Art Director, Custom & Proprietary

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute visually engaging mock-ups quickly based on account and associate publisher vision
• Design high-impact covers and interiors that meet the specific needs of each sales opportunity
• Elevate projects through mastery of composition, color theory, typography, and innovative design treatments
• Preview and troubleshoot format, template, and pre-press issues to ensure print and digital outputs meet the highest quality standards
• Maintain a thorough understanding of contracts and terms around art and photography use
• Own comprehensive project schedules, tracking milestones from kickoff through final delivery
• Manage the approval process for all project components, facilitating timely resolution of internal and external stakeholder feedback
• Implement and refine standardized workflows, documentation, and best practices to streamline reviews, approvals, and handoffs
• Cook up cross-functional teams — associate publisher, sales, editorial, manufacturing, and production — to maintain alignment and hit all deadlines
• Anticipate design and production challenges; develop proactive solutions to keep projects on track
• Analyze recurring bottlenecks and lead initiatives to optimize processes, tools, and communication channels
• Stay current on industry trends, digital innovation, and publishing standards to inform product development and design direction
• Coach and mentor junior designers, providing actionable feedback and guiding professional growth
• Lead design critiques and knowledge-sharing sessions to foster a collaborative, learning-oriented environment
• Advocate for a growth mindset, encouraging experimentation and peer support within the team
• Partner with associate publisher, sales, editorial, manufacturing, and production to translate creative briefs into cohesive book and custom product designs
• Prepare and present design concepts and mock-ups to internal stakeholders and accounts
• Balance creative vision with market insights and company objectives to ensure designs resonate with target audiences
• Pivot quickly from stakeholder and customer feedback, taking initiative and maintaining quality under shifting priorities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or a related field required
• 10+ years of experience in book design or a closely related field
• Proven track record managing multiple concurrent projects end-to-end in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated experience mentoring or coaching designers and contributing to team development
• Experience working cross-functionally with sales, editorial, production, and manufacturing teams
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
• Deep understanding of print production including offset printing, spot colors, and coatings
• Strong command of composition, color theory, typography, and visual storytelling
• Experience with pre-press workflows and troubleshooting format, template, and file preparation issues
• Solid understanding of art and photography licensing terms and usage rights
• A genuine love of books and an understanding of what engages readers
• Skilled in schedule creation, resource allocation, and risk mitigation across simultaneous projects
• Strong analytical mindset; experienced in diagnosing workflow inefficiencies and implementing scalable solutions
• Proven ability to document, refine, and improve design workflows and cross-departmental handoff processes
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills; comfortable presenting to and influencing stakeholders at all levels
• Familiarity with project management and collaboration platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Basecamp, or similar)
• Openness to exploring AI-powered design and workflow tools to improve efficiency and creative output within Sourcebooks guidelines
• Willingness to experiment with emerging design technologies and evaluate their impact on quality and speed