Book Interior Layout Designer

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The Community Literature Initiative (CLI) has an amazing opportunity for Graphic/Publication Layout Designers to work in book production and build their portfolios. In this role, you will be responsible for turning a completed author manuscript into a print-ready formatted book.. You will work alongside student authors through the guidance of our book production team in order to produce high-quality, contemporary layout designs for CLI printed proofs and possible future publication.

With the support of our staff, you will play a pivotal role in establishing the aesthetic representation and readability of our authors’ books. You will be using your editing skills to uplift the voices of poets across the nation, advancing our nonprofit’s mission of supporting emerging and underserved writers in realizing their dream of publishing a book.

Job purpose

• Design and format the entire print-ready book interiors for CLI printed proofs and future publication.

Duties and responsibilities

• Attend a mandatory training with the CLI Book Production Manager in the month prior to CLI Book Production
• Design style templates for 2-4 interior layouts for 2-4 authors based on discussions with, and ideas of, assigned authors. Layouts of poetry books will include mimicking formatting of Microsoft Word or Google Docs, as well as possibly special formatting and image inclusion

• Meet with assigned authors virtually at least three times: 1 consultation to discuss style and formatting needs, 1 to refine template, and 1 to do final copy-edits in real time

• Complete the layouts of the entire manuscripts based on agreed upon style template designs
• Meet all deadlines to complete initial interior layouts for all assigned authors within a two week period, including two meetings, and finalize by the end of the third week, including last meeting
• Coordinate with authors and the CLI Book Production team to revise designs until all parties are satisfied
• Communicate with authors and CLI team via email, phone/text, or Zoom/virtual on a regular basis (response time of 24 hours expected), as well as accurately track progress in provided Google sheets
• Upload all InDesign files, images (including vector illustrations and photoshop files with layers), fonts, and print-ready PDFS

Qualifications

• Must be based in the U.S.
• Proven experience in publication/layout design, preferably including work with poetry books
• Excellent graphic design skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong work ethic, excellent communication, and time management skills
• Team spirit
• BA/BFA (or a student) in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Publishing or related field
• Knowledge and experience with G-Suite (docs, sheets, and drive organization)
• Proficiency and access to Adobe Creative Suite; InDesign required