Book Editor - text & Graphics InDesign - Expert level

Job Title: Freelance Book Designer & Prepress Expert – Adobe InDesign (300-Page Interview/Coffee Table Book)Project First of all, it should be clear that I will suply the first draft of the book and I will need help in perfecting the pages. So you will not start from scratch OverviewI am seeking an experienced book designer and prepress production specialist to help format, edit, and finalize a high-end, premium-print book of interviews. The manuscript consists of raw text interviews paired with high-resolution imagery. The final product will be a structured, visually striking layout optimized for professional, top-tier printing. Key Project Specifications Software: Adobe InDesign (Latest Version). Total Page Count: Approximately 300 pages. Trim Size: 12" x 12" (Square coffee table format).Interior Layout: 2-column text flow with automated parent page structuring. Cover Design: Dust jacket and hardcover setup featuring a precise grid of 40 separate 2" x 2" portrait photo frames.Scope of WorkTemplate & (Completed) Parent Page Creation: Build clean, automated parent pages to handle a dense, two-column layout smoothly across 300 pages.Section Formatting & Complex Pagination: Set up proper section breaks. Front matter must use Roman numerals (or hide page numbers entirely), with Arabic pagination starting exactly at page 1 for the first interview.Image Grid Management: Precisely map out and anchor the 40-image cover grid (2" x 2" frames). Ensure links are properly scaled, cropped, and contained without distorting the layout. High-End Prepress & Production: Perform an extensive preflight check. You will manage color space conversions (RGB to CMYK), set up a 0.125" bleed, calculate exact spine width for the final page count, and export a flawless, print-ready PDF/X file.Required QualificationsProven track record in editorial design, specifically coffee table books, art anthologies, or interview collections. Expert-level mastery of Adobe InDesign (styles, parent pages, grid systems, and data/image anchoring).Deep understanding of professional print shop requirements, color profiles, and binding geometry. Strong attention to detail regarding typography, text flow, orphans/widows, and margins. Please submit your proposal with: A brief overview of your experience with high-end print production. Examples from your portfolio showing multi-page book layouts, grids, or coffee table books you have successfully sent to print. Your estimated timeline and flat rate Note: Selected candidates will be asked to complete a paid, 2-to-3 page sample layout of a single interview chapter to ensure alignment on typography and style before launching into the full book.