Sr. Production Artist
Apply NowCompany: Learning Resources / Educational Insights / hand2mind
Location: Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Description:
About hand2mind:
We bring learning to life! Trusted by teachers for more than 55+ years, hand2mind creates engaging, classroom-tested materials that empower children to learn by doing. We are a 150-person strong, family-owned company that's been voted one of the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces for the last four consecutive years. In addition to building high-quality, hands-on learning materials for the classroom like VersaTiles and Cuisenaire Rods, we also develop educational toys for the home that make learning math, reading, social-emotional learning, and STEM fun and interactive. As a company, we are committed to our employee's personal and professional development. That's why we offer a competitive benefits package, a supportive culture, and a variety of training and development opportunities. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you'll come join our award-winning team today!
Position Description:
The Production Artist III will serve as a vital contributor in ensuring high-quality visual and digital assets that support the company's educational mission. This role requires technical precision, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to work across multiple teams including Design, Product Development, and Marketing. The ideal candidate will excel in working in production workflows, creating digital and print-ready files, creating Adobe InDesign/Illustrator templates that are easy to use, and maintaining brand consistency across all projects. This position reports to the Production Manager and operates as an independent contributor within a collaborative team environment. This role offers opportunities to learn and grow while contributing to projects that have a real impact on the company's success.
What you'll do day to day:
What we're looking for (Key Performance Objectives):
Requirements/Ideal Attributes:
We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.
Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.
Compensation Range: $80,000 - 95,000 annual salary - Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set or location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here).
#hand2mind
#LI-hybrid
We bring learning to life! Trusted by teachers for more than 55+ years, hand2mind creates engaging, classroom-tested materials that empower children to learn by doing. We are a 150-person strong, family-owned company that's been voted one of the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces for the last four consecutive years. In addition to building high-quality, hands-on learning materials for the classroom like VersaTiles and Cuisenaire Rods, we also develop educational toys for the home that make learning math, reading, social-emotional learning, and STEM fun and interactive. As a company, we are committed to our employee's personal and professional development. That's why we offer a competitive benefits package, a supportive culture, and a variety of training and development opportunities. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you'll come join our award-winning team today!
Position Description:
The Production Artist III will serve as a vital contributor in ensuring high-quality visual and digital assets that support the company's educational mission. This role requires technical precision, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to work across multiple teams including Design, Product Development, and Marketing. The ideal candidate will excel in working in production workflows, creating digital and print-ready files, creating Adobe InDesign/Illustrator templates that are easy to use, and maintaining brand consistency across all projects. This position reports to the Production Manager and operates as an independent contributor within a collaborative team environment. This role offers opportunities to learn and grow while contributing to projects that have a real impact on the company's success.
What you'll do day to day:
- Use Adobe InDesign to layout new and/or update existing Teacher Guides, Student Guides, Consumer Product Guides, and/or Marketing Collateral such as Brochures, Sell Sheets, and Catalogs.
- Manage the day-to-day work of Supplemental Curriculum/Consumer Guide projects being developed by our partner development houses.
- Update/create art using Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop as needed to support layouts
- Update/create simple/medium/complex templates using paragraph styles, character styles, master pages, and libraries, in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator
- Collaborate with Design, Product Development, and Marketing teams to accurately implement feedback.
- Maintain communication on project status and milestones using task management software.
- Troubleshoot new software with IT
- Share knowledge and participate in project and team meetings.
- Help support Junior Production Artist/Design intern answering questions on best practice.
What we're looking for (Key Performance Objectives):
- Within the first 60 days, learn the multiple production workflows and how they are tracked in Monday.com.
- Create Adobe InDesign/Illustrator templates for 1-2 Supplemental Curriculum Programs, New Consumer Guides, Sell Sheets, or Catalog Pages in the first 6 months.
- Take ownership of the production of 1-2 supplemental curriculum programs or the lead role in managing all consumer guides from layout through final posted files.
- Layout and guide Junior Production Artist/Design intern in the layout/production of sell sheet distribution with updates published by the 1st of the month.
- Take ownership of the layout and production of at least 2 sections of the hand2mind catalog interior pages. Keeping files on track to meet file to printer dates in March, July, and November.
- Gain proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop through trainings and project experience. Completing 1-2 trainings per quarter in the first year and sharing new knowledge twice in that year with team members/manager.
Requirements/Ideal Attributes:
- Bachelors Degree and/or related work experience is necessary
- Be able to solve problems creatively and/or know when to seek help with good communication skills
- Ability to work independently and within a team setting and prioritize projects appropriately
- Must have a strong level of organization and attention to detail
- Must know how to use Master Pages, Paragraph Styles, Character Styles, and be able to create complex templates in Adobe InDesign and Illustrator
- Ability to react to change productively
- Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Acrobat
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Portfolio demonstrating production work using Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop.
- 5-7 years experience in education, publishing, or toy industry
We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.
Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.
Compensation Range: $80,000 - 95,000 annual salary - Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set or location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here).
#hand2mind
#LI-hybrid