Required skills and attributes for successful employment
Design eye catching covers for books and sometimes graphics for the inside as well. Supply artwork for campaigns and advertising materials such as posters and leaflets. Arrange photo shoots for covers, cast models, carry out picture research, and make sure you have the right to use images. May be responsible for the typography (fonts) and commissioning illustrators and photographers.
Knowledge of design software such as In Design,Quark Express and illustrator.
Good communication skills: you have regular discussions with the editor and freelance staff.
You normally need a graphic design degree. Build a strong portfolio.
Many publishers use freelance designers, illustrators and photographers.
Types of Book Publishing
There are many kinds of book publishing. Most listings differ, but here is a representative sample of publishing types.
1. Trade publishing
(i) Hardcover
(ii) Trade paperback
(iii) Mass-market paperback
(iv) Children’s books
(v) Religious books
2. Textbook publishing
(i) Textbooks in hardcover or paperback
(a) K-12 textbooks
(b) Secondary school textbooks
(c) Higher education: college and university textbooks
(d) Post formal institutional education (adult learning) textbooks
(ii) Ancillary texts, such as teacher or student guides
3. Reference publishing
(i) Encyclopedias
(ii) Directories
(iii) And numerous others
4. Reports, studies, etc. by not-for-profit publishers, government agencies, etc.
2007. Last year Brits bought an estimated 338 million books, at a cost of £2,478m. This was 13% higher by both volume and value than five years ago, according to the Book Marketing Limited’s latest Books and the Consumer survey.
BBC News,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7178598.stm