Substack! The intention behind moving our home base here is simply because we don’t have a home base! We’re scrappy and have been utilizing an array of tools to bring our community together for over 2 years, but it is time to create a place where we can see all of our connections, resources and recordings in one easy to access space.

Many of our members are connections I’ve made through social media or are contracts I’ve made from work projects over the years, such as Kristy Hill (founding member of the Collective and owner of the fantastic design studio Umbrella Squared). Many of these connections have now become trusted collaborators, colleagues and friends whom I feel a strong connection to and kinship with, in our shared love of the craft of book design. Book design is a unique field, and many of us work alone at home, toiling in front of our computers moving pixels around which is why we wanted to create a space where we could feel seen and understood. Sometimes you just need to be able to complain to someone that a client just told you to, “make it pop more,” to commiserate and get motivational advice from people who’ve been there!

If you haven’t heard of us yet, you may be thinking who are you? Well, I’m Jaz! The founder of fleck creative studio, my book design business of 8 years! I absolutely adore book design and feel very lucky that I get to be part of making authors’ dreams come true. I’ve designed over 250 books with indie publishers and self-published authors, some of which you can check out on my site here. On top of my love of designing books, I have a deep passion for teaching and sharing what I know. One of the reasons I did me Masters in Publishing was in case I wanted to become a prof! From the beginning of my practice, I have enjoyed sharing tips on my Instagram for authors on their publishing journey and for designers learning about the craft. Being in community with fellow designers and sharing about the work I love so much, holds a special place in my heart.

Who is The Book Design Collective For?

We are a group of book designers of all levels. Some have worked in-house at indie or large publishers, some are strictly freelance, some are veterans in their field, and others are just starting out. Some folks are not even book designers at all or come from other areas of the publishing world, but love the design of books and are interested in how they’re made. We also have non-designers in the group, who want to soak up as much as they can about book design and publishing before making the plunge into the industry. If you identify with any of these groups, the collective is for you! We have received wonderful feedback over these past two years from community members who have loved meeting and connecting with book designers in this format in an industry where our work is often quite siloed.

“I know for sure this group has improved my quality of life, both financially and my mental health. I feel connected and supported by all these talented designers that are kind and generous, offering their tips, advice, understanding, and cheerleading. It’s been such a blessing to be a part of.”
—Jason Arias, book designer

Subscribe now

As a free subscriber, you will access:

• A monthly roundup of resources and tips posted on the 1st of every month.

• The Bi-monthly Book Design Collective Zoom meet-up. Links will be posted in the Collective’s Substack free subscriber chat and on Slack.

• My Notes which provide a glimpse into the behind the scenes world of a book designer.

• The Book Design Collective Chat on Substack and Slack workspace to connect with other members, pose questions, share designs and learn.

Paid subscribers will get access to these additional features:

• Monthly co-working sessions/office hours: Work alongside me on Zoom and ask any design or publishing questions you may have. Links will be posted in the Collective’s Substack paid subscriber chat.

• Design prompt sessions: Virtual meet-ups where we will follow a brief to create a design to push our skills and learn new ones in an hour or less.

• A twice yearly book club: A Zoom meet-up where we facilitate conversations around books that speak to various aspects of the craft of book design. Links will be posted in the Collective’s Substack paid subscriber Chat.

• If you miss any meet-ups, recordings will be uploaded and archived for paid subscribers.

• Protection from price increases. once you sign up at the current price, your payment will stay the same.

• I have big goals for the future too. With additional revenue from this subscription base, I would love to bring in guest speakers and renowned designers to talk to our community of subscribers. The sky is the limit but I need your help to make it happen!

Note: Zooms will be recorded and posted for members to rewatch. If you do not wish to have your face or name made public, please keep your camera off and change your name in your Zoom settings.

What do we talk about inside The Book Design Collective?

The topics we cover are wide ranging. Before every meeting, I take time to look through our ongoing chats and discussions so I can get a sense of what topics are of interest to our members and what challenges they are facing.I am also always open to suggestions from our members. Topics have included:

• How to find new clients

• How to price your book design services

• How to showcase your work & portfolio reviews

• Running a successful book design business

• The self publishing process

• Prepping files for Ingram Spark and Kindle Direct Publishing

• Tips & tricks: technical how-to’s on specific software related to book design

• The book design process

• Where to find inspiration

• Print production management

• The impact of AI on our industry

• Working with clients

• Sustainability in book design

If you’re new to the world of book design and are looking for information on how to get started, or you have an established book design practice but are looking for community, subscribe to The Book Design Collective below today!

Subscribe now

If you’re new here, these are our Community Guidelines to ensure The Book Design Collective is a safe space. Community discussions will take place on our Slack Channel. Subscribers to our group will be sent a Slack invitation. When communicating in the group channels or directly to other members, please follow these community guidelines.

1. Respectful communication. Members should engage in respectful and courteous communication at all times, avoiding insults, harassment, or demeaning language.

2. No hate speech or discrimination. Content promoting hate or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, religion, or disability is strictly prohibited.

3. Privacy. Members must respect the privacy of others and not share personal information without consent.

4. No spam. Please avoid excessive posting of self-promotional material, spam, or irrelevant content.

5. Content relevance. Posts and discussions should be relevant to the community’s purpose and topics. We acknowledge that this is a community for building relationships so you are welcome to discuss other topics directly with members in direct messages so the group channels can remain a place for book and publishing related discussions.

6. No illegal activities. Discussions or content promoting illegal activities, including piracy, illicit drug use, or other unlawful conduct, are forbidden.

7. Source crediting. When sharing information or content from other sources, members should credit the original source.

8. No explicit content. Sharing explicit, adult, or NSFW (not safe for work) content is not permitted.

9. Constructive criticism. When offering criticism, it should be constructive and aimed at helping and improving, rather than disparaging or belittling. Before giving a critique, ensure the designer involved consented to have their work critiqued, and that you have information on the brief to ensure your feedback is grounded by the project objectives rather than personal preference.

10. Report rule violations. Members should report any content or behaviour that violates the community guidelines to info@fleckcreativestudio.com

Thanks for coming along for the journey and growing our community with us. We’re so glad your here!