Ply Magazine: Now Hiring

Want to work for a great fiber magazine? PLY Magazine has 2 openings! We are looking for a layout/design person and an illustrator.

Layout/design

This is a freelance, satellite position that is ongoing and includes 4 issues per year. It pays a flat fee per issue, and experience has shown us that, depending on your work style and speed, each issue takes between 45–75 hours over a 2.5-month period (so between 4.5 and 7.5 hours each week, on average). You’ll be responsible for taking the copy, photos, illustrations, ads, and well, just every single thing that’s going to be inside the issue of PLY and format it in a pleasing and creative way! PLY is a small team consisting of the editor in chief, managing editor/copy editor, photographer, customer service, developmental editor, illustrator, and you. That’s it. Among all of us, we get everything done.

You’ll be responsible for the following (while meeting the deadlines given):

• Creating a cohesive look for each issue that builds on the look of the overall canon of PLY.
• Creating a half-page mood board for each issue using copy provided and then using those colors in the respective issue.
• Working with the editor in chief and managing editor to create a list of needed illustrations for the illustrator.
• Using InDesign to design and lay out each issue, cover to cover, using the copy, photographs, illustrations, and ads in the allotted time (between 6–8 weeks).
• Delivering pdfs to editor in chief, managing editor, and developmental editor and then implementing any changes requested.
• Uploading final pages to printer, approving and finalizing pages.
• Creating an image (usually just a crop) from each article for the authors to use to promote and tantalize.
• Uploading final digital issue to server.

You should:

• Have at least 2 years of magazine design/layout (or comparable) experience.
• Be comfortable and well-versed in InDesign and the Adobe Creative Suite on a Mac platform.
• Be organized and pay close attention to details.
• Work and deliver on firm deadlines.
• Work independently and be self-motivated.
• Have strong communication skills and not be afraid to speak your mind and give your opinion.
• Work well with others (or at least a small staff).
• Have a clean and creative design aesthetic.
• Be able to implement changes in your design without hurt feelings.
• Have some experience with fiber arts.

The Process:

Please submit (to jacey@plymagazine.com) your portfolio and/or examples of your work , your past experience with layout/design, the programs you’re comfortable using, your work history as it applies, and 3 references by January 15, 2020. You’ll hear from us by February 1. Our plan is to pick a few people we really like and ask them to do a small mock-up of the magazine (a couple articles, a cover, masthead, project), going through an abbreviated version of our process. We’ll pay each designer we ask to go through this process a stipend for their time and work. For those who aren’t among our choices, if you want to go through the mock-up process too, you can, but we won’t be offering the stipend. The final decision should be made by February 1!

Illustrator

This is a freelance, satellite position that is ongoing and includes 4 issues per year. It pays a flat fee per issue, and experience has shown us each issue falls between 10–20 illustrations and over time averages out at 15/issue. At the beginning of each issue cycle, you’ll be given a list of between 10–20 illustrations ranging from very small and simple to more complex, and you’ll be responsible for asking for any clarification needed, creating and digitally delivering the illustrations to PLY. Turn-around on these illustrations should be fairly quick, 2–3 weeks, and may include some edits. PLY is a small team consisting of the editor in chief, managing editor/copy editor, photographer, customer service, developmental editor, layout/design, and you. That’s it. Among all of us, we get everything done.

You’ll be responsible for the following (while meeting the deadlines given):

• Creating illustrations that are original and distinct to PLY but fit into the cohesive look for each issue and build on the look of the overall canon of PLY.
• Working with the editor in chief, managing editor, and layout/design person to clarify the look and content of the illustrations.
• Delivering illustrations to PLY by set deadline and then implementing any changes requested.

You should:

• Have at least 2 years of illustration experience.
• Have a range of illustration styles.
• Be creative and have confidence in your work.
• Be comfortable with line drawings, pattern sketching, repeating designs, renderings of fiber tools, spinning wheels, hands, spindles, people (shown with diversity), animals, etc.
• Be organized and pay close attention to details.
• Work and deliver on firm deadlines.
• Work independently and be self-motivated.
• Have strong communications skills and not be afraid to ask for clarification.
• Work well with others (or at least a small staff).
• Be able to implement changes in your illustrations without hurt feelings.
• Have some experience with fiber arts.

The Process:

Please submit (to jacey@plymagazine.com) your portfolio and/or examples of your work your past experience with illustrations, your work history as it applies, and 3 references by January 15, 2020. You’ll hear from us by February 1. Our plan is to pick a few people we really like and ask them to do a small mock-up of an issue (we’ll give you a list of 5–7 illustrations), going through an abbreviated version of our process. We’ll pay each illustrator we ask to go through this process a stipend for their time and work (which we won’t use or keep; you retain all rights). For those who aren’t among our choices, if you want to go through the mock-up process too, you can, but we won’t be offering the stipend. The final decision should be made by February 1!