Designer

Overview

Blue Star Press is looking for a creative, strategic, and highly collaborative Designer to bring our books and products to life. This role is responsible for designing book covers, interiors, and product packaging that elevate our brands and resonate in the market. You’ll work closely with editors, authors, and artists to develop designs that align with each project’s creative vision, particularly in brand-driven or series-based formats. You’ll also work cross-departmentally to ensure all projects remain on schedules within budget, and fit with the creative brief. The ideal candidate has proven experience creating complex 4-color books and/or long-form editorial projects and packaging design, and thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and manage 30–50 books and/or products annually across adult nonfiction and children’s categories.
• Perform page composition and corrections, working closely with the editorial team
• Develop cohesive series/brand designs that can evolve across multiple titles and formats.
• Collaborate closely with authors and artists to ensure visual cohesion and a shared creative vision.
• Create project mood boards, creative concept presentations, and final print-ready files.
• Analyze and present market data to ensure that cover designs perform well in both online and retail environments.
• Design both covers and interiors, including layout, typography, and occasional infographics or spot illustrations.
• Partner with editors to shape manuscripts visually, ensuring clear navigation and strong aesthetic impact.
• Uphold a high standard of execution—with a keen eye for typographic detail—and maintain adherence to established design guidelines.
• Work with production and editorial teams to ensure print specifications, schedules, budgets, and permissions are met.
• Contribute to project-specific marketing asset creation and design as needed.
• Maintain awareness of new and emerging design trends, software, and resources.
• Contribute to a collaborative and positive work environment that encourages open, frequent, and constructive communication across all teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of design experience in publishing or related fields.
• Strong portfolio showcasing excellence in editorial design, cover/packaging, and brand or series development.
• An entrepreneurial and strategic mindset with a strong orientation toward data-informed decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to work across a range of visual styles while maintaining consistency in branded lines.
• Experience collaborating with authors, artists, and cross-functional teams, as well as experience managing freelance artists and designers.
• Detail-oriented with excellent project management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to take initiative, work independently, and successfully manage competing priorities, while keeping projects on time and within budget.
• Enthusiasm for helping shape our publishing program, including an appetite for exploring new publishing ventures and offering ideas and feedback.
• Expert knowledge of current design tools and resources, including fluency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office; familiarity with web and digital design tools, and Asana or similar project management software, a plus.

Blue Star Press is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.