4th March 2025
I've never been able to find a scuba diving logbook that I like. The solution? I designed two paperbacks and two hardbacks myself.
25th March 2024
Have you got a book in you? Which way should you go, traditional or self-publishing? Here’s a comparison between the two methods.
9th January 2024
Pantone Peach Fuzz is the 2024 Color of the Year. Find out how Pantone make their choice, view colour palettes and compare with Dulux.
4th April 2023
It used to be normal to use underlining and capitals to style your content, but not any more. What should you do instead?
28th December 2022
Pantone describe Viva Magenta as “a new animated red that revels in pure joy”. But it looks pink to me. How do you respond to it?
7th November 2022
How did Jacquie Bloese transition to become a successful published author, and what would be her advice for other aspiring writers?
14th September 2022
Here are 10 top tips from our expert photographer, award-winning photojournalist and visual storyteller Jacky Chapman.
29th June 2022
And what’s the best way to go about it? I spoke to Amanda Littlecott from Clear Bubble, a professional who knows all about decluttering.
3rd May 2022
If you're not a pro and you're creating your own website there are lots of 'builder' sites you could use. I recommend Squarespace.
26th April 2022
Atomic Habits by James Clear promises remarkable results from tiny changes. Who could resist finding out more?
9th February 2022
Very Peri, a new shade, is Pantone’s colour of 2022. How do they choose? Trends, colour pairings and products are discussed in this blogpost.
13th January 2022
If you’ve got an amazing new product or service that you want to shout about, then a press release is a great way of spreading the word.
29th December 2021
Factfulness is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. Once I'd looked at the World Health Chart on the first page I was hooked.
12th December 2021
Will a 100-year life be a blessing or a curse? The authors discuss, with scenarios, the opportunities of making a very long life a gift.
18th August 2021
If you’re interested in books, and book cover design in particular, don’t miss The Beauty of Books (episode four) on BBC iPlayer.
17th August 2021
Free tours at Tate Britain and Tate Modern have restarted in a different, socially distanced form and are now called Tate Talks.
21st June 2021
Which is the best choice? Clashing or harmonious colours? It depends on the context. This is my view of a colour scheme in Whitehall Gardens.
16th June 2021
To write your marketing plan in a less than 60 minutes, simply answer the questions in this video, spending less than two minutes on each.
13th May 2021
Surbiton-based publishing professional Suzanne Arnold explains, in a guest blog, the difference between copy-editing and proofreading.
17th March 2021
A graphic designer can help you with your packaging, i.e. the image you present to the world to encourage people to buy from you.
25th February 2021
If you find workaholics who never take a lunch break difficult to identify with, take a look at my light-hearted work-life balance tips.
25th February 2021
Teddington photographer Trevor Aston writes about a commission that combined two of his passions: photography and creative writing.
4th January 2021
Pantone have announced their Colour of the Year for 2021. What are the colour trends for 2021, and how can we best use them?
2nd January 2021
Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed is jam-packed with interesting facts. Whether or not you are a leader, everyone can learn something from it.
6th November 2020
There are plenty of places to download e-books or buy print books online. Where can you shop if you’d like to buy books ethically?
2nd October 2020
Most designers choose to use two typefaces in their designs (font pairing). Discover tips on how to mix and match fonts, and see examples that pair well.
27th August 2020
What is a typical day for a graphic designer? I made a note of everything I did one Thursday last month; this is a record of my day.
17th August 2020
Author Marilyn Messek proves that a book is the best marketing tool you can have. A good business guide if you're just starting out, but not for old hands.
24th July 2020
The 80/20 principle proves that 80% of results come from 20% of input. The book recommends we should locate and concentrate on the most lucrative parts of our businesses.
19th July 2020
We can’t compete with AI, but if we develop our unique human powers we can work in tandem with it, survive and thrive. Learn how to develop these skills in The Human Edge.
23rd June 2020
Find out how Annette Peppis got into publishing, what she's working on right now ... and more, in her YouTube interview with Laura Summers of Bookmachine.
17th June 2020
For the first time in its history, The Galley Club meeting will be going online. Find out more about their interactive sessions in this article.
1st May 2020
Have you noticed some unusual backgrounds in your video calls? I'll show you how to make a Zoom background, and discuss whether to use it for work meetings.
7th January 2020
Pantone have announced that the Colour of the Year 2020 is Classic Blue, and Shutterstock's forecast also features an intense indigo. What else is trending?
20th November 2019
With their creativity, practicality and powerful problem-solving skills, designers should be involved in decision-making. Why is this so rare?
19th September 2019
How to harness the power of humour through your social media presence and strengthen your overall marketing mix.
2nd May 2019
A local nursery has recently undergone a rebrand. Things started well where did they go wrong?
9th January 2019
Colour psychologists often split colours into seasons. Find out how different shades of a colour can evoke different feelings.
9th January 2019
Every year, Pantone announce their colour of the year: in 2019 it was Living Coral. How does Pantone decide which colour they should promote in this way?
19th December 2018
These suggestions on how to prepare your copy for publication will save your designer or publisher time, which in turn will save you money.
1st November 2018
Print is not dead, and a brochure can be a great weapon in your marketing arsenal. Find out how a new brochure helped AST Stairlifts get more business.
24th August 2018
If you are confused about photo formats and sizes, this article will answer your most asked questions.
9th July 2018
Where can you source really unusual and extraordinary typefaces? There are a number of options you can try. Read our useful guide to find out more.
3rd May 2018
Here’s my take on the pros and cons of using an experienced designer or an intern – and a view from a publishing professional who’s seen life from both sides of the fence.
12th March 2018
This well-known man's personal branding is second to none. You may know who he is by just looking at his ties – or even just his socks. Who is he?
1st March 2018
GDPR compliance is not as difficult as you would think. In this article I share the main points, which are useful If you run a small business.
18th January 2018
Find out why we used the colours red and green for this logo design.
8th January 2018
How do you choose colours that match if you don’t know anything about colour theory or colour psychology? There’s a great free resource to help you.
26th October 2017
Supply good pictures to your designer and ensure your marketing materials are up to scratch and your products and services are shown to the best possible advantage.
26th October 2017
What exactly do graphic designers do, and can graphic design actually save your life? This question is discussed through a medical perspective.
26th September 2017
17th August 2017
There is so much in London to give designers inspiration. Here are the top 10 places that get my creative juices flowing.
15th August 2017
The London Transport Museum at the depot in Acton is not just for train geeks, it has lots of treats in store for art and design enthusiasts. The Johnston tour is one of these.
7th August 2017
Anxious about commissioning a book designer? Find out how to ensure your designer projects the right image and communicates successfully with your readers.
2nd August 2017
Do not miss the St Bride Institute print room on your London visit if you are interested in the history of hot metal or letterpress printing.
8th July 2017
I usually like to stay in London during the summer months and get away when it’s cold, but this year I broke with tradition and spent
7th July 2017
This summer is the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Sergeant Pepper was released and swinging London was the height of cool.
21st April 2017
Easy ways to select photos for your projects; where to look, how much it might cost and the pitfalls you should be aware of.
6th April 2017
Publishers and agents would like to see the end of ‘Grip Lit’ – but it's very lucrative for them. It's also still popular. Here are my top 5 choices.
5th April 2017
These amazing and moving posters first came to my attention in a Design Museum competition. Is this campaign the best ever?
28th March 2017
In the 1960s, Donovan’s album covers used distinctive fonts which reflected his style of music. The most well known was ‘Arnold Bocklin’ font.
17th March 2017
6th January 2017
A friend recently told me about this little known offer. By joining the Museums Association you get free access to virtually all the Museums
16th November 2016
Last week I was lucky enough to be commended in the Richmond Business Awards ‘Best Website’ category. During the submission process I
12th November 2016
Do you live in London? Are you the type of person who is torn between visiting museums and getting
27th October 2016
How much do you know about fonts? Have a go at our 10-point quiz and see how many you get right.
21st September 2016
Writing your book is the easy bit. Marketing and selling it is a whole new ball game. To get you started here are 5 ways to sell your book.
12th August 2016
The Water Rats is the new home for the Galley Club, the seriously social club for people who work in, or are interested in, the world of publishing.
7th July 2016
Have you decided to quit your job to concentrate on writing? What team do authors need? Here are my suggestions for your dream team members.
29th March 2016
Think about Ecuador. The Amazon, Andes, cloud forest and Galapagos may come to mind. Do you think of Oswaldo Guayasamín, Ecuador's answer to Picasso?
22nd January 2016
Tucked away in a quiet Georgian side street in Spitalfields, East London, is Dennis Severs House, one of London’s hidden secrets.
15th January 2016
Every year, Pantone select a ‘colour of the year’ that they deem to reflect the zeitgeist (buzzwords this year are balanced, calming, wellness,
8th December 2015
We creative types can be very picky when it comes to presents. Here are some ideas showing you how to please your arty loved-ones.
8th December 2015
If you are in lockdown and want to relax by expressing your creativity, try colouring books. They're not just for children, they're for grown-ups too!
30th November 2015
Even though I love my job, I sometimes wish I could spend a little less time at my computer and a lot more time creating stuff
18th November 2015
I know a thing or two about typography; I’ve studied, read about it and practised it for more than 30 years. I can talk endlessly about
2nd September 2015
Branding creates a cohesive identity for book cover designs. Read how this series rebrand resulted in an uplift in sales for a small publisher.
1st August 2015
What do you think of this new logo? I’m keen on it, as I love stencil typefaces and frequently play with them when I’m designing new
28th May 2015
On a recent trip to Liverpool, I drove to Seacombe to see Peter Blake’s Snowdrop Mersey Ferry, but nothing had prepared me for this riot of colour.
28th May 2015
Back in 2013, I wrote a post about a new service for publishing professionals. Little did I know what impact it would have on my career.
12th May 2015
Having a career in graphic design can be very rewarding, though it has its pros and cons. Should you encourage your kids in this career?
10th April 2015
On a recent trip to Budapest, I consulted TripAdvisor to see which activities proved popular, and discovered that Hungarians have been
9th January 2015
Designers employ lots of tricks to enhance a design. One of these is using beautiful ampersands. Here are my personal top 10 ampersands.
12th December 2014
First impressions count: it’s well known that people judge you mainly by your appearance, not by how you sound, or even
24th September 2014
Have you ever seen a typeface, admired or hated it and wondered what it was? You don’t have to have a degree in typography to find
24th September 2014
If you have a free afternoon, an empty fridge and a liking for Asian food, you could do worse than take a trip to Southall.
22nd September 2014
When people think about branding, they normally envisage company logos and the way they are applied to marketing materials and products.
19th August 2014
‘Fresh, light and fun’ or ‘modern, yet traditional’? Both! Though not at the same time. This was part of my brief from the
23rd July 2014
At last night’s Bookmachine event for people in publishing, Sam Missingham, Head of Events at HarperCollins, spoke about her most recent
8th July 2014
I recently met a content marketing expert whose opinion was categorically ‘no’, and most photographers would agree with her. While
15th June 2014
Or did your inherent love of what was to become your future career influence your choice of toys? I think it was that way round for me.
11th April 2014
I was asked recently ‘What makes a good website?’ The only answer I could give was ‘A site that serves its client well’. The majority of businesses
8th April 2014
Recently, KIngston University hosted an excellent talk by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords on ‘How to publish an ebook’. Smash words is a free publishing platform
27th March 2014
If, like me, you love turquoise, Arabic architecture, patterns and scripts, you will love the Leighton House Museum. Tucked away off Kensington High Street near Holland Park,
27th March 2014
I’ve recently returned from South East Asia where I was delighted by the Khmer and Chinese lettering. To me, the scripts
26th March 2014
After Guy Sellwood’s excellent talk at the Chamber Sales Seminar in November, Carol Dwyer had a lot to live up to last night, but she did not
18th March 2014
To most of us, orange conjures up visions of youth and fresh ideas; it’s a lively, vibrant colour, ideal for portraying vitality and newness. On the
18th March 2014
Reading the in-flight magazine on my way to Cambodia recently, I was struck by the beauty of the Chinese characters used, particularly when
2nd January 2014
At a recent Galley Club meeting, one of my fellow members asked me if I would like an old type catalogue he was getting rid of.
31st December 2013
When I’m thinking of buying a book, often the design can put me off; a very small typeface, mean leading (line spacing) and stingy margins are