Thornwillow is a printer and publisher of handmade, limited edition books. We do all of the design, typesetting, letterpress printing, and binding at the press in a complex of 19th century buildings in Newburgh, NY. We believe that in this age of disposable communications and virtual relationships, beautifully made objects that are designed to last, matter. Thornwillow is one of the leading fine press publishers in the world. Our books are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, The Metropolitan Museum, and The White House. Our collectors and customers are based all over the world. We are an artisanal enterprise committed to teaching and perpetuating the related arts and crafts of the written word.
Type and Graphic Production Associate
We are looking to hire a full-time or part-time Type and Graphic Production Associate who shares our love of fine printing to join our team at the Press. This is a full-time, on-site position. All of our books, large and small, are made here. It is crucial that the people involved in the typesetting, layout, and design of our work have the spirit of the Press in their hand and eye, if not its ink on their fingers. You will be directly involved in the execution of the design, look, and feel of the publications and products we make and the messaging that supports their marketing and distribution. This includes the execution of type and page layouts, cover and binding patterns, packaging, and the development of related marketing materials both for online and in hand presentation. We disseminate newsletters, weekly eblasts, social media posts, prospectus and marketing materials, blog pages, Kickstarter campaigns and numerous other initiatives. You will work with the operations, editorial, printing and binding teams as well as collectors and clients, so good communication and collaboration skills are essential. Ultimately, in this role, you will become an integral part of our team and be part of ensuring the aesthetic excellence of our work. We are a small enterprise and are looking for people who are a pleasure to work with and share our enthusiasm. We are prepared to train, so entry level applicants are welcome.
Type and Graphic Production Artist responsibilities include:
- Execution of type and page layouts for books, covers, marketing materials, and other printed matter like stationery orders and private printing projects.
- Laying out virtual presentations from website banners, to eblasts, social media posts, web pages, and online marketing campaigns. Including basic GIF, audio, and Video editing.
- Product photography and photo editing. Staging and photographing imagery for marketing and PR purposes and social media.
- Maintenance and updating of website and third party platforms (Magento, WordPress, Kickstarter and Patreon)
- Coordinate with outside website developers to make sure projects are accomplishing intended goals, quality is met, and projects are on time.
- Keeping projects organized, making sure documents, assets, and collateral are properly filed on the server and accessible.
- Keep track of component tasks of projects, timeframes, and deliverables.
- Work with customers and collectors on their orders.
- Collect and enter new orders – Received via phone, email, and internet.
- Create and update workflows
- Prepare updates for internal teams and communicate with customers.
- Collect necessary information on evolving, ongoing projects (e.g. client changes, changing deadlines, and new requirements).
- Track timing and learn to predict how long future projects will take based on past experience.
- Monitor project progress, address potential issues and resolve problems.
- Measure and report on project status.
- Act as a point of contact for key participants.
- Participate in planning and scheduling of projects and publications
- Participate in the crafting and implementation of marketing and sales strategies
- Help with other ancillary work at the press as needed – from assisting with quality control, packing and shipping during crunch periods to helping in the bindery. In short, lending a helpful hand even when it is not directly connected to your immediate area of responsibility.
The following skills are important:
- Strong design skills and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (particularly Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator) are essential.
- Understanding and appreciation of classical typography traditions.
- Understanding of FontLab, type design, and letter form is a plus.
- Work experience in a typesetting or graphic design department or similar role is a plus, but not essential. It is essential that you are organized, communicate well, and have a strong desire to learn and grow.
- Interest and some familiarity with traditional printmaking, letterpress, and engraving processes.
- Comfort with spreadsheets, working with calendars, working on the back end of websites — Particularly comfort with Google Sheets, Google Docs, Excel, Word, Airtable, Magento, Kickstarter, and Patreon is a plus.
- Solid organization and time-management skills
- Care and attention to detail.
- Good phone skills.
- Team spirit.
Job Type: Full-time or part-time
Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:30
Work Location: Newburgh, NY 12550: Candidates must be able to reliably commute or relocate before starting work.
Compensation: Starting at $144.00 / day, with significant room for growth as skills, experience, and commitment evolve. For more seasoned candidates, compensation will be commensurate with experience.
Affordable Housing in the Thornwillow Makers Village (pending availability) – applicable to full time employees only (minimum 40 hours/week)
For more information please contact: opportunities@thornwillow.com