What is Make Do Books? Make Do Books isn’t a company, it’s a person. Hi, I’m Justin. I’m an artist and book designer who bridges the gap between you and the book you’ve always wanted to make. Apart from my own technical background, aesthetic vocabulary, and personal self-publishing practice, I’ve developed a network of skilled artists, tradespeople, and printers to help you make your book a reality.

Why should I work with you to self-publish as opposed to working with a publisher? Getting published is great and if you’ve been given the money and the opportunity, take it!

But publishing isn’t always the best option for artists. Many times, artbook publishers ask you to contribute tens of thousands of dollars to create an edition of 1500 or more. I started self-publishing as an up-and-coming artist because I knew I would never get rid of thousands of copies. Even if I could, it didn’t seem like a sustainable practice I was interested in taking part in. 

Additionally, publishers often use their own designers to stylistically fit your work into their collection of published works, therefore taking a way a large portion of your creative control. Publishers often only print work that will appeal to a large audience, which leaves niche artists out of the contemporary art world. Even “smaller presses” will want to print 1000 copies of the book. By printing in editions of 30, 50, 100 or 200, we can make the book with custom elements that would never be considered by a publisher. Thanks to digital printing technology, we can keep the price per book low, so you can make your money back.

Will I be giving up complete creative control when I ask you to design my book? Certainly not! Being an artist myself, I know how important your work is to you. I want your book to be inextricably linked to your vision for the artwork or writing. Some clients prefer to be hands-on and provide input every step of the way, and others trust that they can put their vision for the work into my hands. Regardless, I usually start the process with one or more consultations or studio visits in order for me to develop an intimate understanding of your artwork, past and present. From there, we can discuss how to move forward and the level of participation you want to have in the design process.

Will I make money on my self-published book? It’s highly unlikely. However, we can discuss a budget to ensure you make your money back for your next project :). This does not mean you don’t profit from your book, however. A book is a highly affordable and distributable way to get your body of work into the hands of new people (and curators!). It’s a way of consolidating your artistic vision into a single object that can be returned to time and time again. A book is an investment that provides unexpected, but valuable returns. For example, I believe a big reason I was accepted into a fully-funded MFA program was my long history of self-publishing my own work, which legitimized my practice tangible way.

When do I know I’m ready to make a book? Maybe you have a huge file full of raw material or writing but you don’t know what to do with it. You may already have a clear vision but you feel like you’re drowning in printing options online. Whatever the case, I can help you sift through and sequence the raw material, then design, layout, edit, and print the book. Feel free to contact me at any point for next steps. 

I don’t want my book to look cheap and mass-produced but I also have a tight budget. We’ll find a way to make your book unique on your budget. No matter what materials we use, I will ensure that the concept of your artwork remains present. I have developed relationships with a variety of printing, binding, and embossing companies; many of them local to Minnesota.   Each company offers unique services that are able to construct your vision. If we cannot find a company to meet your budgetary needs, I am capable of accommodating handmade elements at my studio or other independent artists. Additionally, I’m always on the lookout for unique papers and binding materials to create one-of-a-kind book editions that are unique to your vision.

I have some experience with bookmaking and I’d like to cut costs by doing some of the designing and binding myself. Will you help me get started? Yes, I offer one time or multiple-visit consultations based on your needs. Bring what you have and we can discuss your design and your printing options moving forward.

Ok, I’m interested. What next? For more information or to set up a consultation, please reach out. If you’re ready to make a book and have a deadline, I ask that you come with high quality images and text elements book-ready. If you don’t know if you’re book-ready, that’s okay! Send me a message to set up a consultation and we’ll identify the next steps in the process.