Designer

Dorling Kindersley Limited; Remote; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company in London is seeking a creative Designer to take ownership of high-impact reference books from concept to delivery. This role involves collaboration with editors, overseeing freelance creatives, and maintaining high production standards. The ideal candidate has proven design experience with a strong skills set in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. The position offers a supportive environment with 25 days of paid holiday, pension schemes, and a hybrid work model.

Benefits

25 days paid holiday

Generous pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted gym membership

Flex Fridays

Up to 30 days remote working from abroad

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing integrated reference books.
• Strong skills in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of titles from concept through to final files.
• Create moodboards and develop visual styles.
• Commission and oversee freelance designers and illustrators.

Skills

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

Asana

Organizational skills

Collaborative approach

Job description

Overview

DK Knowledge is recruiting for two roles: Designer and Mid-weight Designer, to join our dynamic team. We create world-class books packed with rich reference content, designed to inform, inspire, and stand out. From history and culture to science and nature, our titles, including Art Annotated, The Moon, and British Book Design award-shortlisted The Periodic Table, bring facts to life in bold, visually engaging ways. As a Designer, you will combine creative flair with technical expertise to shape visually compelling, high-impact books. You'll take projects from concept to delivery, collaborating closely with Editors, commissioning illustration and photography, and pushing design boundaries throughout the process.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of titles from concept through to final files, ensuring every page is visually striking and aligned to the brief.
• Create moodboards, develop visual styles, and experiment with new design techniques.
• Commission, brief, and oversee freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers.
• Collaborate effectively with editorial and internal teams.
• Manage multiple projects, schedules, and budgets, proactively resolving issues.
• Maintain consistently high creative and production standards, staying up to date with emerging design trends and technology.
• As a Designer, you will combine creative flair with technical expertise to shape visually compelling, high-impact books. You\'ll take projects from concept to delivery, collaborating closely with Editors, commissioning illustration and photography, and pushing design boundaries throughout the process.

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing integrated reference books. A strong vision for reference design.
• Strong skills in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator; experience with Asana is a plus.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Clear, confident communication and a collaborative approach.
• A portfolio that demonstrates breadth, creativity, and attention to detail.
• Creative, adaptable, and commercially aware, able to work independently and as part of a team.

Disability and Equality

Disability Confident: A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to the employer\'s site.

Charity and Benefits

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

Perks

A supportive and creative environment where your ideas make an impact. 25 days paid holiday 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. Flex Fridays (1 pm finish), plus up to 30 days remote working from abroad. DK plants a tree for every new employee.