An event for fans of book and book jacket design, but also one that will empower creatives at every stage of their career—in book publishing and beyond.
Designing books and book jackets is one of the most rewarding and admired jobs available.
But everything about the process—from how brilliant designs are created and approved, to how to build a successful career in book publishing—can be a mystery, to outsiders and insiders alike.
Three industry veterans will spill the tea and do some collective GATE-BREAKING, to share some of the tips, tricks and insights that they have discovered while charting their own unique career paths.
How do you break into book publishing as a cover designer? How do you get a great design approved when there are a dozen stakeholders in the process, all with veto power? How do you ask your boss for a promotion, negotiate a raise, and know when it’s time to leave for greener pastures? These are the difficult questions they will tackle.
An event for fans of book and book jacket design, but also one that will empower creatives at every stage of their career—in book publishing and beyond.
Please note that this is an IN-PERSON event and will not be streamed.
So if you want to hear the crazy stories, share the laughs and glean the wisdom, you’ll have to put on hard pants and join us in person for this amazing evening.
First come first serve due to limited seating.
Tickets will sell out, so get yours NOW!
*Enter promo code at checkout
In partnership with A2A Studio Solutions
MEET THE PANELISTS
Maria Elias
Senior Art Director of Rise x Penguin Workshop a part of Penguin Young Readers
Raised in Brooklyn, Maria Elias has a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her career began in news and magazine. Once in books, Maria designed adult books for a decade before moving on to Children’s at Disney Hyperion and later Workman Publishing. In 2019, she co-founded Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. Maria’s work has been recognized by AIGA, the Type Directors Club, and others. She also writes about design and is a proud member of the Latine/LatinX in publishing community.
Chris Sergio
Vice President, Group Creative Director, HOLT / Macmillan Publishing
Prior to joining Macmillan in 2019, Sergio worked at Random House, Simon & Schuster and was VP Art Director at Penguin Random House for many years. Sergio serves on the National Board of Directors for The One Club and is also a member of the Type Directors Club Advisory Board. He is a proud alum of both RISD and LaGuardia High School and was raised in Hell’s Kitchen, New York so long ago that sometimes he still stands on street corners—for extended periods—trying to hail nonexistent yellow cabs rather than call an Uber, much to the chagrin of his family.
Albert Tang
Vice President, Creative Director, Grand Central Publishing / Hachette Book Group U.S.A.
Albert Tang is a New York born and raised graphic designer who happens to design book covers for a living. He has made stops at Penguin, W.W. Norton, Simon and Schuster, and is currently the VP, Creative Director at Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. Twenty something high and low years in the publishing industry, and still loving it.
