At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative vision for children's books and oversee exciting design projects.
- Company: Join DK+, a leading illustrated publisher with a passion for inspiring curiosity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of preschool publishing with innovative designs and top brands.
- Qualifications: Strong design portfolio and experience in children's publishing required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Do you have a bold, design-led vision for children's books that delight and inspire the youngest readers? Are you excited by working with world-class children's brands, developing innovative novelty formats, and shaping stories for ages 0 to 7 in fresh and commercially minded ways? If so, DK+ is recruiting a Senior Designer to join our Preschool team. This is an opportunity to set the visual direction for a vibrant new publishing programme, commission top creative talent, and mentor junior designers, all while overseeing complex projects from concept to print. You will report to the Art Director and work closely with them to define the look and feel of our Preschool list.
Responsibilities
- Lead the creative vision in direct collaboration and alignment with the Art Director for the DK+ Preschool list.
- Originate treatments, present concepts at project meetings and develop commercially positioned design solutions that work across novelty and gift formats for licensed tie-ins.
- Commission and brief designers, illustrators, photographers and other contributors.
- Negotiate terms, raise POs and manage budgets and schedules to deliver high-quality work on time and on budget.
- Oversee multiple projects from concept to delivery, supervising junior and project designers, delegating tasks appropriately and ensuring quality at every stage.
- Elevate design standards across the list, setting up templates, maintaining technical and brand guidelines, and ensuring approvals are secured where required.
- Research trends and competitor activity in the preschool and children's markets to inform fresh ideas and treatments.
- Work with sales and marketing to support launches, fairs and promotional campaigns.
- Work with licensors and agents to interpret brand guidelines and translate briefs into standout products that have strong appeal in a global market.
About you
- Strong typographic and visual sensibility with meticulous attention to detail.
- A compelling portfolio demonstrating exceptional design proficiency across preschool and children's book covers, novelty formats and interiors.
- Proven experience commissioning and managing external talent, such as designers, illustrators, photographers and studios.
- Background in children's publishing, ideally with experience in novelty formats for ages 0 to 5.
- Strong global market awareness and commercial instinct for positioning books in competitive markets.
- Experience handling budgets, negotiating fees, and working with multiple stakeholders including licensors and agents.
- Deep technical knowledge of print production processes.
- Proven ability to mentor junior team members and elevate the creative output of a list.
- Experience liaising directly with clients or commissioners (freelancing experience welcome).
While the role will be strategic and collaborative rather than purely hands-on, you should be comfortable stepping into hands-on styling when needed, as well as guiding others.
Why you will love this role
This is an extremely varied position that offers the chance to work with a number of top children's licensors. You will have the opportunity to shape the look and feel of a new and ambitious Preschool publishing programme, within a creative environment where innovation and design elevation are encouraged. This role is office-based a minimum of three days a week. During the onboarding phase, the successful candidate will be expected to work from the office Monday to Wednesday to align with the Art Director's schedule and ensure close collaboration during initial projects.
How to apply
If you are excited to shape DK+ Preschool with fresh, inspiring ideas and a new design perspective, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please submit a PDF portfolio of your best work, your CV and a short covering letter explaining why you would be great for the role by midnight on 17th February. Applications without a PDF portfolio and CV will not be considered. We are eager to see your own unique voice and talent, not the words generated by an AI tool. Please refrain from using AI in this application. Closing date for applications: Tuesday 17th February.
Benefits
- 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays.
- Generous pension scheme.
- Volunteering policy and charity matching.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership.
- Shopping discounts.
- Flex Fridays (1pm Finish*).
- Up to 30 days remote working from abroad*.
*Subject to certain criteria being met. And we plant a tree for every new employee to our business.
Company and inclusion
DK is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the varied communities that read our books across the world. We encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of age, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or social background. DK is proud to announce that we have adopted The Halo Code. DK is a member of the disability confident scheme. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. DK supports flexible working and has introduced a new "smart-working" policy with a hybrid approach of working weekly from home and in DK's office. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in our Pimlico office. As this is non-negotiable, please ensure you are within a reasonable commuting distance of London before applying.
The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade, but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews or undertaking internships. For more information, visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org.
About our Company:
We believe in the power of discovery. That's why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in. From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun and endless inspiration in the pages of our books. We are the world's leading illustrated publisher and a member of the Penguin Random House division of Bertelsmann, creating cutting-edge design and stunning visual books for the whole family. We are passionate about inspiring curiosity and bring people to books through their thirst for knowledge. With a global book loving community of over 800 colleagues in the UK, US, Germany, India, China, Spain and Australia, we produce books in over 100 countries and over 60 languages. Find out more on dk.com.
Senior Designer, Preschool - DK+ employer: Bertelsmann
At DK+, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters creativity and innovation in a vibrant publishing environment. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our mentoring opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a generous benefits package that includes 25 days of holiday, a pension scheme, and support for volunteering. Located in the heart of Pimlico, London, we offer a collaborative workspace where your design vision can flourish while making a meaningful impact on children's literature.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Designer, Preschool - DK+
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.
✨Get Involved in Design Meetups
Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like Bertelsmann.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Bertelsmann, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Designer, Preschool - DK+
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Bertelsmann does, so they can see you in action.
Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at Bertelsmann.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Bertelsmann. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at Bertelsmann.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bertelsmann
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
✨Passion Counts
For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Bertelsmann. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
