• F1 Retro 1970, Mark Hughes.
  • Ordinary Things, Sarah Lucas. Henry Moore Foundation
  • Verso, Nigel Ready. VIKA
  • A wooden floor from above showing a book splayed into a circle, shaped like a star. VIKA Books. Concept design service.
  • Radiobook Rwanda, No Bindings, Huza Press, Kwani Trust
  • F1 Retro 1980, Mark Hughes.

Book Design

VIKA’s approach to book design is all about collaboration. Our process involves discussion, concept development, and iterative design based on your feedback. We take our inspiration directly from the content you provide, then we integrate your artwork into our design, and ensure everything links together. We want your book to showcase your work in the best way imaginable.

Here’s how we will work together to make your book unique:

Initial consultation
Victoria will ask you about your book’s vision, theme, and your goals. We look closely at the artwork you provide and pick out the main visual elements and themes. For more information on what to expect during this phase, please see Consultation Service and our Portfolio Review services.

Concept design
VIKA will evaluate your book concept, listen to your ideas, and provide tailor-made designs that respond to your content. For more information on what to expect during this phase, please see our Concept Design service.

Photo-editorial
Photo editorial plays a crucial role in a photobook by shaping the visual story. VIKA specialise in the storytelling aspect of photo-editorial, selecting and arranging photos to convey the narrative, communicate your project’s message, and bring your book to life. For more information on what to expect during this phase, please see our Photo-editorial service.

Here is more detailed information about the services you can enjoy when designing yout book with VIKA:



Design ideas
Drawing from our conversations and research, we will develop design concepts for the book’s style and content. We will experiment with various layouts, fonts, and colors to establish a unified and cohesive visual aesthetic.

Initial layouts
We conduct thorough research and create working designs/sketches to present our concepts to you. These sketches may include potential cover designs, page layouts, and font styles that resonate with the overarching theme of the book.

Collaboration
VIKA welcome feedback on our design concepts, and try to incorporate your suggestions to refine and enhance the design. Our goal is to ensure that the final design suits your vision.

At this stage, we may propose the creation of a dummy book to show to third parties before the main design starts. For more information on this part of the process, please read about our Dummy Book design service.

Adding artwork
Once we’ve agreed on a design direction, we start adding the artwork provided by the artist into the layout. We think carefully about where to place the artwork and how big it should be.

  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • In the Shadow of Things, Leonie Hampton. Contrasto
  • In the Shadow of Things, Leonie Hampton. Contrasto
  • In the Shadow of Things, Leonie Hampton. Contrasto
  • In the Shadow of Things, Leonie Hampton. Contrasto
  • The Silent Land, Jesse Alexander. VIKA
  • Disquiet Days, Bruno Boudjelal. Autograph


Integrating text
VIKA choose fonts and text styles that compliment the artwork, making sure the text is easy to read and tells the story of the book well, encouraging the reader to dive in and out of text at will.

  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • CARGO (Charting African Resilience Generating Opportunities), Lawrence Hoo. Design by VIKA.
  • CARGO (Charting African Resilience Generating Opportunities), Lawrence Hoo. Design by VIKA.
  • In the Shadow of Things, Leonie Hampton. Contrasto
  • Santa Muerte, Angus Fraser. Trolley Books & Photographers' Gallery. VIKA designs books and brands that showcase the work of the artists and organisations of the future. We combine the conceptual rigour of book arts and the high production values of fine art publishing with the dynamism and connectivity of creative technologies.
  • Year in Focus. Getty Images


Iterations
We review the design with you, making any final tweaks to get it just right. This way, we can make sure the design reflects your vision accurately. This is where the design features start to come in, the flourishes and textures that will make your book unique.

  • Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006. Published by Steidl, MACK.
  • The Silent Land, Jesse Alexander. VIKA
  • Inside the View, Helen Sear. Ffotogallery
  • Magnum Contact Sheets, Kristen Lubban. Thames & Hudson
  • Curtain, Peter Bobby. Ffotogallery
  • Infidel, Tim Hetherington. Boot Publishing
  • Ili, Tommy Hafalla. MAPA
  • In the Shadow of the Pyramids, Laura El_Tantawy. RRB Photobooks



Cover design
People are often suprised to learn how late in the design process the cover is designed. The cover must encapuate everything that the book is about and so it is the culmination of all design work previous.

  • Remote Scottish Postboxes, Martin Parr. RRB Photobooks
  • Still Lives, Roy Lichtenstein. Gagosian Gallery
  • Georg Baselitz. Royal Academy
  • CARGO (Charting African Resilience Generating Opportunities), Dr. Lawrence Hoo
  • Radical Love, Toni Greaves. Chronicle
  • ILI, Tommy Hafalla. MAPA Books




Getting ready for print
Once everyone’s happy with the design, we get it ready for printing. We make sure all the technical stuff is sorted out, like making sure the colours print correctly. Then we oversee the printing process to make sure the finished book looks great. For more information on what to expect during this phase, see our Print Management, Press-passing and Bespoke Duotone printing services.


Deliverables
One set of print-ready CMYK PDFs together with standard promotional publishing materials, eg., one set of low-resolution RGB PDFs, cover JPGs, etc.

Price
Starting from £3500(+VAT), dependent on book size, design complexity and IP assignment. To discuss further in a free half-hour consultation, please email hello@vikabooks.com

Alternatively, you can consider one of the options below, which are designed to ease you into the book design process:


  • ‘A very eloquent design concept that amplifies my original idea.’

    Martin Parr
  • ‘Victoria’s striking cover design echoes the traces of the chinagraph pencil marks, so expressive of a photographer’s editing process, and forming the heart of the book’s narrative.’

    Sophie Wright, Global Cultural Director, Magnum Photos
  • ‘The process of making a book was collaborative
    and inventive. I am very pleased with the result.’

    Jeff McMillan, artist
  • ‘VIKA’s experience and eye for detail allowed me to experiment with ideas that I would not have conceived without her.’

    Angus Fraser, photographer
  • ‘Nothing escaped Victoria’s eye for detail. She has a natural feel for book design through her extensive experience.’

    Mapa Books
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A free VIKA Book of Books

We have FREE exquisitely manufactured, hand-stitched and lithographically printed, Book of Books for potential future clients to experience the production quality of VIKA books.