Customs Publishing Project Designer at Dorling Kindersley Limited

Creative Boom Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Generous pension scheme

Volunteering policy & charity matching

Employee assistance programme

70% book discount

Cycle to work scheme

Shopping discounts

Flex Fridays (1pm finish)

Job summary

DK Living is seeking an agile Project Designer to join the Custom Publishing team. Lead design for bespoke editions, focusing on high-end finishes and premium packaging, while collaborating with global teams to deliver under tight timelines.

Role requires strong InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator skills, plus a practical, proactive approach to challenges. Hybrid work model with a Pimlico office and remote days.

Qualifications

• Sound design experience and strong creative flair.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Able to monitor budgets and schedules and deliver on deadlines.
• Comfortable switching between multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Generate and pitch ideas for new custom projects for UK, US and global markets, focusing on book cover design and deluxe packages.
• Manage projects from concept sketches to final printed product, ensuring on-time delivery within budget.
• Collaborate with sales, production, editorial, design and external partners to deliver bespoke products.
• Explore new print techniques and premium packaging to bring fresh ideas to client briefs.

Skills

Sound design

Project management

Creative thinking

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

DK Living is looking for an agile, inventive Project Designer to join our Custom Publishing team to help create bespoke editions of our adult reference titles. If your creative brain naturally jumps to high-end finishes, tactile packaging, and outside-the-box design solutions, then you could be a good fit for this exciting role.

Whether amending existing content or developing brand new ideas, the custom team is responsible for offering tailored solutions to clients by creating truly unique products that are commercially successful and adhere to DK’s high editorial and design standards.

As Project Designer, you will work alongside a Senior Designer to lead all design aspects of custom projects for the Knowledge, Life and Travel teams. Our projects move quickly so you need to be someone flexible in your approach and comfortable switching between different projects that are at various stages of production.

Key responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Generating and pitching ideas for new custom projects that meet the needs of clients based in the UK, US, and other global markets. Focusing on book cover design, but can include full book products or deluxe packages.
• Managing projects through all stages from concept sketches to completion of a high quality printed product, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget
• Working closely with colleagues from all areas of the global business, including sales, production, editorial, design, as well as external collaborators such as imprimaturs, clients, authors, printers and freelancers
• Exploring new print techniques and finishes, design trends, and premium packaging developments to continually bring new ideas to the table.

To succeed in the role, we’re looking for someone with sound design experience who is an expert in Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. You'll bring creative flair and a practical, problem-solving mindset to every challenge. You thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, seamlessly juggling multiple projects of varying complexity, shifting schedules, and changing customer briefs with a positive, proactive approach to challenges and incredible attention to detail. You’ll be confident in project management including monitoring budgets and schedules to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, as you’ll be working closely with teams in UK, US and Delhi, and you’ll need to articulate bold concepts to internal stakeholders and inspire external partners when delivering creative briefs.

In return, you’ll have the opportunity to work on some fantastic bespoke projects that span a wide variety of topics – science, nature, history, art, and philosophy to name just a few. You’ll also collaborate with some of the best editors, designers, and sales professionals in the industry, all while helping clients create customised book products that resonate with their audiences.

Closing date: midnight on Sunday 18th October

Salary: £38,000 depending on experience, plus bonus and benefits

We have a range of benefits to reflect our commitment to our people, some of which are:

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Volunteering policy and charity matching
• Employee assistance programme
• 70% discount on company books
• Cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Shopping discounts
• Flex Fridays (1pm Finish - subject to certain criteria being met)
• 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

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. The Custom Publishing team is required in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays, leaving the remaining day to your preference.

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.