By, Jackie Mae
Graphic Designer - that wonderful designer who will compile your various files and polish your finished product to perfection. She/he will convey information through visual solutions.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage for a graphic designer was $44,150 in 2012. They typically have a Bachelor's degree. Many work for well established companies, whereas some of them, like my graphic designer, works from the comfort of her own home.This mother of school-aged children has found a doable balance between career and family obligations.
Are they worth their weight in Gold? Definitely, yes. With my first book, The Ones THE DARKEST SERIES I toiled long and hard, long after having written the book. Self-publishing is not easy folks. It takes a village.The Graphic Designer polishes your most important first impression - Your Book Cover. I cannot over emphasize how important this step is. Your cover is your first impression, the one that all your potential readers will see first. You won't achieve your goals with a poorly designed cover.
You will need a graphic artist/designer who will listen to your needs, produce samples that match your specifications, and be able to handle your deadlines. Not to mention how a graphic designer must be able to "guess" what you want but don't quite understand it yet.
With a specific plan I set out to find the perfect graphic artist with my first book. I "knew" exactly what I wanted and what would be best for my particular cover. Needless to say, the cover I ended up with was my graphic designers' vision after spending eons of time discussing my book.
Like a pro baseball player, about to knock it out the park, the Graphic Designer you choose will not only produce your covers, put together your photographs, illustrations, to whatever you want in your book, but she will also design it so that your finished material will be a home run. She or he will organize your files in the formats you need, ePub, PDF, and/or mobi. A good Graphic Designer/Artist will guide you through the process.
Have a great book? Put a unprofessional cover on it and you will likely never get noticed. A professional cover will make or break your masterpiece. And don't discount organizing your interior in such a way that it stands out from the crowd. Do your homework when searching for a Graphic Designer. Word of mouth is a powerful tool and I value it. Having said that, keep in mind checking them out further is highly recommended. Your friend's friend is wonderful I'm sure but this is business. Here are some helpful links to get you started:
http://www.onepagelove.com
http://www.faveup.com
http://www.ucreative.com
http://www.bestwebgallery.com
http://www.forum.howdesign.com
https://www.odesk.com
Most, if not, all of us start out at the bottom. It is my belief that sharing in a heart-felt way as much as possible is something we all should be committed to. As always, please feel free to email me with any comments or suggestions.
