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Introducing the Floris Design and Production Team

Posted on 27/01/2017 in Design and Illustration Fun Stuff Uncategorized

The Design and Production team members at Floris Books are a key part of the publishing process. They are responsible for taking a manuscript and transforming it into an actual book! Read on and meet the Floris Design team.

RW sign off

I’m Richard, one of the Designers here at Floris. It’s my job to work with an editor to take a manuscript and transform it into a finished book, designing the covers and layout, commissioning illustrators and handling the production right up to delivery. I’ll be blogging with the rest of the team and giving you an insight into being a designer at Floris Books.

Working out how an elk-operated Viking spa entrance might function is one of the bonuses of working at a children’s publisher like Floris!

Tell us about your studies and training.
I studied Fine Art at degree level, specialising in drawing and printmaking. Since graduating I’ve done a number of things: illustrated books, helped run an art gallery and managed public arts projects (where amongst other things I designed a fireworks display) – and now I’m a book designer at Floris! Most of my design skills are self-taught but come from plenty of practice and a lifelong love of books and illustration.

Graphics tablet or pen and paper?
A mix of both. Pen and ink first, then digital tidying up.

What’s the best part about working at Floris?
Many things, but getting manuscripts back with queries like “Is this font tomatoey enough?” and working out how a elk-operated Viking spa entrance might function are recent highlights.

What’s the first picture book you remember reading?
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

I’m Romi, the Design & Production Assistant at Floris Books. I work closely with our wonderful printers on books we’re currently printing as well as future titles. Like Richard, I also typeset and design book layouts, along with a bit of everything that comes along with producing a book; from cover design to eBooks!

Tell us about your studies and training.
I started off studying for a BA in Philosophy, during which I had a part-time editorial job that sparked my interest in media. After graduating I went to Edinburgh Napier University, where I attained an MSc Publishing degree.

Why did you choose to go into Design & Production?
I initially planned to go into Editorial but during my Publishing studies I realised that I’d always been immediately drawn to the look and feel of books and magazines. The idea of giving great content the packaging it deserves excited me so much that I knew it was the right department for me.

What inspires you in your day-to-day job?
At the risk of sounding cliché, I love working in a team full of talented and creative individuals I can learn from every day.

Is it a dragon, a wyrm or something else entirely?!

What’s your favourite thing about working at Floris?
It’s hard to choose, but the daily serious conversations about mythical creatures never fail to make my day.

I’m Leah, the Floris Books Design and Production Manager. In November 2016, I was awarded the Saltire Society 2016 Emerging Publisher of the Year Award. I manage the overall schedules of the 120+ books we print each year, as well as commissioning illustrators and designing book covers and interiors. It’s also my job to ensure that the creative vision of the company is nurtured and our high standards maintained.

Tell us about your studies and training.
I studied Ba (Hons) Illustration at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee and then I followed that up with a MSc Publishing at Edinburgh Napier. I’ve been learning on the job ever since!

Why did you choose to go into Design & Production?
In my final year at DJCAD I became really interested in books as objects and I created a lot of artists books, screenprinting them by hand. That lead me to study on the MSc Publishing where this area revealed itself as a natural fit for my interests and skills.

What is the most ridiculous thing on your desk?
A panda that punches metal-free staples with its bottom.

Save metal staples; use a panda-bottom-puncher instead!

What’s your biggest inspiration professionally?
Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada. I’d like to think that one day, I’ll have someone to take my coat and bag and give me a coffee when I come into the office in the morning…

What’s your ‘desert island’ picture book?
The Heart in the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers. It’s one of the few British picture books that dares to deal with a heavy subject, and Jeffers does it in such a poignant and wonderful way.

The magic happens here at the Design and Production cluster.

The design and production team is sometimes allowed to post on the DiscoverKelpies Twitter and Facebook. Follow #FlorisDesign to stay up to date with their antics!

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