designSimple

11/11/2025

Been a while between posts. For the two, no three, loyal followers of designSimple and the work of Bill Smith and often other talented folks such as Dave Shulman, here's something we did that just hit the streets.
It was a true pleasure and honor to work intensely with Judd Apatow for a year-and-a-half on this huge (close to 600 pages) collection. A great Holiday gift for any fan of comedy. —Bill

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO_YJWxESnV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

04/03/2024

RIP John Sinclair, October 2, 1941–April 2, 2024
https://bit.ly/49hQBuo

11/20/2023

Hey! One of our creations was just named one of NPR’s Books of the Year!

Hit Girls: Women of Punk in the the USA, 1975–1983
By Jen B. Larson

Published by Feral House

Available wherever books are sold.
(We like Bookshop.org)

Review by Ann Powers:
https://apps.npr.org/best-books/ =2023&book=106

See more of our work at designsimple.com

05/13/2023

The new designSimple.com is launched for desktop. Mobile coming soon!

https://designsimple.com/

05/03/2023

https://floor796.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email ,513,585

An ever-expanding animation scene depicting the everyday life of the 796th floor of the huge space station

05/01/2023

It occurred that, with all the grown-up books we make, you might not be aware that we've had a long relationship with Huqua Press, creating books for children. So it just didn't feel right withholding this information from you, not even for another hour. Here are three recent titles. Thanks for reading!

04/17/2023

Honored to be able to help Arlington Garden Pasadena create their Garden Guide. Special thank yous to Scott Ford and Dave Shulman who worked on design and layout.

02/09/2021

Why, looky here — we won an award! An award we've heard of, even! And for a book we enjoyed working on! Wee-doagies!

2020 PubWest Book Design Awards
Best Art Book, Bronze Award: Bill Smith, designSimple
The Cockettes: Acid Drag & Sexual Anarchy, 1969–1972
By Fayette Hauser

Published by Feral House/Process Media

Available wherever books are sold. More info at https://feralhouse.com/the-cockettes/

12/23/2020

designSimple Books in the News 2020:

Predicting the Past: Zohar Studios: The Lost Years
By Stephen Berkman

How the search for an unknown master photographer led to a ghostly trove of images and down a hall of mirrors

12/23/2020

designSimple Books in the News 2020:

The Cockettes: Acid Drag & Sexual Anarchy, 1969-1972
50th Anniversary Edition
By Fayette Hauser

After electrifying San Francisco with their gender-bending performances and wild psychedelic chic, the group trekked to New York for a much-hyped—and ill-fated—East Coast debut. A new book bears witness to their brief, glittery glory.

12/23/2020

designSimple Books in the News 2020:

It’s Garry Shandling’s Book
By Judd Apatow

“It’s Garry Shandling’s Book,” edited by Judd Apatow, brims with photos, diary excerpts, reminiscences, newspaper clippings, script pages and more.