Vicky Shea

As a freelance designer with 25 years of book design experience, Vicky Shea closely collaborates with publishers, private entities, editorial teams, printers, and authors to deliver high-quality books. She has successfully designed and laid out hundreds of books, specializing in nonfiction coffee table and corporate history books, cookbooks, guidebooks, how-to gardening and home improvement books, travel books, gift books, and children’s books. She has extensive experience with the printing process, having worked on press in the US and overseas with full color printing, file management, and preflight file preparation.

She can manage complex color printing processes and troubleshoot production issues while maintaining a high level of detail. Vicky’s work has won numerous Benjamin Franklin awards and a PubWest Design award. She regularly attends publishing conferences and Adobe Max/Creative Pro to stay current in design trends and publishing software.

With a seasoned career in book design and creative direction, Vicky Vaughn Shea stands as a testament to my unwavering commitment to excellence in visual storytelling. I pride myself with collaborating closely with publishers, editors and authors, meticulously crafting covers and interior designs that breathe life into every page. At the core of my designs lies a keen attention to detail and a mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud software, ensuring each project reflects the intended vision with precision and creativity.

The journey working with a variety of publishers fortified my expertise in book design, allowing me to contribute to the success of multiple imprints. My dedication across diverse materials has not only fulfilled client expectations but also enriched the visual landscape of published works. Working with a network of skilled photographers and illustrators, when requested, have brought a rich tapestry of ideas to fruition.

Over the years, I have designed all types of books, from beginning to end; covers, interiors, the whole package. I have designed coffee table and corporate history books, cookbooks, guidebooks, children's books, how-to guides, animal books, farming books, gardening books, and novels. My portfolio shows the breadth of my work and a list of publishers I have worked with.

25 years experience in book design

Associates degree, with honors, The Art Institute of San Diego formerly The Advertising Arts College