Oregon Humanities magazine is an award-winning triannual general interest publication (spring, summer, and winter). In the magazine, Oregon writers, artists, and readers explore diverse perspectives and challenging questions and ideas that are relevant to residents around the state. The magazine is delivered free to 15,000 subscribers and is available online. Each 48-page issue of Oregon Humanities centers around a theme, and all submissions are loosely related to the theme. The magazine contains personal essays, features, posts, book excerpts, graphic storytelling, and poetry.
We are looking for a Contract Art Director to design and art direct Oregon Humanities magazine and maintain relationships with contract artists and partners.
Position Title: Magazine Art Director
Work hours: Contract, retainer
Position Reports to: Editors (Ben Waterhouse, Karina Briski, Alexandra Silvester)
General Description: The Art Director is primarily responsible for the design, production and coordination of Oregon Humanities magazine. The Art Director will work directly with the editors to ensure that all budgets and schedules are met.
Budget: $6,000 - $7,500 per issue (art budget managed separately)
Key Responsibilities
- Design and art direct all issues of Oregon Humanities magazine.
- Manage art budgets as specified.
- Manage and meet deadlines as assigned.
- Present design and art concepts for feature stories, for input and approval by editors.
- Provide regular status updates on all work in progress.
- Coordinate with editors to ensure art and layout design are appropriate for content.
- Work directly with print vendors to ensure accuracy and quality standards are achieved.
- Work closely with diverse artists and illustrators, providing constructive feedback and direction to keep revisions moving forward.
- Evaluate, select, and manage illustrators, photographers, and archive imagery.
- Negotiate scope and fees for licensed and commissioned photography, illustrations and artwork from outside vendors.
- Organize and prepare digital files, mock-ups, and instructions for the printer.
- Adapt magazine graphics for use on website and social media.
- Attend and contribute to project meetings (3 meetings per issue).
Desired Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have the following skills and attributes:
- A strong interest in and commitment to Oregon Humanities’ mission, publications, and programs. Our ideal designer is an enthusiastic reader with broad interests whose designs will elevate the texts they accompany.
- Excellent editorial/publications design ability
- Advanced experience with Adobe Creative Cloud
- Excellent project management skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage personal workload and production timelines
- Ability to request support from team members regarding visual content and needs
- Excellent creative and technical problem solving skills
- Extensive experience with print production
- Strong communication skills
- Three or more years of experience with page layout or magazine design
- Experience working with diverse artists (illustrators and photographers) and sensitivity to selecting artists whose backgrounds or experience align with those of authors and themes of stories
- Commitment to equity and inclusion in the hiring of subcontractors
Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the role.
How to apply: If you are interested in applying, please submit a proposal describing your experience working in publications, anticipated rate per issue, and a portfolio with no more than ten work samples by May 4 to editors@oregonhumanities.org.
In your proposal, please address why you are interested in working with Oregon Humanities and how your experience and skills will contribute to making the magazine an excellent, provocative, and inclusive publication.