LAURA HIDALGO
Founder & Art Director
(Book Design | Special Editions | Publishing)
Phone:
628-288-4677
Email:
Address:
Based in Phoenix, AZ; Remote Work. Open to travel. Willing to relocate domestically and abroad.
About
Laura Hidalgo is a book designer and art director specializing in cover design, special editions, and publishing-ready visual systems for authors, independent presses, and publishing partners.
​
As founder of Spellbinding Design, she has designed hundreds of book covers and directed special edition projects including collector editions, decorative interiors, foil-stamped cases, and print production assets.
​
Her work spans the full publishing process, from concept development and visual positioning through final production and distribution.
​
In addition to design, Laura develops author brand identities, publishing copy, and launch-ready creative assets informed by genre conventions, reader expectations, and market positioning.
​
She has also published and ghostwritten her own work, giving her firsthand insight into manuscript development, editorial workflows, and the author experience.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
PUBLISHING CLIENTS & TITLES FEATURING DESIGN WORK
Work Experience
Founder & Art Director
Spellbinding Design | Phoenix, AZ (Remote)
January 2012 – Present
Senior Escalation Support Specialist
Scribd | San Francisco, CA (Remote)
March 2020 – March 2023
Social Media Manager
Westchester Toyota | Yonkers, NY
April 2011 – November 2012
Founded and operated a publishing-focused creative studio specializing in book cover design, special editions, and visual identity for authors and independent presses. Designed and art directed publishing projects from concept through final production while managing freelance collaborators, overseeing budgets, timelines, and creative execution, and partnering directly with clients to deliver market-aligned publishing assets.
-
Designed 500+ of book covers across multiple genres, developing advanced expertise in typography, visual storytelling, and market-aware publishing design
-
Art directed visual positioning for titles, aligning cover design and branding with genre expectations, reader psychology, and market trends
-
Commissioned by publishers, book subscription companies, and publishing services providers to design special edition books and cohesive visual systems supporting premium and collector-level releases
-
Led creative direction for 50+ special edition projects from concept through final production, ensuring cohesive execution across all visual and production components
-
Produced specialized print features including endpapers, sprayed edges, foil stamping layouts, slipcases and book boxes, and interior decorative artwork.
-
Built cohesive author brand identities including series branding, logos, websites, newsletters, and promotional assets aligned with each title’s positioning and audience
-
Developed publishing copy including manuscript summaries for agent and publisher submissions, reader-facing blurbs and retail descriptions, and branded website and newsletter content
-
Supported publishing strategy through metadata research, SEO-informed positioning, and social media content development to strengthen discoverability and audience growth
Served as a senior escalation specialist supporting Scribd’s digital reading and audiobook platform, resolving complex account, billing, and content issues while collaborating across product, engineering, and publishing partners.
-
Managed 125+ high-priority customer cases weekly, maintaining strong customer satisfaction through clear, empathetic, and solution-focused communication
-
Acted as liaison between Scribd and audiobook distributor Findaway Voices, coordinating resolution of audiobook content issues, missing materials, and production discrepancies
-
Created and refined Help Center content and customer-facing support copy, improving clarity and accessibility for platform users
-
Collaborated with product, engineering, and content teams to identify platform issues, submit Jira tickets, and support ongoing product improvements
-
Provided bilingual (English/Spanish) support and translation for customer communications, internal documentation, and customer-facing materials
-
Assisted in product testing for new platform features, contributing copy feedback and localization support across web and mobile experiences
-
Served as a trusted escalation resource for complex or sensitive customer issues, supporting internal teams with advanced case resolution
-
Managed public-facing customer communications across Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and social media platforms, supporting brand trust and reputation management
Held a dual role supporting executive leadership and managing the dealership’s digital presence during early social media adoption, strengthening brand visibility, public relations, and internal coordination across departments.
-
Managed daily social media operations across Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+, establishing consistent brand voice and customer engagement
-
Produced original marketing content including blog articles, branded visual assets, and customer testimonial videos, handling recording, editing, and digital publishing
-
Served as Executive Assistant to the General Manager, coordinating communications, supporting dealership operations, and ensuring internal systems and phone routing functioned effectively
-
Acted as a bilingual liaison (English/Spanish) for customers and staff, supporting sales, service, and customer relations
-
Coordinated with external marketing agencies, newspaper publishers, and website teams to ensure accuracy and consistency of promotional campaigns
-
Managed online reputation across Better Business Bureau, Cars.com, Autotrader, and Google, responding to customer feedback and supporting brand trust
-
Represented the dealership in media appearances, including local news and print publications, supporting public-facing marketing and community outreach
-
Oversaw and provided guidance to social media staff across affiliated dealership locations, supporting brand consistency and marketing alignment
-
Collaborated with service technicians and department managers to highlight team achievements through digital and marketing channels
Let's Get
Social
