Junior Designer, Ten Speed Graphic

Penguin Random House - Oakland, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Remote - Oakland, CA

Educational Services

About the position

Ten Speed Graphic is seeking a passionate Junior Designer to join our in-house design team. This role is ideal for individuals who have a strong interest in graphic novels and comics and are eager to learn about the publishing side of this genre. As a Junior Designer, you will work closely with our Art Director, Creative Director, Editorial Department, and authors to create captivating graphic novels that resonate with our audience. Your contributions will be vital in shaping the visual storytelling of our titles, and you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals in the industry. In this position, you will be responsible for designing covers for individual books and ensuring continuity within a series. You will layout graphic novel interiors from start to finish, working with authors and artists to convert scroll format comics into book layouts. Collaboration is key, as you will engage with editors, authors, and art teams throughout the book creation process. You will also process artwork and lettering, tracking the status of art from various collaborators while managing multiple deadlines. Your role will involve executing design concepts generated by others, implementing editorial text corrections to interior book pages, and maintaining schedules to meet deadlines on assigned projects. Additionally, you will identify potential creative collaborators in the comic book industry and assist art directors in commissioning illustrators and freelance designers, monitoring their progress to ensure quality and timeliness.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with and support the Ten Speed Graphic design team.
• Design covers for individual books, or create continuity within a series.
• Layout graphic novel interiors from start to finish.
• Work with authors and artists to convert scroll format comics into book layout.
• Collaborate with editors, authors, and art teams throughout the book creation process.
• Process artwork and lettering starting with initial layout all the way to press.
• Track art status from numerous collaborators on multiple deadlines.
• Execute design concepts generated by others, working with templates.
• Implement editorial text corrections to interior book pages.
• Maintain schedules and meet deadlines on assigned projects.
• Identify potential creative collaborators in the comic book industry.
• Assist art directors to commission illustrators and freelance designers and monitor progress.

Requirements

• Minimum of 0-3 years Design experience, preferably in print.
• A basic understanding of the book design process and technical knowledge of book production.
• Some knowledge of typefaces and typography, full-color printing, RGB/CMYK color spaces, and image formats.
• Exceptional interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, and ability to track multiple projects.
• Excellent graphic design skills, with a passion and eye for good typography and design trends.
• Aptitude for creative thinking and problem solving, while staying within budget and on schedule.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, multitask, and coordinate workload in a hybrid work environment.
• Must be a team player and able to work independently while knowing when to ask for help.
• Curious and motivated to learn about new topics and other points of view.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Bridge, and Acrobat Pro.
• Working knowledge of MS Office programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Benefits

• Medical/Prescription drug insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k)
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life/AD&D Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Educational Assistance
• Generous paid time off