“Editorial design is about the small details – you’re not just designing the cover, but also the book interior – and those extra details need to be tight and finessed.”
Reading graduate Emily Lapworth – deputy design manager at Quadrille Publishing – talks about her experiences at Reading, her career in the creative space and what she does to stay grounded.
A lightbulb moment
Emily had her sights firmly set on studying fine art at university, but after visiting Reading she realised it was graphic design that she wanted to pursue.
She said: “My favourite subjects were art and English but I wasn’t given any advice at school on careers that involved both subjects. When I visited the Reading campus on an Open Day and walked into the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication something just clicked.
“I knew in that moment that graphic design was the right choice, and it was Reading that instigated that for me.
“I loved the history of the department and the rustic building, but what really stood out for me was that the course was print-based and had a strong focus on editorial design. I’ve always loved books and the opportunity to learn how to design these professionally was something that really excited me.”
There is no doubt in Emily’s mind that her time at Reading had an impact on her career. She said: “Reading turned out to be the best choice for me. I absolutely loved the course – it was hard work but the joy of creating designs with such a lovely bunch of people made it all worthwhile.
“It also gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed when I first started out in the design industry. I was prepared technically but I could also communicate my ideas well, which was something that was instilled into me at Reading.
“The first person who hired me was actually an alumna of the University and I know she thought very highly of the course and the experience that it gave its students.”
Emily also shared that three of the friends she made on her course have become friends for life and she met her future husband at Reading. She said: “We met at Wessex Halls. We lived on the same corridor in our first year and as they say, the rest is history!”
Fuelling creativity
After graduating Emily landed her first job as a designer at Quadrille – a global, award-winning food and lifestyle publisher. Fast forward 11 years and Emily is now a deputy design manager at the renowned publishing house.
In her current role Emily oversees the book design process. She explained: “Half of the job is as you would expect – coming up with ideas and creating books – but the other half is producing them. This can include managing budgets, arranging photo shoots, commissioning freelancers, creating mood boards and directing the shoots.
“You have to be able to do both parts of the job well and juggle a lot of spinning plates.”
Emily shared that her favourite type of book to design are craft books. She said: “During a craft photo shoot, I always end up having lots of roles on set which means I can have a real impact on how the book looks, which I really enjoy.”
Turning to her career highlights, Emily revealed that she worked with Anja Dunk, a freelance cook, food writer and artist on her book Advent.
She explained: “The idea behind the book was for it to become our readers’ Christmas Bible – something that you would revisit every year and cook a recipe from with your family. It was a real collaborative effort and such a treat to see the final copies land on shelves at Christmas.”
In 2022 Advent was nominated at the British Book Design and Production Awards. Emily said:
“This nomination was one of those stand-out moments. I felt very lucky to work with someone as talented as Anja on this project.”
Beyond the screen
Emily’s creative flair doesn’t stop at work. In her spare time she loves to screen-print – something she was taught by former University of Reading Typography & Graphic Design Lecturer, Martin Andrews. She said:
“When you’ve been looking at a screen all day it’s so nice to get your hands dirty. In the last few years I’ve also taken up sewing which I find relaxing and really takes my mind off of the day job.”
When she’s not creating, Emily also enjoys exploring new places and being with her feline companion, Peach. She said: “I love going on a long weekend. I recently visited the Lake District which was beautiful and I’d like to go back there and explore more of it. Peach loves jumping on my desk and showing her bum in video calls. She definitely keeps me on my toes and helps me stay grounded.”
It’s about the detail
Having worked in the creative space for over a decade, Emily shared her advice to anyone looking to embark on a career as a book designer.
She said: “Editorial design is about the small details – you’re not just designing the cover, but also the book interior – and those extra details need to be tight and finessed.
“If you don’t have any experience to add to your portfolio yet, my advice would be to create your own. I love seeing interpretations of existing book cover designs as it allows you to see the creator’s individual style and vision.”
Discover more about studying graphic communication at Reading, or find out about Quadrille Publishing.
