Director, Book Design

The Director, Book Design is first and foremost a creative leader — the person who sets the visual and conceptual direction for Andrews McMeel Publishing’s book program. This role is the creative standard-bearer for the list: defining what great book design looks like at AMP, bringing genuine vision to how our books look, feel, and function in the reader’s hands, and pushing the team to think beyond convention. The Director brings intellectual curiosity about book formats, packaging, and product design — asking not just how something should look, but whether there is a more compelling way to present the content altogether. They partner closely with Publishing leadership, Editorial, Licensing, and authors to shape creative strategy from the earliest stages of a project, not just execute at the end. They also lead, coach, and develop a team of Art Directors, and are responsible for the overall performance and output of the book design group.

The Director, Book Design is a proactive creative partner — not just a steward of others’ visions, but a contributor of original ideas. You bring perspective on what makes a book an object worth owning: how format, structure, materials, and design can work together to create something that surprises and delights. You engage with authors, licensors, and editors early, shaping creative strategy before a single page is designed. You are responsible for the quality, consistency, and creative ambition of the entire book design program. 

Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking, visionary art direction, and a command of the full digital and print landscape define the Director, Book Design. You lead by example, elevating the work of a team of Art Directors and designers while championing a culture of creativity and craft. You have an unmatched ability to set and communicate creative direction across multiple projects simultaneously. The Director of Book Design demonstrates a masterful design aesthetic — with particular depth in book layout, typography, illustration direction, and production.

You take full ownership of book design output across the list, are an inventive problem solver with a high level of accountability, and hold the team to the highest standards for visual creative excellence. You report directly to the Executive Design Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set and communicate the creative vision for the book design program — establishing the aesthetic standard, the creative ambition, and the design identity that distinguishes AMP books in the market
• Supervising the department's daily workflow, assigning project workloads, and monitoring deadlines and budgets.
• Performance Evaluations for direct reports
• Help a creative team overcome obstacles that arise within a project and offer solutions 
• Give updates on the progress of each project and stage of their development and creation phase to executive creative leadership 
• Define project management procedures and systems for workflows and deadline management
• Work closely with Publishing leadership to define goals and ensure deadlines are met
• Actively explore and champion innovative book formats, structures, and packaging — bringing curiosity and fresh thinking to how content is presented and how the physical book experience can be elevated
• Overseeing all aspects of design and production, including the review of color separations and proofs
• Overseeing budgets and freelancers and contracts, and negotiate fees and contracts with freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, creative service representatives and stock houses.
• Stay ahead of creative, cultural, and market trends in publishing and adjacent industries — bringing outside perspective and new ideas into the creative process proactively, not reactively

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• A demonstrated creative voice — a portfolio and point of view that signals genuine vision, not just polished execution; the ability to lead creative strategy and elevate a publishing program’s identity
• Genuine curiosity about book formats, product design, and the physical reading experience — the instinct to ask “what if this were structured differently?” and the experience to follow that question through to a compelling, manufacturable answer
• Portfolio that shows off your advanced level of experience, and produce creative thought leadership in the creation of high-quality designs
• Ability to adapt to authors or licensors’ needs and requests and willingness to be flexible and collaborate with others
• Proven ability to proactively prioritize a multitude of complex assignments effectively and to meet or beat tight deadlines consistently 
• Strong attention to detail, good follow-up and able to generate creative solutions, and are an effective problem-solver 
• Excellent design, Photoshop and typography skills
• Project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and time management.
• Be efficient with communicating ideas and concepts. Plus, the ability to present in front of groups.
• Recommend required resources and technology needed to execute assigned project
• Well versed with Apple computer, Adobe Creative Suite (Indesign, Illustrator, PhotoShop, Acrobat Pro (Microsoft- Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Works closely with the Executive Design Director, Publishing leadership, Direct Reports (Art Directors), Editorial, Production, Licensing partners, and authors. Partners with freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, and other creative service vendors as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 
Directly manages a team of Art Directors. Also provides oversight of Graphic Designers and Production Designers working within the book design group. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
•    Bachelor’s degree in graphic design
•    15 + years’ experience in graphic design
•    8 + years’ experience managing designers, art directors, photographers, illustrators, and production artists, including experience managing managers
•    Managing budgets and schedules  
•    Apple computer, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat Pro (Microsoft- Word, Excel, PowerPoint)