Publishing Production Assistant, Graphic Design

Working Schedule

Publishing Production Assistants work full-time in publishing houses, design studios, or advertising agencies. Schedules may include nights, weekends, and overtime to meet production deadlines.

Typical Duties

• Provide creative input regarding graphic designs for book covers, magazine covers, comic book covers, catalogs, posters, newspaper ads and flyers, mailers, online advertising campaigns, packaging materials, product labels, etc.
• Review files in Adobe InDesign, PDF, or other prepress formats
• Use digital files and graphic design software to create layouts 
  featuring designs, fonts, graphics, and other elements
• Review and adjust elements before printing or finalizing to ensure color accuracy, appropriate resolution, error-free text, and other quality control
• Coordinate with printing press operators on hardcopy print runs
• Oversee proofing and make last-minute adjustments such as fixing design or artwork issues or typos
• Showing proofs to customers for approval
• Follow production schedules and meet deadlines
• Maintain diligent production records and archives of design elements, images, photos, fronts, etc.
• Manage inventory and order supplies

Additional Responsibilities

• Stay up-to-date on new technologies and graphic design trends
• Help train new workers 

Soft Skills

• Analytical
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Good color vision
• Independent
• Observation
• Organization
• Patience
• Planning
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Visualization

Technical Skills

• Desktop publishing programs (Adobe Acrobat, Xerox FreeFlow)
• Familiarity with color theory and digital file preparation
• Graphics software (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Inventory management
• Knowledge of different printing presses
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Project management
• Understanding of prepress and post-press processes
• Understanding of printing techniques and materials

• Publishing houses
• Newspapers
• Design studios
• Advertising agencies
• Marketing firms
• Print shops

Businesses in numerous industries rely on the creativity of Publishing Production Assistants who specialize in graphic design. These assistants are integral in producing eye-catching materials that attract consumer attention and lead to better sales.

The role requires up-to-date knowledge of graphic design trends as well as a keen eye for detail. Small overlooked mistakes can lead to major cost overages if an entire print run has to be redone. However, time management is critical, too, due to tight turnaround times. So assistants need to be mindful of schedules but without taking shortcuts that could lead to errors. 

As the printing industry continues to evolve to adapt to changing markets, it’s embracing digital printing technologies to lower costs and boost productivity. Many processes are becoming increasingly automated, reducing the need for human labor. Alas, this is ultimately decreasing the need for Publishing Production Assistants and other workers in the publishing field.

Print materials are becoming less popular as consumers increasingly turn to digital resources. As a result, there’s less shelf space in stores for magazines and books to be displayed – and more pressure on publishers to come up with attention-grabbing covers! 

Publishing Production Assistants often grew up as avid art fans. They may have enjoyed drawing, painting, or using digital design programs.