Senior Graphic Designer (UAE Nationals) – Publications

Zayed National Museum | متحف زايد الوطني; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Zayed National Museum | متحف زايد الوطني invites a design-focused Publications Designer to lead visual concepts for new publications, ensuring bilingual layouts in English and Arabic and alignment with the museum’s branding.

Responsibilities include developing publication concepts, coordinating print-ready files, liaising with suppliers, and producing accessible digital formats while upholding editorial and curatorial standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or related field.
• 5-7 years of graphic design experience, with 2 years in senior level, focus on book or magazine publishing.
• Demonstrated experience in managing high-scale publications from concept through print production
• Advanced knowledge of design principles, including typography, composition, hierarchy, and grid systems, particularly for long-form publications
• Advanced expertise in Arabic and English publication typesetting, including Arabic typography and right-to-left/bilingual layouts
• Strong knowledge of print techniques, including offset, digital, and large-format printing

Responsibilities

• Develop creative design concepts for new museum publications.
• Translate curatorial and editorial content into visually compelling, clear and culturally sensitive designs.
• Adapt, redesign, or update existing publications while maintaining consistency with the museum’s visual identity.
• Develop and lead on creating a visual language strategy for all type of publications managed by the Publications Section while aligning with Zayed National Museum brand.
• Prepare print-ready files according to professional publishing and printing standards.
• Liaise with printing houses and external suppliers to ensure accurate production, quality control and adherence to timelines.
• Review proofs, conduct pre-press checks and manage revisions through to final approval.
• Design layouts in both Arabic and English, including bilingual and bidirectional publications.
• Ensure correct typographic treatment, hierarchy and readability for both languages.
• Work closely with curators, editors, educators, marketing teams and other relevant stakeholders throughout the publication process.
• Coordinate with external vendors and partners.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high design standards.
• Maintain organized archives of design files and assets.
• Support the development of accessible publications, applying best practices for readability, contrast, typography and inclusive design.
• Design and adapt content for electronic formats such as PDFs, e-books (ePub) and other digital publishing platforms.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure compliance with accessibility standards where applicable.
• Carry out any other duties and responsibilities related to the role at the request of the direct manager
• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and instructions so that work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner.
• Demonstrate compliance to organization’s values and ethics at all times to support the establishment of a value drive culture within the organization.
• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Take an active role in the EHS initiative.
• Adhere to the DCT Occupational Safety and Health policy, regulations, and laws, and provide help to the Corporate EHS in executing the OSHMS.
• Report any incidents, near misses, occupational illnesses, unsafe practices, and conditions immediately to the concerned person and participate in the investigation of OSH incidents, as required.

Skills

Graphic design

Typography

Editorial design

Bilingual (Arabic/English)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Support the Publications team in producing high-quality engaging publications. The role involves leading the development of visual concepts for new publications, creating design layouts for key publications and managing files through to print production. The role holder will also develop accessible and electronic publishing initiatives, ensuring the museum’s content is inclusive, high-quality and aligned with institutional branding and curatorial standards.

Responsibilities:

Design & Concept Development

• Develop creative design concepts for new museum publications, including exhibition catalogues, guidebooks, scholarly publications, coffee table books and children’s publications.
• Translate curatorial and editorial content into visually compelling, clear and culturally sensitive designs.
• Adapt, redesign, or update existing publications while maintaining consistency with the museum’s visual identity.
• Develop and lead on creating a visual language strategy for all type of publications managed by the Publications Section while aligning with Zayed National Museum brand.

Book Production & Print Management

• Prepare print-ready files according to professional publishing and printing standards.
• Liaise with printing houses and external suppliers to ensure accurate production, quality control and adherence to timelines.
• Review proofs, conduct pre-press checks and manage revisions through to final approval.
• Design layouts in both Arabic and English, including bilingual and bidirectional publications.
• Ensure correct typographic treatment, hierarchy and readability for both languages.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with curators, editors, educators, marketing teams and other relevant stakeholders throughout the publication process.
• Coordinate with external vendors and partners.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high design standards.
• Maintain organized archives of design files and assets.

Accessible & Electronic Publishing

• Support the development of accessible publications, applying best practices for readability, contrast, typography and inclusive design.
• Design and adapt content for electronic formats such as PDFs, e-books (ePub) and other digital publishing platforms.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure compliance with accessibility standards where applicable.

Shared Activities

• Carry out any other duties and responsibilities related to the role at the request of the direct manager
• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and instructions so that work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner.
• Demonstrate compliance to organization’s values and ethics at all times to support the establishment of a value drive culture within the organization.
• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Take an active role in the EHS initiative.
• Adhere to the DCT Occupational Safety and Health policy, regulations, and laws, and provide help to the Corporate EHS in executing the OSHMS.
• Report any incidents, near misses, occupational illnesses, unsafe practices, and conditions immediately to the concerned person and participate in the investigation of OSH incidents, as required.

Required Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5-7 years of experience in graphic design including 2 years in senior level, with a strong focus on book or magazine publishing.
• Demonstrated experience in managing high-scale publications from concept through print production
• Advanced knowledge of design principles, including typography, composition, hierarchy, and grid systems, particularly for long-form publications
• Advanced expertise in Arabic and English publication typesetting, including Arabic typography and right-to-left/bilingual layouts
• Strong knowledge of print techniques, including offset, digital, and large-format printing
• Solid understanding of print production, colour correction, image editing, and book printing and binding principles
• Strong knowledge of paper stocks, materials, and packaging for print application

Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is a must.
• Strong attention to detail and high standards of visual quality.
• Ability to balance creativity with institutional guidelines and scholarly content.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Familiarity with electronic and accessible publishing standards (e.g., tagged PDFs, ePub basics) is an asset.