Monique Sterling, senior designer at Philomel Books, joined the team in 2019. She holds a BFA in graphic design from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a minor in communication design. Before making the pivot to children’s publishing, she worked as a freelancer and full-time designer in several industries, including print, online education, advertising, marketing/promo, and data visualization. Now, as a book designer, she works on picture books and nonfiction titles that celebrate diverse characters. Outside of book design, she enjoys bringing these characters to life as a motion graphic designer, handlettering fun quotes, and discovering vibrant artwork on the streets of New York.