Karen Sheets de Gracia
About Me
I have nearly 25 years of experience in graphic design, with experience ranging from Production Artist to Production Director. I was honored to work at the American Library Association for 16 years in their publishing department. My specialties are book and editorial design, and I pride myself on my ability to handle complicated projects involving multiple stakeholders and sensitivities. If my background aligns with your needs, I would love to work with you on your next design challenge.
Services I can provide
Expert-level typesetting and page design
Design of complex, long-form text
Suites including print and web graphics
Signage, slide decks, business cards
Image research and editing
Art curation 
Editorial proofreading
Creative direction
Production / project management
Design within branding parameters
Partnership with illustrators
Subcontractor management 
E-book, editorial, indexing management
Printer and vendor relations
Clients
American Library Association
Dream of Italy
Gibson House Press
National Head Start Association
Public Library Association
Turner Publishing
University of Notre Dame
University of Minnesota
University of Pittsburgh
WETA
Testimonials

"Karen was an incredible find for our art and poetry collection. Her knowledge of layout, typesetting, and book design was clear from the onset. As artists ourselves, it was important to us that our designer honored our creative vision, and Karen didn't disappoint. In fact, she showed incredible patience as we made adjustments and additions to our book. 
Above all else, Karen was reliable. She proposed a timeline in our initial conversations and she adhered to it. When we reached out, she always responded promptly and in detail. Her organizational skills kept us focused and on track, and she knew exactly what steps to take to prepare our file for printing. 
From day one, we felt that Karen understood how important this project was to both of us. She helped us bring our vision to light and we hope to work with her again!"

"Karen was amazing to work with. I gave her my nonfiction book document, which was collaborative with two other authors, and she standardized everything and made it look beautiful. She made all the tables look consistent. She was communicative and responsive. I will definitely be hiring Karen to design our next book."

"Karen took on a complicated project and worked meticulously and unceasingly to resolve all issues and polish the project into a beautiful product. She navigated numerous specifications with precision while also infusing her keen sense of beautiful and clean design, enhancing the aesthetic and efficaciousness of the project. Karen was well organized, completing all tasks in a timely manner, and provided clear, easy, and pleasant communication. Throughout the project, it was evident that the quality of the work as well as my complete satisfaction were her priorities. I look forward to the opportunity to work with her again and highly recommend her services."