Job Vacancies
Winner of the Independent Specialist Publisher of the Year 2026!
We are a family-run independent publishing company specialising in arts and crafts publishing. We have a friendly, creative team and publish around 100 new titles a year alongside a strong backlist. We also offer distribution services to other publishers.
Vacancy
Graphic Designer
Location: Royal Tunbridge Wells
Salary: £27,000–£37,000 per year, dependent on experience, plus bonus
Type: Full-time, in-house position
Closing Date: Friday 30th October 2026
An exciting opportunity for a talented Graphic Designer has arisen at independent book publisher Search Press – a friendly, dynamic team publishing inspiring, award-winning art and craft books.
We are looking for someone with graphic design experience, technical ability and creative flair to join our design and editorial department. You should have a strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Excellent communication skills, a keen eye for detail, a natural understanding of design and enthusiasm for developing your skills further are essential.
Knowledge of or an interest in art and/or craft activities would be advantageous, but is not essential. Above all, we are looking for someone with drive and enthusiasm who wants to become an integral part of our dynamic, creative team.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Conceptualising, designing and managing all stages of book projects, from creating moodboards and developing initial and final designs through to colour proofing.
- Executing a broad range of design styles appropriate for different age groups and art and craft subjects, with a strong understanding of title branding.
- Working collaboratively with the Head of Design and colleagues across the design, editorial, production and wider in-house teams, from initial concept to finished book.
- Communicating effectively with artists and both internal and external teams.
- Creating detailed illustration and photography briefs, and providing guidance and feedback on artwork supplied by external contributors.
- Creating print-ready PDFs for production.
- Checking proofs and ensuring all titles are approved for press to a high standard of design.
- Assisting with book fair and sales conference preparation, updating catalogues when required.
- Working with the Production team on reprint titles, adjusting, updating, correcting and checking files as needed.
- Keeping up to date with changing graphic design and visual trends.
- Helping to art direct and plan in-house and location photo shoots alongside the photographer and book editor.
Qualifications
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Sufficient professional experience to make an immediate contribution to the team.
- A BA (Hons) or equivalent qualification in design is preferred.
Skills and Experience
- Confident creative problem-solving skills across a wide variety of projects.
- A motivated, hard-working team player with a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and the flexibility to work across different product categories.
- The ability to interpret both verbal and visual briefs.
- Strong time management and organisational skills, with the ability to plan effectively, work flexibly and deliver to deadlines.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- A fast learner with excellent attention to detail.
- Proven experience in print design, with a strong eye for commercial appeal.
- A portfolio demonstrating strong typography skills and the ability to combine type and image effectively.
- Desirable: Experience working with licensed ranges.
- Desirable: An interest in or passion for art and craft.
About Search Press
Search Press is an independent, family-owned publishing house with around 30 members of staff and a great team spirit. We have been publishing art and craft books since the 1970s and have won numerous industry awards, including the 2026 IPG Independent Publisher of the Year award, of which we are extremely proud.
We are unique within the industry in that we manage our books in-house, from concept all the way through to completion. We even have our own photography studio and warehouse.
Our offices are just a 10-minute walk from High Brooms station, on the London Charing Cross to Hastings train line. We are also conveniently located close to both the A21 and A26.
Benefits Package
- Competitive salary
- 24 days' holiday, with an additional day for every five years of employment
- Profit-share bonus
- Private health insurance
- Free lunch, tea and coffee
- Regular social events
- Pension scheme
- Free, convenient parking
- Electric car charging point on site
- Walking distance to a mainline train station
How to Apply
If you are a talented Graphic Designer looking to develop your career in a friendly, creative publishing environment, we would love to hear from you.
Please send your cover letter, CV and examples of your work to:
maz@searchpress.com
Closing date: Friday 30th October 2026
