Art Director, Custom & Proprietary

Sourcebooks•Naperville, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sourcebooks is looking for an Art Director to lead the creative execution of some of our most exciting and fast-moving projects—custom and proprietary books and products built to meet a customer’s unique vision, land at retail, and resonate with readers. This is an exempt salaried position with a range of $70,000 - $80,000. The location for this position can be hybrid or remote in New York or Naperville, Illinois or remote based in any of the following states: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin. This role includes some travel with occasional meetings at the home office in Naperville, IL.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or a related field required.
10+ years of experience in book design or a closely related field.
Proven track record managing multiple concurrent projects end-to-end in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated experience mentoring or coaching designers and contributing to team development.
Experience working cross-functionally with sales, editorial, production, and manufacturing teams.
Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat.
Deep understanding of print production including offset printing, spot colors, and coatings.
Strong command of composition, color theory, typography, and visual storytelling.
Experience with pre-press workflows and troubleshooting format, template, and file preparation issues.
Solid understanding of art and photography licensing terms and usage rights.
A genuine love of books and an understanding of what engages readers.
Skilled in schedule creation, resource allocation, and risk mitigation across simultaneous projects.
Strong analytical mindset; experienced in diagnosing workflow inefficiencies and implementing scalable solutions.
Proven ability to document, refine, and improve design workflows and cross-departmental handoff processes.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills; comfortable presenting to and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
Familiarity with project management and collaboration platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Basecamp, or similar).
Openness to exploring AI-powered design and workflow tools to improve efficiency and creative output within Sourcebooks guidelines.
Willingness to experiment with emerging design technologies and evaluate their impact on quality and speed.

Responsibilities

Conceive and execute high-impact covers and interiors, own projects from kickoff to final files, and mentor the next generation of designers all while collaborating closely with sales, editorial, manufacturing, and production to get it right and get it done.
Conceptualize and execute visually engaging mock-ups quickly based on account and associate publisher vision.
Design high-impact covers and interiors that meet the specific needs of each sales opportunity.
Elevate projects through mastery of composition, color theory, typography, and innovative design treatments.
Preview and troubleshoot format, template, and pre-press issues to ensure print and digital outputs meet the highest quality standards.
Maintain a thorough understanding of contracts and terms around art and photography use.
Own comprehensive project schedules, tracking milestones from kickoff through final delivery.
Manage the approval process for all project components, facilitating timely resolution of internal and external stakeholder feedback.
Implement and refine standardized workflows, documentation, and best practices to streamline reviews, approvals, and handoffs.
Coordinate cross-functional teams — associate publisher, sales, editorial, manufacturing, and production — to maintain alignment and hit all deadlines.
Anticipate design and production challenges; develop proactive solutions to keep projects on track.
Analyze recurring bottlenecks and lead initiatives to optimize processes, tools, and communication channels.
Stay current on industry trends, digital innovation, and publishing standards to inform product development and design direction.
Coach and mentor junior designers, providing actionable feedback and guiding professional growth.
Lead design critiques and knowledge-sharing sessions to foster a collaborative, learning-oriented environment.
Advocate for a growth mindset, encouraging experimentation and peer support within the team.
Partner with associate publisher, sales, editorial, manufacturing, and production to translate creative briefs into cohesive book and custom product designs.
Prepare and present design concepts and mock-ups to internal stakeholders and accounts.
Balance creative vision with market insights and company objectives to ensure designs resonate with target audiences.
Pivot quickly from stakeholder and customer feedback, taking initiative and maintaining quality under shifting priorities.