Associate Art Director, Licensed Entertainment

About ABRAMS:

Founded in 1949, ABRAMS was the first company in the United States to specialize in publishing art and illustrated books. The company continues to publish critically acclaimed and bestselling works in the areas of art, photography, cooking, craft, comics, interior and garden design, entertainment, fashion, and popular culture as well as narrative non-fiction and new works of fiction for adults; children’s books ranging from middle grade to young adult fiction to picture books to board books. ABRAMS creates and distributes brilliantly designed books with the highest production values under the following imprints: Abrams; Abrams ComicArts; Megascope; Surely Books; Abrams Image; Abrams Press; The Overlook Press; Cernunnos; Cameron + Company; Abrams Books for Young Readers; Amulet Books; Abrams Appleseed; and Magic Cat. ABRAMS also distributes books for Booth-Clibborn Editions, Bungie, Alain Ducasse Édition, Èditions de La Martiniére, Editions BPI, Global Golf Group, Lucky Spool, Milky Way Picture Books, The Museum of Modern Art, SelfMadeHero, Tate Publishing, V&A Publishing, and The Vendome Press

Associate Art Director, Licensed Entertainment

Working closely with the Creative Director, provide leadership and assist in the design and art direction of Abrams’ books, primarily in the Licensed Entertainment category. Bring vision as well as day-to-day management and mentoring skills to both in-house and freelance designers. Use passion, experience, design expertise, and marketplace knowledge to create engaging and dynamic solutions.

Recent Abrams Entertainment titles include: The Art of Star Wars The Mandalorian, The Wes Anderson Collection, Gladiator II, and Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design process for book covers and interior layouts, ensuring that all visual elements align with the editorial vision and market positioning.
• Develop and present creative concepts to stakeholders, incorporating feedback and revisions into the design process.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and resources are allocated efficiently.
• Stay abreast of design trends, industry developments, and production effects to keep the creative output fresh and relevant.
• Supervise and provide guidance, feedback, and support to in-house designers and freelancers to ensure design quality and consistency across projects.
• Work with production team and printers to ensure high-quality printed materials by providing packaged, print-ready files, reviewing proofs, overseeing color correction and retouching as needed.
• Work closely with editorial and production teams to ensure projects maintain their schedules and meet high-quality standards throughout the process
• Maintain and evolve the company’s visual style guide and ensure brand consistency across all projects.

Qualifications:

• Preferred BFA in Graphic Design
• 6+ years of work experience with at least 1–2 years in a leadership role, preferably in book publishing
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creativity, and an excellent understanding of typography, layout, photo editing and visual storytelling.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Experience with print production processes, including preparation of print-ready files, file management, and working with printers.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects at once.
• Experience with licensed publishing a significant plus

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their relevant experience and enthusiasm for the role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

ABRAMS is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Salary

• $80–88k, commensurate with experience

This role is based in New York, NY, with a hybrid work schedule requiring three days in the office per week. We are also open to remote candidates, preferably from the following states: CA, CT, DC, WA, FL, KY, MA, MN, NC, NJ, OR, PA, TX, TN, VA.