Graphic designer · Belgium · Singapore · UK
Publication design, with intent.
I'm Zara Tahir, a freelance graphic designer specialising in publication and editorial design — books, reports and brand systems for startups, charities and small businesses. Working remotely across the UK and internationally.
Gift of Love Cookbook — publication design
About
A designer, not an agency.
You work with me directly, start to finish — no account managers, no hand-offs, no design by committee.
- Based in
- UK — working remotely, UK and international
- Lived & worked
- Belgium · Singapore · UK
- Studied
- Visual Communication, Singapore
- Focus
- Publication & editorial design, brand identity, print
- Tools
- InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva
I've lived and worked in Belgium, Singapore and the UK. I studied Visual Communication in Singapore and have spent the last few years working with startups, charities and small businesses — brochures, reports, brand identities, print and presentations.
Publication design is where I'm strongest: bringing content, imagery and layout together into something organised, engaging and genuinely easy to read.
I work across Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Canva, choosing the right tool for each project. Every job starts with what you're trying to achieve and who needs to understand it.
Services
What you can hire me for
You work directly with me from first call to final files — senior-level design, no account managers, no handovers.
Publication & editorial
- Books & cookbooks
- Reports & brochures
- Magazines & catalogues
Brand identity
- Logo & visual language
- Simple, usable guidelines
- Marketing assets
- Posters & flyers
- Stationery & packaging
- Large-format
Presentations & digital
- Pitch decks & proposals
- Social media content
- Landing page visuals
Pricing
Brand Identity
Pricing on request
Publication Design
Pricing on request
Print Design
Pricing on request
Presentation Design
Pricing on request
Every project is quoted on scope, so tell me what you need and I will come back with a fixed price and a timeline.
Working together
- How does a project start?
- With a short conversation about what you are trying to achieve, who it is for, and what already exists. From there I set out the scope, the stages and the cost in writing before any design work begins.
- How long does a project take?
- It depends on scope and on how quickly content and feedback come back. A single print piece is a much shorter job than a full publication or a brand identity, so I give a timeline with the scope at the start rather than a blanket estimate.
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- Revisions are built into each stage rather than treated as extras — we refine the direction before detail, and the detail before final files. The number of rounds included is confirmed in the scope for your project.
- What files do I get at the end?
- The working files and the formats you will actually use: print-ready PDFs for print work, and web and social formats where relevant. I work in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, and in Canva where a client needs to edit templates themselves.
- Can you work to our existing brand guidelines?
- Yes — a lot of my work is designing within an established brand rather than creating a new one. Send the guidelines and any templates you already use and I will work inside them.
- Do you handle print-ready artwork?
- Yes. I prepare artwork to the printer's specification — bleed, margins, colour setup and correct export settings — and I am happy to liaise with your printer directly to check the files before they go on press.
- Do you work remotely?
- Yes. I have lived and worked in Belgium, Singapore and the UK, and I work with clients remotely across the UK and internationally.
How I work
Clarify
I agree the goal and audience before designing anything.
Structure
Hierarchy first — what has to be seen, and in what order.
Refine
I iterate until it's clear, not clever.
Hand over
Print-ready and editable files, cleanly organised.
The shop
Prints, cards and gifts are on Etsy
Personalised keepsakes: graduation frames, wedding and nikah frames, Islamic wall art sets (Ayatul Kursi, Sabr Shukr Salaam, children's dua prints), personalised money boxes, faux leather keyrings and empty Eid favour boxes. From £3 to £75, designed and made in the UK and sold through the Etsy shop.
Latest work on Instagram
Work in progress, printed proofs and new pieces — as they happen.
Contact
Tell me about the project.
I work remotely with clients across the UK and internationally. Fill this in and it will open a pre-written email in your mail app — nothing is sent from this page.
What happens next
- 1 — I reply within one working day.
- 2 — A short call to understand the goal and audience.
- 3 — A written proposal with scope, price and timings.
Prefer to write your own email? hello@zara-designs.com