Production & Product Development Designer

Chronicle Books; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k

Profit share plan

Paid vacation, 3 weeks to start

Paid sick time, 2 weeks per year

Paid holidays including winter break

Parental leave

Commuter benefits

Disability insurance

Tuition assistance

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Galison is seeking a Production & Product Development Designer to support the development and execution of custom and proprietary products. This role bridges Sales, Creative, Sourcing, and Manufacturing to translate artwork and specs into production-ready files and documentation.

You will manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, collaborate with overseas manufacturing partners, and maintain Galison and Mudpuppy quality standards while contributing to workflow improvements.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in production design, product development, print production, prepress, packaging, or related field.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Strong understanding of commercial print production, packaging, dielines, and manufacturing specifications.

Responsibilities

• Prepare preflight artwork files and ensure accuracy.
• Apply artwork to product templates and perform prepress functions.
• Review proofs, packaging artwork, and production samples.
• Develop and maintain product specifications; translate concepts into production-ready files.
• Collaborate with overseas manufacturing partners and vendors to resolve artwork issues.
• Support the development of custom and proprietary products and improve workflows.

Skills

Production design

Project management

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Prepress

Dielines

Color management

Job description

Description

Galison is looking for a Production & Product Development Designer to support the development and execution of custom and proprietary products. Serving as a key link between Sales, Creative, Sourcing, and Manufacturing, this role ensures that artwork and product specifications are accurately translated into production-ready files and documentation. This position combines production design, print and prepress expertise, product development, project coordination, and vendor communication. The ideal candidate is highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong technical design skills and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. They will work closely with internal teams and overseas manufacturing partners to prepare products for sampling and production while maintaining Galison and Mudpuppy’s quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include preparing preflight artwork files to ensure they are accurate, applying artwork to product templates, performing prepress functions including artwork review, and translating customer concepts, artwork, and specifications into production-ready files. You’ll create and maintain product specifications, and review proofs, packaging artwork, and production samples. Supporting the development of custom and proprietary products, communicating directly with overseas manufacturing partners, coordinating with vendors and internal teams to resolve technical artwork issues, and reviewing factory engineering recommendations will also be part of this position. Lastly, the position needs someone to collaborate closely with Sales, Creative, Sourcing, and Production, organize and maintain digital assets, support the creation of product renderings and contribute to workflow improvements and process initiatives.

Qualifications:

Applicants will need 3–5 years of experience in production design, product development, print production, prepress, packaging, or a related field, with a strong understanding of commercial print production, prepress, packaging, and manufacturing processes. Experience preparing production-ready artwork and files for commercial printing and manufacturing, along with an advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is also needed. A working knowledge of commercial printing processes, color management, packaging production, dielines, and manufacturing specifications is required and experience working with overseas manufacturing partners and production vendors is preferred. You should have effective organizational and project management skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. An ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities, capacity to balance creative objectives with technical and manufacturing requirements, and strong presentation, documentation, and file organization skills are also needed. Experience creating product renderings, presentations, and pitch decks is also strongly preferred.

Hiring Salary Range

$73,000 to $84,000. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the expected salary for this position and will be determined by factors including, but not limited to, an applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. This position is eligible for our profit share plan.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k
• a profit share plan
• three weeks of paid vacation to start
• two weeks of sick time per year
• company holidays, including a paid winter break between Christmas Day and New Year's Day
• paid family, maternity, and paternity leave
• commuter benefits
• long-term disability insurance
• annual tuition assistance
• annual wellness stipend
• more.

Schedule

Employees at Galison follow a regular hybrid schedule in our New York City office of at least three (3) in-office days per week and up to five (5) in-office days per week, depending on project and business needs.

To Apply

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status. We look for candidates who will add to our culture and support the company’s vision of a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and collaborative workplace, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.

About us:

Galison creates puzzles, games, home office stationery, and gift products to bring art into people’s lives. Mudpuppy creates toys, puzzles, and games that delight kids with color, design, and ideas about the world, sparking imagination and creating experiences that engage the whole family. Brass Monkey offers products that ride the line between roadside souvenirs and fine china, creating well-designed products that just happen to have a sense of humor.

Requirements

Applicants will need 3–5 years of experience in production design, product development, print production, prepress, packaging, or a related field, with a strong understanding of commercial print production, prepress, packaging, and manufacturing processes. Experience preparing production-ready artwork and files for commercial printing and manufacturing, along with an advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is also needed. A working knowledge of commercial printing processes, color management, packaging production, dielines, and manufacturing specifications is required and experience working with overseas manufacturing partners and production vendors is preferred. You should have effective organizational and project management skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. An ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities, capacity to balance creative objectives with technical and manufacturing requirements, and strong presentation, documentation, and file organization skills are also needed. Experience creating product renderings, presentations, and pitch decks is also strongly preferred.