Design is like a jigsaw puzzle. You have all these pieces you need to fit together in order for it to make sense. It's fun to play with the pieces, trying them this way or that. A diagonal here or a drop shadow there.

I really enjoy planning the cover look for a reading series. There are so many challenges it presents – incorporating grade levels, readable fonts, dynamic title blocks and images that suggest the contents but don't give it all away. Then pulling it together so kids are attracted to the books and want to read them.

Design is like the steel girders of a skyscrapper. It holds everything together.