I’m Mary Claire (they/them)!
Thanks for checking out my work.
I work as an Senior Art Director for Penguin Young Readers, designing books aimed for Pre-K through YA across the Penguin Workshop’s many imprints. As an Art Director, I oversee the design team for Penguin Young Readers Licensing titles (publishing for licensors such as Bluey, Godzilla, Sonic the Hedgehog, amongst others) as well as Penguin Workshop’s novels and graphic novel formats. I love to discuss the book design process and the importance of collaboration in my job.
After hours I dabble in various crafts, hang with my dog, and run a RPG campaign (Strixhaven). Before my days in publishing, I grew up in the suburbs just outside of Philly and earned a BFA in Graphic & Interactive Design from Tyler School of Art.
I'm always open to new projects, discussing my work, or helping aspiring book designers find their footing in this industry. Drop a line to say hi!
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Designed and art directed 2025 Printz Award Winner (Brownstone) • Designed and art directed 2025 Caldecott Honor (Home in a Lunchbox) • Designed and art directed 2024 Eisner Award Winner for best teen publication (Danger and Other Unknown Risks) • PW Star Watch Honoree (2022) • POC in Publishing Mentor (2022) • Work in Society of Illustrators Original Art Show (Home in a Lunchbox, My Fade is Fresh, Vamos Let’s Cross the Bridge, Linus) • SCBWI portfolio judge and speaker (2021–2022) • “How to Speak Like a Designer” CBC panelist (2020) • Top 100 New Creatives Design Winner (CMYK Magazine, Issue 56) • Featured as Design Winner and Runner-up (Creative Quarterly Magazine, Issue 32)