Design · Decisions · Printed work
Book design projects with Ryan
Sometimes a project needs a focused conversation. Sometimes it needs a design developed from the first page to the finished object.
The four fictional examples below explore those different starting points. Ryan Thompson of Leaven Agency brings 30 years of graphic design experience to questions of layout, image preparation, materials and publishing.
Discuss your project with RyanCAD $75 · 60-minute video consultation · Confirmation and invoice through Ryan’s existing booking process.
Illustrative fictional example · Consultation only
A first book that needs room to breathe.
The challenge
Imagine a self-publisher preparing a short-story collection. The manuscript is complete, but the PDF feels crowded: text sits close to the inside edge, chapter openings vary and running heads compete with the stories. The author wants to keep their own design and understand what needs attention before printing.
The advice
In this imagined consultation, Ryan would review sample pages in advance, then use the call to examine margins, paragraph styles and the rhythm of chapter openings. A small adjustment to a representative spread could demonstrate how consistent spacing and a clearer hierarchy change the reading experience. The author could then apply the approach across the manuscript.
Illustrative result
The intended outcome is a clearer plan for revising the file without starting over: preserve the author’s voice, simplify the page and check the revised PDF before production. This is a fictional direction, not a documented client outcome.
Illustrative fictional example · Consultation only
An exhibition foldout that works when it is opened.
The challenge
Picture a small exhibition team making a foldout guide with an installation map, image details and visitor information. The flat artwork looks convincing on screen, but the team is unsure about the reading order, folds and which information should appear first when the piece is picked up.
The advice
For this fictional scenario, Ryan would inspect the layout alongside a simple folded paper dummy. During the call, he could trace the reader’s path, check where folds cross captions or important image details, and identify file-setup questions to confirm with the printer. Minor layout changes could be demonstrated on a panel before the team updates the rest.
Illustrative result
The proposed direction gives the guide a deliberate opening sequence and separates design questions from production checks. It shows why a conversation about the physical object can be as useful as a screen review; it does not claim a real print run or measured saving.
Illustrative fictional example · Full design service
A photography book shaped by its sequence.
The challenge
Imagine a photographer with a strong body of work but no settled sequence, page system or cover direction. Some images need space to stand alone; others build meaning in pairs. The book needs a coherent pace without forcing every photograph into the same treatment.
The design approach
In this fictional full-service project, Ryan would begin with an image edit and a sequence of working spreads. He could develop a small set of page relationships, test changes in image scale, and create a restrained typographic system for captions and introductory text. Cover and material directions would be explored alongside the interior, with physical proofs used to assess reproduction and how the book handles.
Illustrative result
The imagined outcome is a coordinated design package: an edited sequence, an interior layout, a cover direction and files prepared for the agreed production process. The story is about decisions that connect images and materials, not an actual commission or published edition.
Illustrative fictional example · Full design service
A community cookbook with two languages and many voices.
The challenge
Consider a fictional community cookbook assembled from contributors’ recipes, family photographs and short recollections in two languages. The material varies in length and format. Readers need to find ingredients and steps quickly while still feeling the character of the people behind each recipe.
The design approach
Ryan’s proposed role in this imagined project would include a flexible recipe grid, a consistent hierarchy for ingredients and methods, and a considered relationship between the two languages. Sample recipes could test long instructions, short entries and image-led pages before the system is applied throughout. The cover, contents and contributor sections would be developed as part of the same design.
Illustrative result
The intended outcome is a book that can move between practical use and personal storytelling, supported by a layout system that accommodates varied contributions. This is an invented example of a possible design brief; no community, client endorsement or completed book is being represented.
Start with your own project.
Bring the files, references and questions you already have. A focused review can help clarify the next design decision.
Book Ryan’s 60-minute consultationRead about the book design and file review, or visit Consultation for general BookArt production questions.