Designer - Gift

• Full-time, permanent
• Salary: £31,000-£33,000 per annum
• Hybrid working after probation, based in Central London
• Closing date: Tuesday 9 July 2024

Thames & Hudson is the leading global publisher of illustrated books on creativity and visual culture. We have a brand new exciting opening for a highly motivated designer with meaningful experience in a similar role to work on our new list of gifts and gift books, the Thames & Hudson Gift Lab.

Based in London, you will design a range of gift titles (jigsaws, games, stationery, smart gifts, etc.). and illustrated gift books. Reporting directly to our Head of Design, and liaising closely with our gift team, the Associate Publishing Director, and other outside stakeholders to develop gift projects from concept to finished product.         

The Role

• Designing full-colour, illustrated gifts, gift books and 3-D products.
• Working through from initial concepts and dummies to finished layouts ready for reproduction and subsequent proofing stages.
• As well as designing your own titles, in collaboration with the Commissioning and Project Editors (and Associate Publishing Director) making design allocations, providing feedback and quality control of designs and art work supplied by freelancers, co-publishers or members of the in-house design team.
• Collaborating with in-house or external editors, authors and illustrators and production specialists. Presenting designs at design meetings.
• Conceiving and implementing design concepts for complex gift projects including but not limited to all of the following: 
  • Design development – working with the Commissioning and Sales & Marketing teams to come up with design solutions appropriate for the market & audience of the product.
  • Typographic design – Strong characterful text designs and box labels/titles appropriate to the subject matter, reader and the physical properties of the gift.
  • Design and layout – to give structure to the gift and ensure clarity for the consumer
  • Lid, box and interior elements design – to make sure all elements are designed to a high level and come together into a coherent design.
• Advising on choice of illustrators: keeping up-to-date with the latest illustration trends, and working with the gift team to source and scout new illustration and visual talent useful for T&H’s activities.
• Ensuring a ‘wow factor’ and visual consistency throughout each project.
• Working with editors and the marketing department to prepare sales and marketing materials such as presentations, catalogues and exhibition stands + advise on lifestyle photographs and videos.
• Keeping abreast of (and ahead of) the latest design and visual trends in the gift, games and children’s arena.
• Taking on responsibility for making files ready for press for your own titles as well as those coming from freelancers.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in and deep knowledge of the gift, games and stationery market at home and abroad.
• A firm grasp of printing and production processes.
• Proven experience of co-edition design and production processes.
• Strong editorial thinking.
• Experience of working with complex 3D designs, 3D templates and diagrams. 
• Accuracy and precision using Adobe InDesign, photoshop, illustrator, Acrobat.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to clearly present ideas to design and non-designer colleagues.
• A rich and diverse visual vocabulary.
• An international outlook and keen interest in visual culture.
• Able to work to tight deadlines and budgets, whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• A highly organised self-starter who is able to lead and direct a project.
• A collaborative attitude, someone who can listen but is confident of their viewpoint.
• A creative problem solver with a playful and inquisitive mind.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

At Thames & Hudson, we believe that employing a diverse workforce is essential to succeed and selection decisions are based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from everyone, irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or belief.

To apply, please visit our website via the button below. Use the cover letter to address how you meet the requirements listed in Knowledge, Skills and Experience above. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 9 July 2024.

Some of the benefits of working with us:

Apart from working with a highly talented and creative bunch of people, we offer:

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Profit share scheme
• Interest-free loan for rent deposit or season travel ticket
• Discounts off our lovely T&H books and co-editions
• Generous pension contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free entry into hundreds of museums and galleries, nationwide

And more!