At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning book covers and interiors while collaborating with a creative team.
- Company: Join Simon & Schuster, a leader in children's publishing with a passion for storytelling.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with exciting projects and a chance to work with talented illustrators.
- Why this job: Make your mark in the world of children's literature and bring stories to life.
- Qualifications: 3-4 years in design, strong communication skills, and a flair for creativity.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
This is a creative position focusing on creating the highest quality, industry-leading Fiction covers and interiors on time and to the agreed brief. This includes design innovation, pre-press, and administrative aspects of bookmaking, while working closely with the fiction Art Director, Editors, and other Designers to create bestselling books in various formats for Simon and Schuster Children's Books.
This role is responsible for creating designs from brief to print while working within budget and schedule, commissioning illustrators and negotiating contributor contracts, ensuring delivery to time and budget, while regularly updating on project progress.
The successful candidate will liaise with Production, Sales & Marketing, Rights, freelance designers, and external suppliers. They will support the wider design team with departmental requirements. They will apply in-house and brand style guides across all design projects, create and support the supply of marketing assets across print and digital formats, maintain bibliographic information, organise artwork, and archives, prepare print-ready digital files to printer specifications, and keep up to date with illustrators, agents, market trends, and competitor activity.
The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of illustration, design, agents, and creative trends, strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise across departments and external contributors. They will have excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines and a proactive and collaborative approach to supporting the wider design team along with strong creative problem-solving ability. They will also be adaptable, reliable, and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Applicants will ideally have a minimum of 3-4 years’ experience commissioning artwork and managing creative contributors, experience preparing and converting digital file formats for print production, and experience managing, or supporting the management of, schedules and project workflows. It is highly desired that the applicant has a formal design qualification or equivalent experience within a design environment.
Unfortunately, Simon & Schuster UK cannot accept applications from candidates without a legal right to work in the UK or who require visa sponsorship. Right to work checks are carried out on candidates who make it to the offer stage.
Closing date: 09/06/2026
Designer, Children's Publishing employer: Simon & Schuster UK
Simon and Schuster Children's Books is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and collaborative work culture that fosters creativity and innovation in children's publishing. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the company provides opportunities for professional development and encourages a proactive approach to design projects, ensuring that every team member can contribute to creating bestselling books. Located in a dynamic industry hub, employees benefit from a supportive environment that values teamwork and celebrates individual contributions, making it a rewarding place to build a career in publishing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Designer, Children's Publishing
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow designers, illustrators, and anyone in the children's publishing scene. Attend industry events or join online forums to make connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work, especially projects related to children's publishing. A strong visual presence can really set you apart when you’re meeting potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Simon and Schuster, and express your interest in working with them. You never know what opportunities might arise!
✨Tip Number 4
Keep learning and adapting! Stay on top of design trends and software updates. This shows potential employers that you’re committed to your craft and ready to tackle any project that comes your way.
We think you need these skills to ace Designer, Children's Publishing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Creativity:When you're applying for a Designer role, let your creativity shine through! Use your portfolio to showcase your best work, especially any projects related to children's publishing. We want to see how you can bring stories to life with your designs!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to match the job description. Highlight your experience in commissioning artwork and managing creative contributors, as well as your knowledge of design trends. This shows us that you understand what we're looking for!
Be Organised:Since this role involves managing multiple projects and deadlines, demonstrate your organisational skills in your application. Share examples of how you've successfully juggled various tasks in the past. We love seeing candidates who can keep everything on track!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about us and what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Simon & Schuster UK
✨Know Your Design Trends
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest trends in children's publishing and design. Familiarise yourself with popular styles, successful book covers, and innovative design techniques. This will not only show your passion for the role but also demonstrate that you can bring fresh ideas to the table.
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Prepare a strong portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to children's books or similar creative fields. Be ready to discuss your design process, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This will give interviewers insight into your skills and problem-solving abilities.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since this role involves liaising with various departments and external contributors, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in past projects. Strong communication skills are key, so don’t shy away from showcasing your interpersonal abilities.
✨Be Organised and Proactive
Demonstrate your time management and organisational skills by discussing how you handle multiple projects and deadlines. Share specific examples of how you’ve kept projects on track and within budget. Showing that you can be proactive in a fast-paced environment will set you apart from other candidates.
