Position: Designer
Report to: Senior Designer
Division: Lifestyle
Location: Cape Town
Are you a passionate designer looking for a new role where you can use your creativity to produce beautiful, illustrated books? Penguin Random House is a successful book publisher looking for a highly motivated and passionate book designer to work on high-quality publications. Penguin Random House is an industry-leading trade book publisher and offers market-related cost-to-company packages and a flexible, progressive environment that aims to support those who are seeking a challenge.
Key responsibilities
- Typesetting.
- Conceptualising the design of sample spreads and covers.
- Developing excellent relationships with authors, photographers, illustrators and stylists.
- Clear, accurate and concise commissioning and briefing of photographers, stylists and illustrators, within budget.
- Assisting with art direction on photo shoots.
- Accuracy in reviewing plotters, F&Gs and advances.
- Updating reprints.
- Archiving of titles.
- Preparing advance publicity material on new titles, as well as timeously supplying material upon request for Sales, Marketing, Publicity and Digital departments, with regards to TI sheets, catalogues, and social media and online assets.
Skills and knowledge required
- A graphic degree or diploma or related DTP courses.
- Bilingual (English and Afrikaans) advantageous.
- At least two years’ experience in magazine or book design, preferably in lifestyle-related publishing.
- Knowledge of Adobe InDesign and literacy in Apple Mac imperative.
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat Pro.
- The ability to evaluate illustrative and photographic material.
- Strong typographic skills.
- Fast learner, especially with new software and systems.
- Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to work on a number of projects simultaneously, both independently and as part of a team.
- The ability to work under pressure.
- Deadline driven and team orientated.
- Mobile – ability to attend shoots on different locations.
Company culture & environment
- Our employees are forward-thinking, dynamic, customer-focused problem-solvers who strive to be the best in the industry.
- We offer a supportive environment that promotes psychological safety, and have an open and all-inclusive culture where equity and diversity are prized.
- We believe in leadership through transparency and the recognition of performance excellence.
- We focus on fostering employee development through creativity, entrepreneurship and empowerment.
If you meet the above criteria and have what it takes to become the newest member of our team,
please send your CV and a covering letter, clearly stating your salary expectations, to
please send your CV and a covering letter, clearly stating your salary expectations, to
Jason Daniels – applications@penguinrandomhouse.co.za
Closing date: 30 January 2026
NB: Only short-listed candidates will be interviewed, and previously disadvantaged candidates will be given preference in line with the company’s equity target.
If you have not heard from us within six weeks, you should regard your application as unsuccessful.
Penguin Random House is under no obligation to fill this position.
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