MG & Chapter Book Designer - Covers & Interiors (Hybrid)

Publishers Marketplace; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid in-office position

Comprehensive benefits program

Job summary

Penguin Random House in New York is seeking a Designer for the Random House Children’s Books team to design covers and interiors across imprints, from concept through prepress. You’ll work on heavily illustrated middle grade interiors, chapter books, and graphic novels with a collaborative, fast-paced team.

The role requires at least 3 years of trade book design, strong InDesign and Photoshop skills, a standout design portfolio, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years trade book design; children’s design preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe Suite’s current InDesign and Photoshop programs and at least basic understanding of Adobe Suite’s Illustrator and Acrobat programs.
• Portfolio showcasing strong book design and typography including children’s design.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Desire to learn and work collaboratively.
• Deep interest in middle grade, chapter books, and graphic novels.
• Experience with pre-press, 1-color and 4-color printing processes, and PDF workflow preferred.
• Hand lettering skills a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with art directors, publishers, and editors to develop covers and support publishing programs.
• Design high-quality covers and interior layouts from concept to print-ready PDFs.
• Research and hire illustrators; negotiate contracts and payments; present samples in meetings.
• Art direct illustrators from concept to final art for covers of assigned titles.
• Prepare mechanics for routing, approvals, and production per printing standards, meeting deadlines.
• Track design trends in MG and chapter book space; contribute to new trends.

Skills

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

Acrobat

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Penguin Random House in New York is seeking a Designer for the Random House Children’s Books team to design covers and interiors across imprints, from concept through prepress. You’ll work on heavily illustrated middle grade interiors, chapter books, and graphic novels with a collaborative, fast-paced team.

The role requires at least 3 years of trade book design, strong InDesign and Photoshop skills, a standout design portfolio, and excellent communication.