Job Description
ABOUT BOOMKAT & THE ROLE
Established in Manchester in 1998, Boomkat is an independent online record store and distrbutor specialising in innovative, exceptional and overlooked music from around the world. Alongside the store, we work closely with artists and labels, releasing and presenting music across vinyl, CD, cassette and digital formats.
We're looking for an exceptional Senior Graphic Designer with strong photography and moving-image skills to join our small team in Manchester.
We're looking for someone who can help us take the visual side of Boomkat into new territory. As well as developing our photography, moving-image work and record sleeve design, we want someone with the imagination and initiative to develop new ideas - whether that's merchandise, new approaches to packaging, printed matter, visual concepts for music releases or entirely new creative projects.
We're looking for someone who can bring their own ideas, influences and references to the table, challenge established approaches and take the initiative in developing new work, from initial concept through to execution. Above all, we're looking for someone with good taste, an exceptional eye and a sophisticated understanding of typography, layout, colour, composition and space - someone who can apply that visual sensibility across graphic design, photography and moving image
This is a hands-on role. Alongside developing new creative projects, you'll be responsible for photographing special features, producing and editing moving-image work for our website and social channels, and designing artwork and layouts for records and other releases. You'll need to be confident working within our established photographic style while bringing the ideas and experience to develop it further.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We're looking for an experienced designer with outstanding visual judgement, strong technical skills and a genuine interest in wider visual culture.
You'll need:
- Exceptional graphic-design skills, particularly typography, grids, layout, colour and composition.
- Strong photographic ability, including a confident understanding of lighting, composition and image processing.
- Experience shooting and editing moving image, with the imagination to develop original visual approaches.
- Substantial professional experience and an understanding of commercial requirements, deadlines, accuracy and consistency.
- The confidence to manage your own workload, make creative decisions and take projects from concept to completion.
- A good level of cultural awareness
- Proficiency with relevant software and equipment
We don't expect someone to be equally accomplished in every discipline. You might be an exceptional graphic designer and photographer with less extensive moving-image experience, for example. What matters most is the quality of your visual judgement, supported by convincing professional work across graphic design and photography.
This is a senior-level position requiring commercial experience, rather than a graduate or entry-level opportunity.
WORKING AT BOOMKAT
This is a permanent position for either three or four days per week, based at our Manchester premises. Because photography, physical products and working directly with the team are central to the role, remote or hybrid working isn't possible.
We're open to either three or four days, which may suit an established creative who wants to maintain their own practice or freelance projects alongside a permanent position.
Salary: £42,000–£48,000 full-time equivalent, depending on experience, paid pro rata according to the agreed working pattern.
We're a small independent company, so there's considerable opportunity to contribute creatively and influence how Boomkat develops. Good ideas don't have to pass through layers of management - we're looking for someone experienced enough to propose them and capable enough to bring them to life.
PORTFOLIO
A strong portfolio is essential. We'll use portfolios to select candidates for interview, so please ensure yours demonstrates both the quality and breadth of your work.
Please make your contribution to collaborative projects clear.
We're interested in the thinking behind your work as much as the finished results. A carefully selected portfolio of exceptional work is more valuable to us than an extensive collection of everything you've produced.
How to apply
Please email your application to: jobs@boomkat.com and include:
- A link to your portfolio.
- A cover letter explaining why this particular role interests you and why you think you'd be a good fit for Boomkat.
- Your CV, including relevant professional experience.
- Whether you'd prefer to work three or four days per week.
- Your availability and notice period.
We'd also like you to tell us about one piece of visual work - by anyone - that you've seen recently and thought was exceptional, and briefly explain why. It could be photography, a film, a record sleeve, a book, an exhibition, a piece of graphic design or something else entirely. There's no right answer: we're interested in what catches your attention and how you think about visual work.
Salary Range
Established in Manchester in 1998, Boomkat is an independent online record store specialising in innovative, exceptional and often overlooked music from around the world.
Alongside the store, we work closely with artists and labels and are involved in releasing and presenting music across vinyl, CD, cassette and digital formats.
Physical objects and how they are presented have always been an important part of what we do. We care about photography, typography, record sleeves, print, film and the wider visual culture surrounding music, and we're looking for someone who shares those interests.