Fast Facts
Fablelistik Editions is seeking a creative Art Director to oversee the design of high-end publications, collaborating closely with the publishing team to shape the visual identity and aesthetic of their limited editions.
Responsibilities: Lead the creative design process, provide mentorship to design staff, collaborate with production on publication projects, maintain the brand's visual identity, and contribute to business strategy.
Skills: Requires 10+ years of book design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, strong conceptual and typographic skills, and expertise in print production.
Qualifications: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Graphic Design or Fine Arts with significant experience in art direction and managing design teams.
Location: United States
Compensation: $100000 - $120000 / Annually
Fablelistik Editions is a direct-to-consumer imprint at Macmillan dedicated to producing exquisite, limited, and fine press editions of genre-defining publications. We are seeking a versatile Art Director who combines the sensibilities of a high-end book designer with the agility of a creative lead in a startup environment. In this role, you will partner with our Publishing Director and Creative Director to define the visual identity of the publication list. You will be responsible for overseeing the full design lifecycle -from initial concept sketches to final product— by working with our internal and external creative partners.
What you'll do:
- Art Direction & Creative Execution: Serve as the Art Director and lead designer for the imprint, personally crafting the creative architecture for key titles—including concepts, exterior packaging and interiors.
- Design Management & Mentorship: Provide oversight and creative direction for staff designers. You will manage the department’s workflow, ensure design consistency, and lead the training and development of new talent as the team expands.
- Production Collaboration: Work in close partnership with the production department to realize complex creative visions. While this role does not manage manufacturing, a deep technical understanding of print specifications is essential to design feasible, high-end products.
- Strategic Collaboration: Contribute to the broader business objectives of the imprint. The successful candidate will be expected to engage with colleagues across departments, offering creative insights into acquisition, marketing, and customer experience strategies.
- Brand Stewardship: Maintain and elevate the visual identity of the Fablelistik brand, ensuring a cohesive and premium aesthetic that resonates with our community of collectors.
What you'll bring:
- 10+ years of experience in book design, with at least 5 years of art directing experience.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or equivalent work experience.
- Strong conceptual skills and insight into publication product design.
- Expert typographic skills and an understanding of classic book layout principles.
- Advanced working knowledge of book manufacturing and special effects.
- Proven ability to manage and mentor designers and freelancers.
- Agility to switch contexts quickly—moving from deep design focus to team management to business strategy discussions.
- Excellent communication skills for training employees and articulating design concepts to non-creative stakeholders.
- Expert-level in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
- A portfolio showcasing high-end commercial or fine press work.
- Proven experience managing complex print production projects and/or special editions.
- Experience supervising staff and freelance designers is required.
- Experience in commissioning illustration.
- Background in a fast-paced environment where speed-to-market and adaptability are valued.
This role will have an annual salary of $100,000-$120,000.
Macmillan Publishers is the U.S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of media companies headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's publishing companies include prominent imprints around the world that publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.
U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. In the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa, companies in the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group publish under the Pan Macmillan name. The German publishing company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Rowohlt, and Droemer Knaur.
Macmillan is proud to be an equal opportunity employer consistently striving to foster a culture where everyone belongs. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities. Qualified applicants are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, physical ability, neurodiversity, genetic information, protected veteran status, family and economic status and background or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We prohibit discrimination of any kind and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
