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Resources for Authors Overview

Design

The Design Brief

The design brief is a project management tool that helps an author identify a project’s scope, scale, and core details. It aligns the author, book designer, and editor and helps create a brand board or style guide, serving as a visual reference for brand identity. If this is a new project, this brief will aid in creating a concise, clear message and design direction. If this is a past project that needs updating, this will assist in effectively portraying your message/identity.

Brand board for Emilio Cueto's book on Cuban stamps.
Example of a brand board.
  • Background Information — In one or two sentences, summarize your project.
  • Support Information — In order of priority, list information and details that should be included in the design (i.e. logo, fonts, colors).
  • Target Audience — Who are the intended primary and secondary audiences?
  • Tone & Style — What style do you require for your target audience to understand your project. List two or three adjectives that describe the nature and tone of the project (i.e. bold, direct, technical, informal, modern, warm, vintage, humorous).
  • Inspire Us — List two or three examples of designs, online or in print, including your own website or other materials, if applicable, that we can refer to for design inspiration.
  • Timetable — Please take note of the following information: LibraryPress@UF will give an outline of the schedule and deadlines once we have received all the necessary materials from you for the project. Please make sure to include any important dates to ensure that there is enough time for production (e.g., conference or workshop date).
  • Artwork Guidelines — Illustrations, pictures, and graphs should be supplied in the highest quality and in an electronic format that helps us to publish your journal in the best way possible. If images/artwork will not be provided, please list any information that will help us find appropriate imagery (i.e. additional details about audience and subject).