Lead Designer

The Phoenix Comic; Oxford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Phoenix Comic is seeking an experienced Lead Designer to lead the visual identity across the weekly comic, marketing, merchandise and IPs. You’ll work with the Art & Design Director to ensure a consistent, high‑quality brand and on‑schedule delivery of creative across multiple platforms.

Strong publishing background and advanced Adobe skills are essential, with a passion for comics and visual storytelling guiding your approach. Oxford-based, on‑site role with varied creative responsibilities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in a senior or equivalent design role.
• Strong publishing or magazine or comparable experience.
• Advanced Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator skills.
• Excellent layout, typography and illustration skills.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail.
• A passion for comics and visual storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Deliver design across print, digital, merchandise and marketing.
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines and design systems.
• Create high-quality layouts, typography, illustration and visual storytelling.
• Manage multiple creative projects, assets and workflows.
• Collaborate across design, editorial, production and marketing teams.

Skills

Senior design experience

Brand development

Project management

Visual storytelling

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

The Phoenix is looking for an experienced, hands-on Lead Designer to join our creative team and help deliver and develop our visual identity across the weekly comic, marketing, merchandise, digital platforms and a growing range of IPs.

Working closely with our Art & Design Director, you’ll combine outstanding creative design with strong project management, helping ensure projects are delivered creatively, consistently and on schedule.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering design across print, digital, merchandise and marketing.
• Developing and maintaining brand guidelines and design systems.
• Creating high-quality layouts, typography, illustration and visual storytelling.
• Managing multiple creative projects, assets and workflows.
• Collaborating across design, editorial, production and marketing teams.

About you:

• 5+ years’ experience in a senior or equivalent design role.
• Strong publishing, magazine or comparable creative experience.
• Advanced Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator skills.
• Excellent layout, typography and illustration skills.
• Strong organisation, project management and attention to detail.
• A genuine passion for comics and visual storytelling.
• Experience within children’s publishing, comics or magazines would be a particular advantage.

If you’re an experienced designer looking for a varied, hands-on creative role within the world of comics and children’s publishing, we’d love to hear from you.