This is an exciting opportunity for a Designer to join our gaming team as part of the Brands and Licensing team at Farshore – a division of HarperCollins. The Brands and Licensing team currently work with some of the leading brands in the industry within the children’s market.

Along with the Publisher, Art Director and the rest of the team, the Designer will be developing and delivering a publishing programme focusing on gaming brands for children. The role requires a multi-tasker with a strong understanding of consumer and marketing trends, and a real passion for gaming with an expert level of Minecraft knowledge in particular. Delivering outstanding designs fit for purpose that are both commercial and innovative.  

The Designer will take on multiple titles in different genres, as both a designer and project manager, the role requires an exceptionally organised individual with excellent communication skills that must be able to plan and lead a project from conception to print, managing their own time, freelancers and commissioning artists, whilst working closely with other members of the Brands and Licensing team, as well as other departments, licensors and key stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities

• Deliver commercially focused, innovative designs for books that will inspire and capture the targeted audience

• Be a proactive member of the team, bringing ideas, experience and knowledge to the table

• Manage internal and external stakeholder relationships: Publishers, Editors, Sales, Marketing, Production, Licensors, Illustrators, Freelancers

• Project management: ensuring any freelancers, artists or other contributors deliver on time, within budget and to the highest standards

• Play an active role in pitches for new partnerships and brands

• Uphold Farshore’s D&I plan in support of the Company’s policy

Competencies and Experience

• Experience of working as a Designer (junior designer level minimum)

• Experience of using adobe design programmes for print plus an interest or experience in 3D rendering

• Delivering print-ready files set up for translation for co-edition partners.

• An ability to manage complex projects

• A very keen interest in gaming and an expert level of Minecraft knowledge

• Relevant consumer, trend and market awareness in order to help develop new commercial concepts

• Experience of commissioning illustrators, freelancers and packagers either directly or via agents and delivering clear commercial briefs and art direction for all areas of the market

• Negotiating contracts with external contributors

• Ensuring final files are delivered on time and on budget –managing others within the team and externally to do the same

• Managing freelance budgets

• Excellent communication and presentation skills – be able to present design concepts, approaches and work in progress to various internal and external stakeholders