Book Designer

BOOK DESIGNER

LOCATION
Remote

ARRANGEMENT
Freelance; initial book commission with potential for ongoing publication projects

HOURS
Approximately 35–40 hours per week during initial book production; variable thereafter

COMPENSATION
$25–$35 USD per hour, depending on experience and agreed scope


ABOUT SPIRITUS

Spiritus is an international initiative dedicated to renewing the great Catholic artistic and spiritual tradition through music, art, and sacred encounter.

We create performances, recordings, publications, and digital experiences that invite people to encounter beauty and open their hearts to the presence of God.

We are building a small, exceptional creative team to shape Spiritus’s visual identity, bringing imagination and artistry to projects of lasting spiritual and cultural value.


THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an exceptional Book Designer to help shape an ambitious programme of publications of international cultural-institution quality, beginning with a classic approximately 200-page, museum-calibre art book documenting a sacred music project in France.

Familiarity with historic Catholic art is essential.

As the first in a continuing series of major publications, this book will help establish the standard for Spiritus’s publishing work. You will bring extraordinary visual judgment and a refined sense of storytelling to every page, creating publications that invite sustained attention and become objects to treasure.

Spiritus plans to produce multiple publications each year and is seeking a lasting creative collaboration with an outstanding designer.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

ART DIRECTION AND EDITORIAL DESIGN

- Develop the book’s visual language, typography, grids, chapter openings, cover, and recurring editorial elements within the Creative Director’s established visual direction.

- Shape the sequence, scale, and relationship of photography, artwork, manuscripts, musical scores, and writing with a refined sense of pacing and restraint.

- Personally execute the layouts in Adobe InDesign, incorporate feedback accurately, and maintain consistency throughout the publication.

- Establish a strong sense of hierarchy, rhythm, pacing, visual balance, and restraint across approximately 200 pages.


BOOK PRODUCTION

- Prepare and manage master pages, paragraph and character styles, grids, templates, image handling, and other production systems required for a substantial publication.

- Incorporate feedback accurately and efficiently while maintaining the integrity of the overall design.

- Manage revisions and ensure consistency across all chapters and recurring elements.

- Prepare final press-ready artwork and production files.

- Review colour proofs and support the production process through printing.

- Collaborate on paper stock, binding, finishes, colour reproduction, image quality, and other print-production decisions.

- Deliver well-organised, editable source files and associated production assets upon completion.


COLLABORATION

- Work closely with the Creative Director and Spiritus team throughout the design and production process.

- Participate in design reviews and clearly explain design decisions when required.

- Proactively identify design or production issues and propose thoughtful solutions.

- Work independently while communicating clearly with a small international remote team.


QUALIFICATIONS

- At least 10 years of professional experience in book and editorial design, with a proven record of delivering substantial illustrated publications to demanding production deadlines.

- A portfolio featuring outstanding art books, exhibition catalogues, photography books, museum publications, or similarly sophisticated publications that you personally designed.

- Exceptional typography, composition, visual storytelling, pacing, and attention to detail.

- Expert-level Adobe InDesign skills and strong working knowledge of relevant Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

- Strong practical knowledge of print production, including prepress, colour management, paper, binding, and finishes.

- Familiarity with historic Catholic art and the ability to work sensitively with sacred and historical material while creating a contemporary visual expression.

- Ability to work independently, manage a substantial publication, and meet demanding production deadlines.

- Strong communication and collaboration skills, particularly when working remotely with a small creative team.


WORKING ARRANGEMENT

The initial book requires approximately 35–40 hours per week during October, with printing planned for November, followed by preparation, proofing, and final production support as required.

Future projects may involve approximately 5–20 hours per week during active production periods. Some months may have no assignments.

This is intended to begin with a major book commission, with the potential to develop into an ongoing creative collaboration across future Spiritus publications.


HOW TO APPLY

Please send your CV and portfolio.

Your portfolio should include complete books or substantial consecutive page sequences wherever possible, rather than only individual spreads. Photographs of finished printed copies are also strongly encouraged.

For two or three relevant projects, please briefly explain:

1. Your role in the project.
2. What parts of the design and production you personally handled.
3. The publication size and approximate page count.
4. Your involvement in print production, if applicable.

Please also include:

- Your hourly rate.
- Your availability during the intensive October book-production period.
- A brief note on your experience working with art, cultural, museum, religious, or historically significant material.

Please email your application to:

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Use "Book Designer" in the subject line.

For a glimpse of our work, including Spiritus Editions and the international call for submissions to ILLUMINA, visit:

spiritus.art
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