Senior Designer; Graphic Novels

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Full-Time Regular New York, NY, US

2 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $76,000.00 Annually

** This position is a union role represented by UAW Local 2110 and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.**

OVERVIEW:

If you're looking to grow your career at a company where creativity meets legacy, ABRAMS is the place for you. As a trailblazer in illustrated publishing since 1949, ABRAMS continues to set the standard for beautifully crafted books across art, design, culture, and children’s literature. As we continue to bring exceptional books to readers around the world, we're seeking a Senior Designer of Graphic Novels to join our Design Team
!

In this role, you’ll develop graphic novels across multiple imprints, with a primary focus on Fanfare and additional support for Comic Arts and Kana. We’re looking for a highly creative, technically accomplished, and organized senior designer who will work closely with the Art Directors and partner with editors, creators, illustrators, production managers, and freelancers to shape visually compelling books from early concept through final files for print.

The ideal candidate brings strong graphic novel design experience, including sequential art, page flow, lettering, typography, and prepress workflows. This role requires a collaborative designer who can balance creative vision with production accuracy while effectively managing timelines and guiding projects through to successful publication.

What you’d be doing:

• Provide design leadership, design, and art direction on assigned graphic novel projects, partnering with the Art Directors from concept through production.
• Design and manage approximately 15-20 graphic novel titles annually, balancing creative development, schedules, revisions, and production deadlines.
• Oversee freelance designers and letterers, providing creative direction, feedback, and guidance throughout the design process.
• Design graphic novel covers and collaborate with creators, illustrators, editors, and sales teams to develop market-savvy concepts that connect with target audiences.
• Guide creators and illustrators in preparing final artwork that meets design, production, and printer specifications.
• Design interior pages, prepare mechanicals, incorporate corrections, and release approved files to production.
• Review proofs and troubleshoot design, artwork, production, and prepress issues.
• Package, archive, and deliver final files in accordance with internal standards and printer requirements.
• Help to keep graphic novel guidelines up to date

We’re looking for someone who has:

• 5–7 years of professional book design experience, including at least 2–3 years focused on graphic novels, comics, manga, or other illustrated narratives.
• A portfolio demonstrating excellence in cover design, typography, page layout, and print production is REQUIRED. (Applicants who do not submit a portfolio will not be screened.)
• Excellent project leadership and organizational skills, with the ability to lead the execution of multiple high-profile titles simultaneously, manage schedules, asset routing, and deliverables with exceptional attention to detail, and ensure quality, on-time delivery and adherence to production and printer deadlines.
• Highly organized, self-starting approach, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, drive complex projects with minimal oversight, and collaborate effectively across creative, editorial, production, sales, and marketing teams, as well as with authors and illustrators.
• Creative, curious, and collaborative…