Rafaela (Rafi) has been designing books in a career spanning over twenty years. Since 2011 she has been Art Director at Canongate Books, having previously worked at Simon and Schuster, Pan Macmillan and Faber & Faber. As a guest lecturer she has taught book design at Exeter Univesity, Edinburgh College of Art and various Arts organistions.

In 2022, she was shortlisted for ‘Designer of the Year’ at the British Book Awards and was a Bookseller ‘Rising Star’ in 2016. Her work has been recognised by the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the AIGA, the ABCD Awards and with multiple British Book Design & Production Awards. Her designs have also featured in various publications including Creative Review, Design Week, Casual Optimist and Design Observer.

She judged the V&A Illustration Awards in 2016 and the inaugural ABCD Book Design Awards in 2013.