About the studio
A small studio that makes one kind of book.
DesignKompanie began as a cover design studio, then narrowed its focus to the corner of publishing we love most — children's books. Today we illustrate and design picture books, illustrated chapter books, and gift editions, working with self-publishing authors, small presses, and the occasional family commission.
Our six signature styles give us range. Our narrow focus gives us depth. That combination is the whole point.
"We make books that stay on the shelf long after the child has outgrown them."
How we think
Four principles that show up in every project.
Narrow focus beats broad talent.
We don't do wedding invitations, logos, or adult book covers. Children's books are a medium of their own — we've chosen to get good at one thing rather than okay at everything.
The first meeting decides the book.
If we can't agree on who the book is for in the first conversation, we don't take the project. That discipline has saved us (and our clients) from a lot of half-finished work.
Transparency from start to finish.
Fixed prices. Clear milestones. Files you own outright. If something changes, we tell you on day one — not on the day the invoice goes out.
Consistency is the craft.
Anyone can draw one beautiful spread. The whole job is making spread 14 look like it belongs next to spread 3, and the cover look like it belongs to both.
Who we work with
Authors, presses, and families.
Most of our clients are self-publishing authors who've written a manuscript they care about and want it treated with the same care by the illustrator. Often it's their first book. Sometimes their tenth.
We also work regularly with small independent presses who need one-off cover commissions alongside their in-house production, and occasionally with families commissioning a private keepsake — a book about a grandparent, a new baby, a lost pet.
We do not work on content that isn't suited to children — and we are clear about that up front rather than polite about it after.
Start your book
Let's make something worth keeping.
Tell us about your story. We'll reply within two working days with a short proposal and a style recommendation.