VIRGINIA MCLEOD
ILLUSTRATED PUBLISHING CONSULTANT
about
I am passionate about bringing beautiful, sophisticated illustrated books on architecture, design, and visual culture to life. Following a decade as Executive Commissioning Editor for Architecture and Design at Phaidon, and five years researching, writing, and project managing five books in the ‘Detail in Contemporary Architecture’ series for Laurence King, I have a particular expertise in originating, shaping, curating, and managing complex, image-driven, and profitable publishing projects that appeal to a global audience of professional as well as casual readers.
Having originally trained as an architect, and bringing a life-long passion for all aspects of design and visual culture to everything I do, I collaborate closely with authors, architects, designers, and creative people of all kinds to create beautiful books with an emphasis on sophisticated aesthetics, well-crafted text, inspiring graphic design, and high-end production values.
I have worked with world-renowned contemporary architects and designers including John Pawson, Tadao Ando, Sou Fujimoto, Naoto Fukasawa, Barber & Osgerby, Snøhetta, and Nendo. And as a Danish design enthusiast I have published comprehensive illustrated biographies on design legends including Verner Panton, Finn Juhl, Jens Risom, and Jen Quistgaard.
I have also created original concepts for genre-defining design and architecture surveys including the best-selling ‘Atlas of Brutalist Architecture’, ‘This Brutal World’, the ‘Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses’, as well as championing the work of women architects and designers in critically-acclaimed titles including ‘Breaking Ground: Architecture by Women’, ‘Woman Made: Great Women Designers', and ‘The Only Woman’.
Regardless of the subject, size, price-point, target audience or complexity of the project, I bring a wealth of experience in originating, shaping and curating illustrated books, bringing the ideas, work, values, and sensibilities of authors, architects, designers and creatives to life through creative collaboration, enthusiasm and passion for beautiful books.
portfolio
Services
I specialise in originating, shaping, curating, and managing complex, image-driven, profitable publishing projects that appeal to a global audience of both professional as well as casual readers.
I work with individuals, studios and other creative companies – and with publishing houses in the UK, the US, and around the world – in a variety of ways to help bring high quality publishing projects to life. With a wealth of contacts in the creative sectors, and within some of the best publishing companies in the world, I am well-placed to match the right project with the right publisher to maximise exposure and sales. The following is an outline of the services I offer, but I acknowledge that every project is unique, so whether you’re an individual, a studio, or a publisher, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your project in more detail.
Services for Individuals
If you have an idea for an illustrated book on architecture, design or visual culture (including photography, fashion, interiors, food, or art), or have a collection, a passion, or an obsession that needs an audience, and would like to bring it to the attention of the right publisher, I can:
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Advise on market viability
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Advise on editorial scope and structure
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Create a comprehensive publishing proposal
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Pitch your proposal to the right publishers
Services for Creative Companies
If you have a practice, studio, company, or organisation in the creative sectors including architecture, design (graphic, product, furniture, interior, theatre, fashion etc) and would like to bring your work to the attention of a wider audience in the form of a monograph or other illustrated book, I can:
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Advise on market viability
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Advise on editorial scope and structure
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Create a comprehensive publishing proposal
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Pitch your proposal to the right publishers
Services for Publishers
If you have a project that would benefit from the attention of an experienced and creative Commissioning Editor, I can:
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Collaborate with authors and subjects to establish scope and structure in the early stages of the project
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Bring creative solutions and problem solving to complex publishing projects to shape content
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Bring a critical, creative eye to the picture selection and curation process
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Bring creative direction to all aspects of illustrated publishing projects including managing the picture selection, graphic design, and production processes