LAYOUT & DESIGN
At The Bindery, we believe the interior of a book is just as important as the outside. We work with clients to properly design the look and feel of their book from tile page through colophon.
​
Our expert team is here to help authors and artisans craft books that showcase their work best with 100% customized outcomes: inside and out.
GET ASSISTANCE
See our options below for varying project needs and review our FAQ for more details.
​
Contact us to get started:

LAYOUT & DESIGN PACKAGES
Layout and design are both critical components in making your content shine. Good book design often goes unnoticed--and that's the point! We want your readers to be focused on your work and move through your pages effortlessly.
​
"Layout" refers to the format and structure of each page and your entire book as a whole. This includes a deep dive into things like margins, gutter, spacing, text alignment, page number position, and overall gridding.
​
"Design" is more granular and personal. This is where we work with you on font choices, color palate, and distinctive elements like ornamentation, running heads, chapter titles, and artful front & back matter (that's things like your title page and colophon).
​
Our team is here to work with you, collaboratively and one-on-one, to get everything right. We're as passionate about your book as you are.
Standard:
Text-only books laid out in one of our pre-made design options at common industry sizes.
Starting at:
$800
For chapbooks, novels, anthologies, theses, & other simple, text-heavy work.
-
Dedicated project manager and white glove service.
-
Professional design with three core aesthetic options to chose from.
-
Print-ready files delivered, set to industry standards.
Custom:
100% personalized design for text and up to 20 images. Custom sizing available.
Starting at:
$1,500
Fully custom layouts & nuanced design for poetry, prose, genealogies, and more.
-
Dedicated designer, project manager, and white glove service.
-
Custom page layouts, fonts, typesetting and graphics.
-
Formatting for text and images at any size book for any binding style.
-
2-phase collaborative review to get things just right.
-
Print-ready files delivered, set to industry standards.
Premium:
For high-end projects with text, imagery, and complex design considerations.
Starting at:
$2,500
Ideal for photo & other art books, lookbooks, architectural portfolios and other deluxe work.
-
Dedicated designer, project manager, and white glove service.
-
Dynamic page layouts, specialty fonts, typesetting and graphics.
-
Formatting for text and images at any size book for any binding style.
-
Advanced design options for art and images including full bleed, masking, and text overlays.
-
Ongoing collaborative review to get things just right.
-
Print-ready files delivered, set to industry standards.

TEMPLATES & GUIDES
For experienced designers who'd like to do their own layout... but to our shop's specific standards for production, we provide two options.
Template & Review
Professionally built out templates for your use in Adobe InDesign or a PDF underlay in any software
Starting at:
$200
Includes one round of expert review of your final piece to ensure file correctness.
-
Templates available in the most common industry sizes for zines, paperbacks, novels, and coffee table books.
-
Proper margins and gutters built in to account for differing binding style needs (sewn vs. wire vs. softcover, etc.)
-
Proper bleeds set for full, edge to edge printing of photographs and graphics.
-
Adobe InDesign file set up for correct working colorspace and other critical print settings.
-
Final file review and 30 minute follow up call or Zoom with our team to suggest overarching changes.
General Guides
Helpful guidance to start. Good for better understanding of terminology and layout variations.
We've got you:
$0.00
Free downloadable guides with some basics to know before working with us.
Some helpful terms to know and recognize when speaking with our team.
Layout needs vary depending on how your final project is bound together.
Folded items like zines and books with signatures require special page ordering.
If you're sending us files, please check on the following to do so correctly.
COVER DESIGN
Let's face it:
books are judged
by their covers.
We'll make yours
incredible.
Starting at
$75/hr.
Your cover serves many purposes: to draw readers in, to communicate your content, and to convey essential information on both the front and back.
​
The Bindery partners with our trusted network of local illustrators and designers to craft beautiful, eye-catching covers and dust jackets that mesh perfectly with your book's interior design.
​
Cover design may include a number of elements depending on the complexity of the project. We're happy to provide:
-
Illustration and drawn elements
-
Graphic design for backgrounds and ornaments
-
Image editing and color correction
-
Typesetting, font, and aesthetic guidance
-
ISBN and barcode placement