Like many creative paths, mine began with a love of drawing and an early fascination with books. What started as childhood sketching gradually became something much deeper: a professional life built around helping authors turn important manuscripts into books that feel visually strong, carefully made, and true to the substance of the work.

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I am Nada Orlic, founder and creative director of Erelis Design, a boutique studio for bespoke book development.

 

My background is in book design, and for more than twenty years I have worked with authors around the world, creating thousands of covers and helping shape books that carry expertise, personal meaning, and lasting value. I studied at the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, where I completed a degree in Book Design through the pre-Bologna program, equivalent in scope to postgraduate study. Since establishing my independent practice in 2011, I have continued to build a body of work centered on thoughtful design, clear communication, and close collaboration with authors.

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Today, my role goes beyond the cover alone. I help guide books from manuscript to finished edition through design, interior formatting, editorial coordination, and publishing guidance, bringing the moving parts together in a more coherent and carefully managed way. Some projects need more than a strong visual identity. They need structure, consistency, good judgment, and a process that feels more personal than standard publishing services usually offer.

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I work especially well with authors creating legacy books, expert-led books, and select private editions. Many of my clients are founders, professionals, memoir authors, and individuals who have reached a point where they want to shape their ideas, experience, or personal history into a finished book they can feel proud of. In these projects, the goal is not only to make the book look good. It is to help it feel complete, considered, and properly prepared for publication.

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My approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and selective. I take time to understand the book itself, the audience it is meant to reach, and the role it is meant to play in the author’s life or work. Whether the project is a business book, a memoir, a family history, or a carefully developed private edition, I aim to create a finished result that reflects both the quality of the material and the presence of the person behind it.

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Alongside cover design, I offer or coordinate the core elements needed to bring a book together well:

custom cover design for print, digital, and audiobook formats
interior design and formatting
editorial coordination through trusted professional collaborators
publishing guidance and production support
selected author branding, website, and promotional materials where needed

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Over the years, I have built relationships with trusted editors, formatters, and other specialists whose work aligns with my own standards. When a project calls for additional support, I bring in the right people carefully, so the process remains clear, consistent, and professionally handled.

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Every collaboration begins with a close look at the manuscript, the goals behind it, and the kind of book it needs to become. I believe in honest communication, realistic timelines, and thoughtful work that does not feel rushed or generic. That philosophy is at the heart of Erelis Design and of the more personal studio experience I want each author to have here.

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When I step away from client work, I return to pen and ink drawing, photography, books, and quiet time in nature. Those interests continue to shape the way I see detail, atmosphere, and visual meaning, and they remain closely connected to the work I do.

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I would be glad to learn more about your manuscript and explore how a more personal, design-led book development process could support your project.