Greg Heinimann
Greg Heinimann is the Deputy Creative Director at Bloomsbury Publishing. He has designed and illustrated book covers for George Saunders, Kiley Reid, Jennifer Egan and Lisa Taddeo, among others. In Greg’s own words, ‘It’s my job to make books handsome, pretty or just plain intriguing.’ His work has been awarded at the D&AD awards, British Book Design and Production Awards and featured in The Times, Phoenix magazine, Spine magazine and more.
If you could recommend 3 books to anyone, what would they be?
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
As a cover designer we tend to read a lot, but I felt real empathy and connection with this project. Growing up in the 1980's U.K., it was hard to raise your head above the clouds for a clear view when surrounded by the attitudes of the day. I’m not a strongly political person, but I felt the chapters on structural racism, the dive into white privilege, and the insights you come away with about how to be a better ‘neighbour’ in society were eye opening and very powerful. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone: it’s a timely education, and a handbook that can help transcend some of these walls.
The Look of the Book by Peter Mendelsund and David J. Alworth
I’ve been dipping in and out of this beauty for a while now. It’s a beautiful slab of a book about the history of the book cover, the processes, the trends, the semiotics, the high and low art, and the frustrations and solutions that encompass the job. It’s not only a great visual resource and celebration of jacket design, but it also makes designers feel heard. The journey to good cover design ain’t easy, but the arrival makes it all the sweeter, and this book certainly reminds me of that when a project is challenging.
How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy
This is a slim book on the craft and art of songwriting by one of the greatest. I love to write songs and make music when I’m not at my day job, so a how-to-handbook by a true master is something very special, and I dip in and out of it often. It’s written with such joy and warmth, and to get caught up in Jeff’s continued wonder and his dedication to the craft of songwriting is a treat. A friendly guided tour inside the Mystery Zone, with many generous, practical tips. A complete joy, and recommended to anyone who enjoys creating in all its forms.
What are you reading now?
At the moment, I’m reading The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers. It’s something we’re publishing next year, and set in 1990’s England where two unlikely friends are on a crop circle-making mission in the dead of night together. It’s fantastic. Also enjoying Caleb Femi’s Poor, a really powerful poetry collection on the young black male experience. And The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story, which just features the best of the best in this art form.
What is your favourite bookstore or library?
Queens Park Books, North West London
There are so many to love, but I’ll have to choose my local – Queens Park Books in North West London. It’s really well curated, and the booksellers are friendly and knowledgeable with consistently great recommendations. They also have a giant panda in the tree outside which amuses my daughter no end.
