Company:
XYZ Homework
Date:
2014-2023
Tools:
Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, PitStop, Barcode Producer, Movemen MathTools, Desmos, WolframAlpha, and Google Workspace
Meeting Production Specifications:
I led the redesign of the OpenStax math textbooks, managing everything from early concepts to final delivery. This included creating print-ready, high-resolution PDFs for color and black-and-white printing, as well as screen-optimized versions with internal hyperlinks for online use. The main goal was to make the books easier to read, meet ADA standards, and give them a more polished, modern look. I also managed to cut the page count of each book by 18–20%, making the content more efficient without losing any important material.
Each book, ranging from 800–1200 pages, involved carefully sourcing and crediting photos, plus creating and editing thousands of illustrations and graphs. I worked closely with a team of subcontractors, making sure every part of the project was done to a high standard and delivered on time.
High Volume Versioning
The base files from this project were used to create over 50 customized textbooks for 15 different colleges and universities. These versions were updated and reorganized every quarter to fit specific course needs. In total, these materials have reached over 200,000 educators and students, helping to improve math education across a wide range of programs.
Preflighting and Technical Expertise: Adapting Educational Resources
Besides textbooks, I also developed supporting materials like workbooks, homework sheets, handouts, and lecture slides. I kept the design consistent with the textbooks while making adjustments to match the needs of each school. Sometimes that meant building new materials from scratch, and other times it meant repurposing existing files or cleaning up documents provided by clients.
Multitasking and Time Management for Efficient Project Coordination
At XYZ Homework, where we specialized in custom eBooks and educational materials, I handled hundreds of file requests and publication edits every quarter. Keeping everything organized across different clients and deadlines was key to making sure materials were printed, bound, and shipped before the start of each school term — even though every institution had its own unique schedule.
I learned to balance the busy quarterly rush with longer-term projects, staying flexible with my workload to keep everything moving smoothly.
Problem-Solving and Quality Control
During one production cycle, we encountered a small but critical issue when a previous version of a book cover was mistakenly printed with the updated content. To resolve this, we quickly generated correct barcodes using large white labels, printed them in-house, and overnight shipped them to the bookstore. The incorrect barcodes were then efficiently covered and replaced with the correct ones, preventing any delays or further complications.
My extensive pre-press experience was instrumental in this process. I efficiently assessed client-provided files to ensure proper color spaces, file setups, and resolution checks. Additionally, I identified potential transparency and blending issues that could cause print errors on digital presses, conducting thorough preflighting to minimize any issues before production. This proactive approach ensured a smooth printing process and high-quality final products.
