OM DENNE EPISODE
In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with Karolina Wudniak, the creative force behind Paper Wing Studio.
Karolina shares her fascinating "full circle" journey—from a journalist and blogger in Poland to a professional book designer in Canada. She explains how her background in writing and photography prepared her to turn manuscripts into "visual language." We dive deep into her collaborative design process, why she specializes in nonfiction and memoirs, and the critical technical questions authors must ask before hiring a designer.
In this video, you'll learn:
How a background in journalism and travel photography fuels professional book design.
Why the "onboarding call" is like a first date—and why it's essential for a successful book.
The difference between designing for fiction and the factual, spiritual space of nonfiction.
How to protect yourself from copyright infringement and "AI-generated" surprises.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome and Introduction.
01:06 – From Journalist to Designer: Karolina's journey from Poland to Canada.
03:00 – The First Gig: How an audiobook cover led to a seven-year career.
05:00 – Using Curiosity as a Catalyst for visual storytelling.
06:02 – Genre Specialties: Why Karolina chooses nonfiction and memoirs over fantasy.
08:00 – The Onboarding Process: The "first date" check and the detailed questionnaire.
10:40 – Collaborative Design: How revisions help authors market their books.
12:50 – Timing and Planning: When to get on a designer's calendar.
16:05 – Questions for the Interview: Sourcing artwork, fonts, and AI policies.
19:00 – Red Flags: Copyright infringement and the necessity of contracts.
21:51 – Final Advice: Working through creative blocks in nature.
Connect with Karolina:
Website
https://paperwingstudio.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/paperwing.studio/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anglartkarolina/
Scheduling Link
https://client.paperwingstudio.ca/public/discovery-call
