ART DIRECTOR

About the position

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. The University of Washington Press has an outstanding opportunity for a full-time Art Director to work with an experienced and collaborative publishing team. Based in Seattle, the press is part of a vibrant book culture, with independent bookstores, museums, libraries, cultural centers, and book supporters throughout the region. Reporting directly to the Editorial, Design, and Production director (EDP director), the art director is responsible for designing or overseeing the design of all books published by the University of Washington Press. The art director creates innovative and unique interior and cover designs for reference books; publications in art history and visual studies, and visual studies; and regional general-interest books; provides creative direction on a variety of projects including scholarly books, websites, presentations, and collateral materials for marketing and advancement; and supervises a design assistant. This position works with a range of contacts outside the press, including authors, freelance designers, typesetters, and cartographers. The art director is responsible for developing and maintaining an attractive and cohesive look for all press products and communications, in both print and digital formats. This position works collaboratively with all press departments and advises on technical issues related to design and creative software. The art director also works with press staff and authors to develop and implement inclusive and culturally appropriate design standards for all press publications. Books published by the press carry the university's name around the world and must be produced to the highest possible quality.

Responsibilities

• Design covers and interiors for scholarly, art, reference, and trade books.
• Use problem-solving skills and creativity to determine appropriate layout, look, and feel to meet high aesthetic standards.
• Adhere to budget and contractual stipulations.
• Compose pages and enter author corrections.
• Coordinate with EDP director and departmental staff to prepare cover mechanicals and final printer files on a rolling schedule as books are sent to press.
• Manage freelance cover and interior design and production.
• Generate initial design concepts; place projects with suitable freelancers; provide constructive criticism; coordinate communication and feedback from authors and press staff; and manage schedules to ensure timely and accurate delivery of front covers for seasonal catalogs, proofs to project editors, and final files to printers.
• Write printing and binding specifications for books printing offset.
• Manage and review proofs at every stage of design and production to ensure that high-quality and accurate books are produced.
• Develop and maintain a cohesive look for press marketing, advancement, and other external communications.
• Supervise part-time design assistant.
• Develop and maintain a diverse and inclusive pool of qualified freelance staff for all design-related projects.
• Review art submitted for interiors and covers.
• Make minor improvements and adjustments to art.
• Redraw simple illustrations and maps as needed.
• Research supplemental art for high-profile books as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in the Humanities or Social Sciences.
• At least four years working as a book designer.
• Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with all press colleagues and maintain productive working relationships with authors, freelancers, and vendors.
• Ability to communicate design concepts and technical requirements clearly, accurately, and effectively.
• Sensitivity to inclusion and representation in design regarding race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and ability/disability.
• Expert knowledge of typography and design software.
• Superior organizational and project management skills; ability to manage overlapping projects with competing deadlines.
• High level of proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, with a focus on using InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

Nice-to-haves

• Professional degree, BFA or MFA in graphic design.
• Experience managing freelance designers.
• Experience with design of scholarly, trade, and art history books.
• Web design experience.
• Marketing design experience.
• Knowledge of color theory, offset printing, digital printing, and epub production.