Back to All Jobs

Assistant Designer, Campbell

Pan Macmillan

DesignFull TimeFrom £30k
Location
London, UK (Remote)
Posted
May 21, 2026

Job Description

Role overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly creative, motivated, and organized Assistant Designer to join the Campbell Books design team at Macmillan Children’s Books, working on an innovative and diverse list of novelty books for children aged 0–6. The Campbell list is rich and diverse and is full of all types of novelty books for children aged 0–6. We are looking for a highly creative, motivated, and organized assistant designer to join our team. We’re very proud of our small design team and the fun and beautiful books we create. We aim to make an environment where you’ll thrive, learn and grow as a designer.

Reporting to the Art Director, you will play a critical role in supporting the design team. In this busy, stimulating, and wide-ranging role, you will assist with vital administrative design tasks, work on existing and new novelty design projects, and hone your creative skills. You will also collaborate closely with the Editorial, Production, Communications, and Sales teams to help bring our preschool titles from initial concept to final approval.

Responsibilities

  • Concept & visual development: Work with the Art Director and design team on new titles throughout the publishing process, including creating and developing engaging visual concepts, polished visuals, and physical dummies for internal use and sales presentations.
  • List management: Assist in the creation and development of backlist, reissue, re-use, and re-jacketed titles, as well as working on brand-new projects from the initial stage to final approval.
  • Cross-departmental collaboration: Liaise closely with Editorial and Production teams regarding project briefings, schedules, proofing, and corrections, and ensuring alignment on design deliverables.
  • Production support: Support the design team in preparing and delivering print-ready files to the Production team, ensuring all technical specifications and schedules are met.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Establish effective communication with the Sales and Comms teams to understand their design needs and expectations, providing highly finished visual assets for presentations.
  • Freelance coordination: Commission and manage external freelancers, including illustrators and designers, under management supervision.
  • Team support: Provide comprehensive administrative and design support across the team, assisting senior designers as and when needed.
  • Tech integration: Explore and engage with evolving creative tools, such as AI, safely and effectively within the design team’s workflow.

Requirements

  • Design foundation: A creative eye supported by a portfolio that reflects an interest in physical print design, layout, or children’s media, with a readiness to develop these skills further.
  • Software knowledge: Practical experience using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator on an Apple Mac platform.
  • Organization & prioritization: Effective organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple project tasks simultaneously and prioritize workloads effectively to meet deadlines.
  • Communication & collaboration: Clear and collaborative written and spoken communication skills, with a proactive, supportive approach to working within a team and cross-departmentally.
  • Production awareness: A basic understanding of printing processes and a strong willingness to learn the unique requirements of novelty book manufacturing.
  • Inclusion and representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.
  • Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive and vibrant environment.
  • Curiosity: A strong drive for learning and a readiness to embrace different perspectives.
  • Integrity: A foundation of openness and honesty, taking responsibility for actions and learning from mistakes.

Desirable

skills

  • Novelty & preschool interest: Exposure to, or a specific creative interest in, multi-format preschool children’s publishing (e.g., board books, pop-ups, flap books).
  • Industry insight: A general awareness of the children’s publishing landscape, high street retail trends, or competitor books.
  • Tech curiosity: An interest in learning about and experimenting with evolving AI design tools where appropriate for creative workflows.

Compensation and Benefits

  • Salary: £30,000 to £35,000 (dependent on experience and expertise)
  • 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays
  • Generous pension scheme
  • Discounted private medical insurance
  • Group income protection scheme
  • Enhanced family pay and leave
  • Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
  • 2 Volunteer Days per year
  • 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)
  • Season ticket loan/advance
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Discounts on shopping, Tastecard+ and gym memberships
  • Christmas club savings
  • Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch

Application Information

This is a full-time, permanent role, based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.

  • All applications must be submitted via the careers site.
  • Shortlisting process may take time; updates will be provided.
  • Applicants must demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK.