Micaela Alcaino
Instagram & TikTok: @micaelaalcainodesign|
Twitter: @micaelaalcaino
LinkedIn: /micaelaalcaino
micaelaalcaino.com
Pronouns: She/Her
Where are you from?: I am from Sydney Australia, I live in London, UK
Identity: Hispanic / Latinx
Languages: English and Spanish
Where do you currently work at?: Freelance Cover Designer and Illustrator
If you transitioned out of the industry, where did you work before? How long did you work there?: I spent year working in-house, starting my career at Penguin Random House UK, and then moving to HarperCollins UK and after 8 years in-house I moved to freelance.
One favorite book you've worked on and why?: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. This is my absolute favourite Fantasy book, and it was an absolute dream come true when I got asked by Gollancz to design and illustrate their special edition.
How did you get into design?: I studied Digital Media at University and then once I graduated I packed up 2 suitcase and a guitar case and moved to the other side of the world to London and pretty much had only 3 months worth of savings in order to make it work in London. I remember applying to any job advertised with the word "Design" in it. I think it was fate to land an interview at PRH. If anyone had told me I could design and illustrate books for a living I would have pursued it whole heartedly. But in actual fact, it found me!
What do you like about being a book designer in publishing? : I love to read. I love design. And I love to draw. It's such a perfect job to fall into. A part of my own process is to try and read all the books I design for if there is a manuscript available. It also means I can create a more authentic cover for the book and also means I get to read a lot of extraordinary stories!
Tell us a surprising fact about you?: I am an Identical Twin. I also do Archery as a sport!
What did you learn about publishing that you wish you knew before? : Hmmm.... This is a really hard question!
As a freelancer I wish I knew so many things before I went freelance. Things like fees, sell on rights, contracts, etc. All of which the industry keep quiet about. I try and be as open as possible about all of these things so that we can help create a healthy environment for freelancers to thrive in!
What's one goal you have for yourself in this industry?: My goal is to inspire people to read and be creative. I mentor constantly as well, as I think its so important to raise the next generation of designers in a healthy way. Alongside four other designers, we run a program called DPI (Design. Publishing. Inclusivity.) which is a mentorship initiative for under-represented creatives, where we match up mentees with leading designers across the publishing industry as mentors.
How do you overcome a creative block?: Never under estimate a walk in nature to help with creative block! I also walk away from a project that isn't working for the day. Sometimes all it needs is a fresh mind the next day. Travelling also helps me get those creative juices flowing!