Catalogue Designers
We design catalogues for products, manufacturers and retailers.
Catalogue design projects are often large-scale and complex, involving multiple product ranges, detailed specifications, consistent branding, and careful content organisation.
So they are best handled by an experienced catalogue design agency that understands how to plan, manage and deliver them efficiently from start to finish without things becoming disjointed or overwhelming.
Catalogue design is far more than just creative.
Most catalogue projects we work on don’t start with the look and feel. They start with planning and ideas for the catalogue’s format, content and structure.
This is still creative work, but it is more focused on making the catalogue more effective than simply designing it.
We’ve worked on large catalogue projects for clients, including Kohler, Mere Bathrooms and Hines of Oxford.
Some of these catalogue projects come in over 200 pages, so there’s far more to managing them than just having a great designer.
What we charge for catalogue design
Our catalogue design fees start from £800 +VAT
This is our base price for designing and artworking a catalogue. This covers catalogue design projects of up to 12 initial pages (so a very small catalogue).
Costs include everything from initial design concepts, page layout, proofing and artworking for production.
How we work out catalogue design costs
Our charges are based on two main things:
- The complexity of the content
- The number of pages
We provide costs against a plan for the catalogue and a sample of the content that needs to go in it, and then price per page across cover, intro, index, section, and listing pages.
What affects our charges
With catalogue projects, the main factors that increase charges are amendments to previously supplied content and image work.
We encourage clients to get everything written and ready for use before supplying us with the content, as changes to pages once artworked can affect the entire catalogue and take time to implement.
Planning is a crucial aspect of catalogue design.
We lead all catalogue design projects with a good dose of planning.
You may want to change the size of your catalogue, make it easier to use or make it more cost-effective.
These types of challenges can’t be solved just by design. Our catalogue design experts can help you with the planning, formatting, indexing, page-optimisation (products-per-page), structure and layout of your catalogue before we start looking at design and artwork.
We’ll also talk to you about the objectives for your catalogue – is it a sales tool to generate orders, or should it increase enquiries via phone – the requirement for every catalogue we work on is different. Your objectives should be hard-wired into the project brief.
An experienced catalogue design team.
With 15 staff, we’re not a small agency, so we can take on larger projects and turn them around within your deadlines.
Catalogues need management AND creative talent.
Catalogue designers must balance both aspects of these projects – from managing large amounts of content that needs to be 100% accurate to design a finished product that looks amazing.
Experienced Artworking experts.
There’s little point in planning and designing a great catalogue if the final press files are not up to scratch.
Experience in properly artworking large catalogues is crucial, so the final printed item is spot on.
Clever creativity makes the difference.
Catalogues serve as a one-stop solution for any organisation that sells an extensive range of items or products with various specifications.
Creative design can be challenging when there is often much information (both text and data) to convey. This is where the creative experience we have at Toast kicks in.
The balance between the aesthetic and the information is often a fine one and a reason why you need more than just a regular print designer.
Catalogues are often used as directories or technical information – pairing this with professionally shot images, and a creative grid-based layout increases brand promise and adds value to the sales process.
Toast has helped companies sell everything from plastic connectors in every colour under the rainbow in nearly as many different sizes to customers selling luxury products that have included designer bathrooms and kitchens to sports cars, jets and yachts.
Getting the balance correct between conveying the technical specification and the inherent benefits and features of the products or services is a hard-earned skill.
A new design versus an update.
Is this a brand-new catalogue, or are we updating an existing one?
A. We always look to gain as much customer feedback as possible and find out what our clients’ customers liked, didn’t like or felt about previous catalogues.
This feedback extends to third-party users such as sales teams and marketing staff who may use a catalogue daily.
B. If it is new, we will want to fully understand what has changed to require the creation of the catalogue, i.e. have sales processes changed? Has the product range suddenly grown?
Standalone or part of a system?
How will the catalogue be used – is it handed to a customer or used to support the sales process by salespeople or other third parties?
Having a clear understanding of the personas of the users from the very beginning can ensure the structure and layout of the catalogue are easy to use and deliver the correct information to the right users at the right time.
How often will it be updated?
Is the product range fixed, or is it likely to change or be updated soon?
We always aim to gather as much customer feedback as possible and find out what our clients’ customers liked, didn’t like, and thought about previous catalogues.
This feedback extends to third-party users such as sales teams and marketing staff who may use a catalogue daily.
Catalogue design Specialists.
When creating a catalogue that may well be the first, last, and enduring aspect of your brand in the eyes of your customer, it is essential that you get it right and work with a team of specialists.
Since forming in 1997, Toast has worked on thousands of projects and created brochures and catalogues in every shape and format.
This experience allows us to bring more to the project than the design and artwork.
You’ll find us a proactive, creative partner full of ideas and solutions; we are not a team you’ll need to spoonfeed.
Catalogue design FAQs
What information do you need to get started on a catalogue design?
To kick things off, we’ll need your brand guidelines (or any existing design assets), your product or service information, any copy or content you’d like included, and a sense of the audience you’re targeting. The more detail you can give us upfront, the more efficiently we can work.
Can you write the copy for the catalogue as well as design it?
Yes. We have an in-house copywriter who can write, edit, or proofread all the content in your catalogue. Whether you need us to write everything from scratch or just tidy up what you already have, we can help.
How many pages should my catalogue be?
This depends on the number of products or services you need to feature and how much detail each requires. Catalogues are typically produced in multiples of four pages due to the way they’re printed and bound. We’ll advise on the most cost-effective page count for your content.
What file formats will the finished catalogue be supplied in?
We supply print-ready PDF files built to your printer’s specifications, including correct bleed, crop marks, and colour profiles. If you also need a digital version – for email, download, or online viewing – we can supply that too.
Can you manage the print production as well as the design?
Yes. We work with a network of trusted print partners and can manage the entire process from design through to delivery, ensuring the finished catalogue is printed to the highest quality.
How long does it take to design a catalogue?
Timelines vary depending on the page count, complexity, and how quickly content and approvals come through. A smaller catalogue might take two to three weeks, while a larger project could take several months. We’ll agree a clear timeline at the outset.
What’s the best way to supply product images?
High-resolution images (at least 300dpi at print size) are essential for good print quality. We can advise on the best format and resolution required. If your images aren’t up to scratch, we can discuss photography options or retouching.
Can you create a catalogue template we can update ourselves in future?
Yes. We can build a set of InDesign templates based on the catalogue design, allowing your team to add or update content in future editions without starting from scratch each time.
Do you design digital or interactive catalogues as well as print?
Yes. As well as print-ready artwork, we can produce digital versions optimised for screen, including interactive PDFs or hosted online catalogues with clickable links, embedded video, and page-turn functionality.
