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Children Book Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Highlights for Children

Assistant Editor

Honesdale, PA · On-site

... designers to provide illustration; copywriting including cover, tip sheets, and other marketing ... Pursue knowledge of current trends in children's book publishing and product Education and ...

W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Art Director, Children's

$85K/yr

... book packages. * Hire, manage, and art direct freelance designers while keeping in mind all needs ... Coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children is available. * Profit-Sharing and ...

W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Art Director, Children's

$85K/yr

... book packages. * Hire, manage, and art direct freelance designers while keeping in mind all needs ... Coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children is available. * Profit-Sharing and ...

Macmillan

Associate Director, Art (MCPG)

$90K - $100K/yr

The ideal candidate will conceive and art direct creative book designs for children, and will have a strong sense of commercial & literary design, branding, knowledge of the children's book ...

Macmillan

Associate Director, Art (MCPG)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

The ideal candidate will conceive and art direct creative book designs for children, and will have a strong sense of commercial & literary design, branding, knowledge of the children's book ...

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Children Book Designer information

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$44K

$79.7K

$124K

How much do children book designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for children book designer in the United States is $79,711.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,000.00 and $88,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a children book designer do?

A Children Book Designer is responsible for creating the visual layout and design of children's books, including illustrations, typography, and page composition. They collaborate closely with authors, illustrators, and publishers to ensure the book is visually engaging and age-appropriate. Their work helps bring stories to life, making them more appealing and accessible to young readers. Good design can enhance a child's reading experience and contribute to the educational value of the book.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a children book designer?

To thrive as a Children Book Designer, you need strong illustration skills, a keen understanding of visual storytelling, and proficiency in graphic design, typically supported by a degree in design or a related field. Mastery of design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, along with familiarity with print production processes, is essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with authors and editors are critical soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure engaging, age-appropriate, and visually appealing books that effectively connect with young readers.

How do children book designers typically collaborate with authors and illustrators during the book development process?

Children Book Designers work closely with authors and illustrators to ensure the visual elements align with the story and intended age group. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, provide feedback on illustration drafts, and make layout suggestions to enhance readability and engagement. Effective communication is key, as designers must balance creative input with the publisher’s requirements, ensuring that the final product is visually appealing and market-ready. This collaborative environment fosters creativity and often leads to long-term professional relationships.

What is the difference between Children Book Designer vs Children's Book Illustrator?

Children Book DesignerChildren's Book Illustrator
Focuses on overall book layout, typography, and visual conceptSpecializes in creating original artwork and illustrations for the book
Requires skills in graphic design, layout software, and visual storytellingRequires artistic skills, drawing, and painting abilities
Works closely with authors, publishers, and graphic designersWorks primarily with authors and publishers to produce illustrations
Common in publishing, design agencies, and freelance workCommon in publishing, freelance, and illustration studios

Children Book Designers focus on the overall visual layout and design of the book, ensuring readability and aesthetic appeal. In contrast, Children's Book Illustrators create the artwork that brings the story to life visually. Both roles often collaborate but require different skill sets and tools.

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Children Book Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Children Book Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, and 30% Part Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, 10% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,711 per year, or $38.3 per hour.

Senior Designer, Children's

Manhattan, NY • On-site, Remote

W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Print Media Publishing • 201 - 500 employees
Learn more about W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.external

$70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Job description


W.W. Norton & Company has an opening for a Senior Designer in their award-winning Children's Art Department. Come join a growing and energized team where you can work on prizewinning books by industry leading authors and illustrators. The Senior Designer will work directly with the Art Director and Associate Creative Director and be responsible for design managing, and designing approximately 5-8 titles per season in our range of children's books. Looking for candidates who are talented, efficient, flexible and enthusiastic. Candidates must have an excellent portfolio which includes book covers and interiors as well as illustrated books (picture books and graphic novels) and have an understanding and passion for the book publishing process. Candidates must exhibit attention to detail, a critical eye for design, and have excellent communication and organization skills. We're looking to bring in a passionate team player who is aware of the children's book landscape, excited to help learn, grow, share knowledge, and enthusiastic about children's books for all ages. This position is a full-time remote position with a requirement to come into the New York office at least once per publishing season for a week of meetings and interdepartmental collaboration. This position reports directly to the Associate Creative Director of the Children's Department.
Essential Job Responsibilities Include:
  • With the guidance of manager, handle the full design process from acquisition to release to print for their own list of approximately 5-8 titles per list (15-24 per year) across the Norton Children's Division spanning picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, young adult fiction and non-fiction.
  • Pursue, nurture, develop, manage and hire freelance illustrators (and their agents) and design beautiful and thoughtful original book packages.
  • Meet weekly, seasonal and book production deadlines and manage across multiple stages of production while maintaining organized and accurate files and ensuring good practices with font and art clearances.
  • Liase with production department throughout all stages of production from concept and design through file set up and review, to mechanical release to printer and proofing stages.
  • Provide support and collaboration to design and art direction staff when needed or as designated by the Creative Director.
  • Maintain clear communication with editorial and production staff on a regular basis including complications and offer solutions for successful project completion.

Please note- this job description is not designed to cover all activities required of the employee.
Experience and Skills
Required Qualifications:
  • Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the US is required.
  • Must have a strong portfolio that shows versatility of style and proficiency across multiple genres, topics, ages, and formats.
  • Exceptional typographic sensibility and understanding of age based design as well as respect for the reader, good grasp of visual storytelling and ability to take feedback.
  • Portfolio must exhibit original ideas and original design executions that feel unique and interesting while understanding the relevant markets.
  • At least 5-6 years of work experience required. Experience at a children's publisher or working with children's publishers in a freelance capacity for most of those years is preferred.
  • Must be comfortable, efficient, and an effective communicator while working in a remote environment.
  • Must have some knowledge of prepress, four color, 2 color, and specialty printing processes pertaining to all stages of children's book production from concepts to corrections, to proof review and release to print.
  • Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the US is required.
  • Must be able to work full business hours on East Coast time.
  • Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits*
Currently available benefits include:
  • Competitive salary: $70,000: All salaries and salary ranges posted by Norton may vary depending on experience, skills, location, and like considerations.
  • Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and summer Friday afternoons beginning in July
  • Generous health benefits, including PPO, EPO, and High Deductible (with HSA) medical insurance options, vision insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care and commuter, gym membership reimbursement, and more. Coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children is available.
  • Profit-Sharing and 401(k) benefit plan with discretionary contribution matching by employer
  • Disability and life insurances
  • FMLA, parental and other leave
  • Employee Assistance Program (for mental health, financial planning, and other needs)
  • Company-provided laptop
  • Employee discounts on Norton books
  • Limited matching of employee donations to select non-profit organizations

*All policies and benefits described are subject to change at any time.

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