What do you do for a living?
I’m a freelance editorial designer and publishing consultant, helping publishers, businesses and creatives bring their stories to life in print and digital formats.
My background is rooted in magazine design, and I specialise in layouts, brand consistency, and visual storytelling.
What does that mean day-to-day?
Each day varies, but typically it involves designing editorial pages, refining layouts, retouching images, and liaising with editors or clients to ensure everything communicates clearly and looks polished. I might be working on a cover concept in the morning and preparing files for print by the afternoon—always balancing creativity with tight deadlines.
What do you love about magazines?
There’s something timeless about the structure and rhythm of a magazine. I love how layout, typography and imagery come together to guide a reader through a story. The tactile experience of print, the discipline of working to grid systems, and the challenge of turning complex content into something beautiful and digestible—it’s all part of the magic.
Tell us one thing not many people know about you?
I once ran a kitchen in a busy restaurant chain — before design took over completely. The fast pace, teamwork and focus under pressure taught me a lot about leadership and staying calm when things heat up… literally and creatively!
Where can we connect with you?
You can find my work at www.howson.design, or drop me a line at lee@howson.design. I’m also on LinkedIn if you’d like to connect professionally.