What's the difference between a book designer and an illustrator?
So, you've finished your manuscript and you are almost out of the editorial inferno, you are so ready to start on the visual aspect of publishing a book, but where to begin?
Do you hire a book designer? Do you hire an illustrator? What even is the difference between the two, and are the two roles interchangeable?
This article is a quick, no-nonsense deep dive into the differences between a book designer and an illustrator, areas where they overlap, and how you can approach and work with both professionals.
What is an illustrator and do you need one for your book?
An illustrator is someone who creates and produces illustrations for a living, this could be in different styles and formats. Some illustrators prefer traditional mediums like pencil sketches and watercolour, others prefer to use digital-first programs, and there are even illustrators who work across both worlds. As with most creative roles, illustrators will be known for their own distinctive style and medium of choice.
Unlike book designers, illustrators can work across multiple industries, licensing their creations for anything from fashion to homeware.
There will be some illustrators that primarily work within publishing. Within this category, you'll find illustrators that specialise in particular genres. For example, illustrators of non-fiction would be pros at technical drawings and distilling information into graphs and infographics, whereas children's book illustrators are masters of storytelling and character art.
Your project may benefit from hiring an illustrator if you are...
Writing a children's book you are not planning to illustrate yourself
Keen to have an illustrated cover (popular with romance and cosy subgenres)
Writing a non-fiction book where the contents could benefit from visual aids
What is a book designer and do you need one for your book?
A book designer is someone who tackles both the creative and technical processes of turning a manuscript into a published book. They will be thinking about aesthetic appeal and marketability alongside the reading experience, producing a final product that meets the technical upload requirements of printers and self-publishing platforms.
Unlike illustrators, book designers specialise in book production, bridging the gap between the creative and technical skills required to produce a book.
Book designers can work across different genres, or specialise in a particular niche. Like illustrators, they can be known for a particular style of cover design, or be a jack of all trades.
Your project may benefit from hiring a book designer if you are...
Not sure how to execute a design idea and would rather outsource
Looking for professional design guidance backed by market insights
Working with an illustrator that does not have book design experience
What is the difference between a book designer and an illustrator? Do you need both?
As detailed above, an illustrator specialises in creating and producing illustrations, whereas a book designer combines the creative and technical sides of turning your manuscript into the its final product (be it print or digital.)
Whilst you can find experienced illustrators who can format books (particularly with children's), as well as book designers who can illustrate, budget-willing, it is recommended to work with both separately as they require different knowledge and skillsets.
If you are on a tight budget, or illustrations are less of an importance to your project, a book designer who can also illustrate is probably your best option, just make sure you are happy with their illustration portfolio.
If you decide to work with both, it is best practice to loop your designer in with your illustrator at the briefing stage so that they can advise on design, composition, and measurements. These are elements that are best established at the beginning of a project as fixing them can be expensive later down the line.
Ultimately, each project is different and you are the person who knows best in terms of your budget and what you would like to prioritise. I hope this article helps you understand the difference between an illustrator and a book designer, and gives you an idea of which direction would be most suitable for your book. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or drop me a comment below.
Hi! My name is Wendy. Based in the UK, I'm a book designer and typesetter with a Master's degree in Publishing and over 6 years of industry experience. I love helping indie publishers and authors bring to life their manuscripts through great cover and interior design. As a designer, I am curious, communicative, and continuously learning. When I’m not reading or designing books, you can catch me cosy-gaming, journaling, and obsessing over self-development!
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