Children's Book Designer in Harwood Heights, Illinois

Children's Book Designer

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Children's Book Designer to help create engaging, innovative, and market-driven products for kids across multiple retail channels. This role is ideal for a designer with strong experience in children's publishing and novelty formats who thrives at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, product development, and consumer insight. The successful candidate will bring both artistic excellence and practical understanding of manufacturing, retail performance, and market trends.

You will collaborate closely with editorial, production, sales, and manufacturing teams to develop high-quality products that resonate with children, parents, educators, and retailers.

What You'll Do

• Conceptualize, design, and execute children's books and novelty products from initial idea through final production
• Develop compelling covers, interiors, packaging, and interactive product features
• Create design solutions that balance creativity, functionality, manufacturability, and cost efficiency
• Partner cross-functionally with editorial, production, sales, and external vendors to bring products to market
• Contribute to visual brand consistency across series and product lines
• Iterate quickly based on feedback, trend analysis, consumer insights, and sales performance
• Stay informed on trends in children's publishing, novelty formats, toy design, and retail merchandising
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment

Products & Channels

• Clubs (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's)
• Mass market retail
• Value publishing
• Amazon and e-commerce channels
• School book fairs and educational distribution

Qualifications Required

• 5+ years of professional design experience in children's publishing
• Strong portfolio demonstrating children's books, novelty formats, and product design
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Strong understanding of print production, die-lines, and manufacturing processes
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally in a fast-paced publishing or consumer products environment
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to balance creative vision with commercial objectives

What Success Looks Like

• Delivering innovative and commercially successful products
• Maintaining strong visual quality and brand consistency
• Supporting efficient production and manufacturing processes
• Contributing creative ideas that drive growth across channels
• Building strong collaborative relationships across teams

Work Environment

• Hybrid work model with required onsite collaboration three days per week
• Collaborative, team-oriented culture
• Dynamic environment with multiple concurrent projects and evolving priorities

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to help shape engaging products that inspire curiosity, imagination, and learning for children across North America. You'll join a creative and collaborative team focused on building meaningful, commercially successful products for today's evolving marketplace.

Compensation: $60,000-$70,000 annually, based on experience, skills, and overall fit for the role.