Science Book Layout & Typesetting

I’m nearing the manuscript-ready stage for a non-fiction science title aimed squarely at the general public, and I need an experienced book designer to translate those words into a clean, engaging interior. The trim size is already fixed at 8.5 × 11 inches, so every design decision will revolve around making that larger page feel approachable rather than textbook-dense.

Here’s what I’m after: a well-considered grid that locks in margins, line spacing, and paragraph justification; harmonious header styles that guide the reader without distracting; and a repeatable visual rhythm so each chapter opens with authority and flows naturally through narrative, tables, and figures. Consistency is key—from the treatment of subheads to the placement of folios—so I’m looking for someone who understands typographic hierarchy and can create master pages that make production painless.

Because the book leans on data and illustrations, I also need thoughtful placement and styling of tables and figures to avoid breaking the reading flow. Adobe InDesign or an equivalent professional layout tool is preferred so I can receive both print-ready PDF files and working source files for any future revisions.

Deliverables
• Complete interior layout for 8.5 × 11 print edition, including chapter title pages, running headers/footers, tables, and figures
• Print-ready PDF meeting standard POD/offset specs (bleed, embedded fonts, CMYK where required)
• Packaged working files (INDD or similar) with linked assets and fonts
• A brief style guide summarising typefaces, sizes, leading, colour specs, and grid settings for reference

If this sounds like your speciality, please share samples of comparable non-fiction layouts you’ve produced and note your typical turnaround for a 60–70k word manuscript. I’m ready to start as soon as we agree on the approach.