Hello!
I'm a designer and illustrator with over 12 years experience in the publishing world working as a book designer. I specialize in picture books, middle grade chapter books and novels, and young adult novels, as well as branding/logos and marketing and sales collateral materials. My clients include Penguin Random House, Disney-Hyperion Books for Children, Little, Brown and Company, Pixel+Ink, A Life in Print, Clemson Extension and many more. Before establishing my freelance business I worked in-house at HarperCollins Children’s Books and at AFG, a New York based advertising agency. I have always been passionate about books--as a teenager I would spend hours reading in the hidden areas of the local public library, and later during my college years, I worked at Pratt Institute’s library while earning my B.F.A. in Communication Design. Besides books and a good story, I enjoy drawing in my sketchbook and looking at art, being outside cultivating my home garden or hiking, practicing yoga and raising my two children in sunny South Carolina. Please send me a note at torborgdavern@gmail.com to chat about your project!
PRESS:
You can learn about my cover design process in this Good Choice Reading interview
The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreak at Ada’s Reef - Publishers Weekly
EXPERIENCE:
Freelance Designer / Art Director, June 2010 - Present
Concept and design YA, middle grade, adult covers, jackets, interiors and picture books, logos/branding, and marketing/promotional materials. Meet with clients to determine design vision, scope of work, and schedule. Work with independent publishers and authors through the book making process, from concept to press. Clients include Penguin Random House, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Disney-Hyperion Books for Children, A Life in Print, Clemson University and Extension and Pixel+Ink.
A LIFE IN PRINT
Designer, Jan 2019 - Present
Designed 5-10 adult non-fiction memoirs yearly and created a personal and impactful book design for each personal history narrative; managed project status and due dates through communication with editors, authors, and freelancers and created and released press-ready PDFs under tight deadlines.
OYSTER POINT PRESS
Art Director / Designer, October 2013 - December 2014
Oversaw the design of all books published by Oyster Point Press, which includes chapter books, young adult novels, and adult novels. Personally designed a selection of books from each list with a focus on YA books. Discovered, hired, and art directed illustrators; collaborated with editors; built relationships with agents; developed concepts for covers; presented concepts at cover meetings; prepared press-ready files as well as picture book and graphic novel eBook files. Developed best practice guidelines for file distribution based on departmental need.
HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN'S BOOKS / NEW YORK / Designer, May 2007 - June 2010
Designed 20-30 picture books, middle grade novels and YA novels yearly including New York Times best-selling Paranormal series, The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket, A Christmas Carol illustrated by Brett Helquist, and 13 Words, illustrated by Maira Kalman. Created distinct and eye-catching covers and interiors; managed project status and due dates through communication with art directors, editors, managing editorial, illustrators, and freelancers. Created and released mechanicals and proofs under tight deadlines. Reviewed proofs in collaboration with production manager and editors. Handled original art and coordination of deliverables with illustrators and art directors. Assisted planning photoshoots including processing payments, castings and fittings with seamstresses and stylists.
AVRETT FREE GINSBERG (AFG)
Designer, March 2006- May 2007
Designed and developed commercial marketing and promotional materials for media campaigns, website development and pitches to gain new clients. Notable accounts included Van Cleef & Arpel, Carrera Y Carrera, Wolverine, Purina Cat Chow and Sally Handsen.
EDUCATION
Post-graduate design coursework at Noble Desktop and School of Visual Arts.
ePub Certificate, Noble Desktop
Bachelor of Communications Design, Pratt Institute.
SKILLS
Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, photo retouching and manipulation, color correction, photo research, archiving, ePub development, art direction, and portfolio review.