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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning book designs and collaborate with talented teams to bring stories to life.
- Company: Join Penguin Random House UK, a leader in publishing beloved authors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, flexible work options, and a creative environment.
- Why this job: Make your mark in the publishing world with innovative design for top authors.
- Qualifications: Strong design skills, experience with InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, plus a flair for creativity.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career growth in a dynamic and collaborative setting.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 40000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Designer role at Penguin Random House UK. Michael Joseph publishes some of the world’s most popular authors, specialising in women’s fiction, crime, thriller, cookery, memoir and lifestyle books. We seek out the very best authors in their field and bring their books to the widest possible audience.
The Role
As a Designer you will work closely with the Art Director, studio manager and Senior Designers.
- Creating effective, high-quality designs for a range of titles to meet bespoke creative and commercial briefs.
- Leading on projects from pitch to print and working with the Art Director to monitor and review the direction of projects to keep on track.
- Commissioning illustrators/designers and developing their ideas.
- Keeping on top of budgets and being responsible for ensuring spend is within budget.
- Read and analyse book text.
- Planning and management of schedules.
- Proactively researching innovative design and book ideas, identifying concepts and initiating ideas.
- Collaborating with key colleagues across the business, including Editorial, Production, Sales and Rights.
What you’ll bring:
- Exceptional typographic and layout skills, an amazing design eye and creative flair, plus the ability to turn ideas into innovative and commercial packages.
- A proven track record of developing high quality concepts and designs for book covers across a range of genres and styles, including for high-profile brands and authors.
- Fluency in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
- A clear communicator with experience of collaborating with illustrators and other freelancers.
- Engaged with and motivated by big ideas and the latest trends.
- Exceptional organisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, all with different lead times.
- An ability to ensure that all work is delivered to the highest standard and on schedule – and that all administration and file management is up-to-date and accurate.
- Understanding of how to create design work for print.
Application instructions: Please apply with your CV and portfolio outlining your work and why you are the right candidate for the role by 5th of January 2025. Circa £34,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits. While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect you to work at least two days in the office.
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Design Book and Periodical Publishing
Designer, Michael Joseph (12-month-FTC) employer: Penguin Random House UK
Contact Detail:
Penguin Random House UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Designer, Michael Joseph (12-month-FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio in tip-top shape! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially designs that align with the genres Michael Joseph publishes. We want to see your creative flair and how you’ve tackled different projects.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the publishing industry, attend design events, or join online forums. We can’t stress enough how valuable connections can be when landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by researching Michael Joseph’s recent titles and trends in book design. We want to see your passion for their work and how you can contribute to their vision!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Designer, Michael Joseph (12-month-FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio: Your portfolio is your chance to shine! Make sure it showcases a variety of your best work, especially designs that align with the genres we publish. We want to see your creative flair and how you can turn ideas into stunning visuals.
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to highlight your experience in book design and any relevant projects you've worked on. We love seeing how your skills match up with what we’re looking for, so make it personal!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for design and books, and don’t forget to mention any big ideas you have that could elevate our titles. We want to feel your enthusiasm!
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to apply through our website! It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Penguin Random House UK. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Penguin Random House UK
✨Know Your Design Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your design skills, especially in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail, highlighting how your designs have met creative briefs and commercial needs.
✨Show Off Your Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working closely with various teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in the past. Think about times when you worked with illustrators or other freelancers to bring a project to life.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Trends
Stay updated on the latest design trends and be prepared to share your thoughts on them during the interview. This shows that you're engaged and motivated by big ideas, which is exactly what they’re looking for.
✨Organise Your Thoughts
With multiple projects on the go, demonstrate your exceptional organisation skills. Prepare to talk about how you manage your time and keep track of different lead times and budgets, ensuring everything runs smoothly.