Production Artist

Job Description

Production Artist (Freelance)

Seeking a highly experienced, senior‑level Production Artist to support intensive production needs for our education publishing programs. This freelance role is ideal for a seasoned production expert who can translate established designs into impeccably built, production‑ready files for both print and digital, on tight timelines and at scale.

As a Production Artist, you will partner closely with designers, editors, project managers, and external vendors to ensure all assets are technically flawless, consistent with brand and design intent, and fully optimized for downstream production and accessibility requirements.

• Build, refine, and finalize multi‑page documents and asset suites in Adobe InDesign, ensuring clean, logical file structures, styles, and layers.
• Prepare and package print‑ready and digital‑ready files (InDesign, PDF, EPS, AI, PSD, etc.) that meet detailed printer and vendor specifications.
• Execute high‑volume layout production for educational materials (student books, teacher guides, practice pages, workbooks, supplemental resources) while preserving design fidelity.
• Create and optimize production‑ready assets (illustrations, icons, graphics, figures, diagrams) using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Apply and maintain style sheets, templates, libraries, and master pages for efficient, scalable production workflows.
• Perform rigorous preflight, QA, and file correction to catch and resolve issues (fonts, links, color profiles, bleeds, overprints, image resolution, etc.) before files reach vendors.
• Manage color workflows and prepress requirements, including CMYK/RGB conversions, spot color handling, dielines, varnishes, and special finishes as required.
• Use batch processes and automation (e.g., scripts, data merge, GREP styles, actions) to accelerate repetitive tasks while maintaining accuracy.
• Ensure all files comply with accessibility and structural standards, including consistent use of paragraph/character styles, alt‑text readiness, reading order and logical document structure.
• Collaborate with designers and editors to interpret creative direction, troubleshoot technical constraints, and maintain visual consistency across large product lines and revisions.
• Communicate proactively with project managers and vendors to clarify specs, deadlines, and any production risks or issues.

• Senior‑level Production Artist experience (7+ years preferred) with a strong portfolio demonstrating complex, high‑volume production work.
• Expert‑level Adobe InDesign skills, with deep experience in multi‑page layout, styles, tables, anchored objects, conditional text, and long‑document best practices.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop; Acrobat required, others a plus).
• Demonstrated production craftsmanship — clean, organized files; consistent naming conventions; efficient use of styles, grids, and master pages.
• Strong prepress and technical production fluency, including:
  • Color management and print standards (CMYK, RGB, spot colors, profiles).
  • Dielines, bleeds, safety, and mechanicals.
  • File formats/specs and troubleshooting for printers and digital vendors.
• Proven ability to implement and optimize templates, libraries, and scalable workflows, including batch production and automation tools.
• Meticulous quality assurance approach, with a track record of catching inconsistencies and errors in copy, layout, styles, and links before release.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to work seamlessly with designers, editors, PMs, and vendors and to ask clarifying questions when requirements are ambiguous.
• Demonstrated ability to work fast and accurately under tight, fixed deadlines, managing multiple projects simultaneously without sacrificing quality.
• Solid understanding of accessibility‑conscious file setup, including paragraph and character styles, document structure, tagging readiness, alt‑text planning, and clean PDFs.
• Experience with editorial workflow systems such as K4 or Wood Wing (or similar content management/publishing systems).

• Education publishing experience (K–12 or related) with familiarity in textbooks, workbooks, teaching guides, and assessment materials.
• Experience working within brand and design systems for large product suites.
• Background collaborating with offshore or distributed production teams and multiple print vendors.

• Estimated engagement:
  March 9 (approximate) – May 1.
• Schedule:
  
  30 hours per week for approximately 8 weeks.
• Contract term:
  Through April/May, with some flexibility to extend as needed.

This is a remote‑friendly, freelance engagement supporting a busy production period. Candidates must be able to commit to the outlined schedule with minimal flexibility on deadlines and deliverables.