Introducing Book Design Services for Individuals
I'm excited to announce that Red+Company just launched a new service—Book Design for Artists, Writers, Families, and Collectors.
We all have stories—and we all want them to be remembered. A book gives shape to that desire. It gathers what might be lost—words, art, and memories—and turns them into something lasting. Whether you’re self-publishing a memoir or novel, documenting your artwork, preserving family stories and recipes, or cataloging a collection, I can help.
For years, I’ve designed books for publishers, but this is different. It helps individuals turn their artwork, novels, family histories, memoirs, cookbooks, and collections into beautiful, professional-quality books. It’s an idea that’s been quietly brewing for years, and now it’s live.
The inspiration came from memoirs and art books I've designed for friends, clients, and myself, as well as from conversations with friends who’ve shared stories of their relatives with me. Each time, I’d ask, 'Have you thought about putting that in a book?' These family stories fade unless we preserve them. A book gives them form, permanence, and a life beyond our computers—something future generations can hold in their hands.
I’ve made dozens of books for my own family and my own creative projects—collections of my sons’ drawings and ceramics, memorial books of loved ones, volumes of my pinhole photographs, and mockups of books I'm working on—simply to give those things presence and permanence. Even a single printed copy changes how you see the work. And with today’s print-on-demand services, where one copy can cost as little as eight dollars plus shipping, it’s an increasingly accessible undertaking.
Whether told through photographs or paintings, novels or poems, or recipes, journals, or family letters that span generations, our stories too often sit unseen in drawers or digital folders. And while files may seem permanent, formats change, drives fail, and links disappear. A book changes that. It gives your work shape and longevity—turning what lives on a screen into something tangible, to be shared and passed down.
“I never imagined how powerful it would feel to hold my own printed story in my hands. Stefan’s design turned my memoir into a book that looks like it belongs in a national bookstore chain. My family treasures it—and I’ve never been prouder. Thank you, Stefan!”
Self-publishing can definitely feel daunting—there are a lot of decisions to make, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But I can walk you through the steps, offer clear guidance, and help you create something you’ll be proud of.
What I Offer
My Book Design Services cover every stage of the process—from concept development and editing to image preparation, design, printing, and marketing support. And if you're an author planning to self-publish your book through a platform like Amazon’s KDP, I can ensure your files meet all required specifications—from trim size and margins to cover dimensions and print-ready PDFs.
Pricing Options
My pricing depends on page count, design complexity, and whether images are included, but I always provide a clear estimate before we begin. I offer two paths:
Template Designs – A streamlined option using my pre-designed templates. Ideal for memoirs, family histories, or poetry.
Custom Designs – A fully tailored design process for art books, photography, and other projects that need something distinctive. Ideal for authors and artists who want to collaborate closely on a book, whose design they want to reflect the look and feel of their story or work.
Getting Started
Every project begins with a free, no-pressure conversation. We’ll talk about your goals, your material, and what you’d like the finished book to be. From there, I’ll provide a clear, written estimate that outlines the project. Feel free to reach out with questions or to talk through your project. No pressure—just a conversation.
Any projects that are begun before December 1 will receive a 10% discount. And if you have friends, relatives, or acquaintances who might be interested in producing a book, please forward this email to them—the discount holds for them also.
You can learn more about my Book Design Services on my website here.
I look forward to helping you tell your stories!
