Design Intern — Book Layout & Editorial Design

Alabaster is one of the most exciting and fast-growing companies in faith-based publishing today. Founded in Los Angeles, we create beautiful and compelling Christian products — integrating thoughtful design, theological depth, and cultural relevance to help people engage with faith in meaningful ways. We're looking for a design intern to support book layout and editorial design , with a focus on typography, pacing, and visual storytelling across long-form printed works. This role is ideal for someone who cares deeply about how a book feels in your hands —spacing, rhythm, type, and the relationship between image and text. You'll work closely with the Brand/Creative and Production teams to help bring book interiors from concept to print-ready files. What You'll Do Book Layout & Typography Assist in designing interior layouts for books, Bibles, and devotionals Flow text into InDesign using established grid systems Refine typography (leading, kerning, hierarchy, spacing) Help build and apply consistent paragraph and character styles Ensure alignment to grid systems and layout consistency across spreads Editorial Design & Image Integration Pair photography with text in a way that enhances storytelling Assist in designing full-bleed image spreads, chapter openers, and transitions Maintain visual rhythm and pacing throughout the book Help iterate on layout systems based on feedback Production & File Prep Organize and clean InDesign files for production Prepare files for print (bleeds, margins, export settings) Assist with proofing rounds (digital + print/wet proofs) Help catch layout errors before final production (widows/orphans, spacing issues, etc.) Systems & Process Help build and refine layout templates for repeatable systems (e.g., Journal Bibles) Contribute to internal SOPs for layout and file organization Maintain clean, scalable design files to reduce rework Who You Are Strong eye for typography, layout, and visual balance Detail-obsessed—you notice spacing issues most people miss Highly organized and systems-oriented Patient and meticulous with long-form work Able to take feedback and iterate quickly Passionate about books, design, and the physical reading experience Preferred Skills (Not Required) Proficiency in Adobe InDesign (required baseline) Familiarity with typography systems and grid-based design Experience with book or editorial layout Basic knowledge of print production (bleeds, signatures, paper, etc.) What You'll Gain The expected hourly rate is $18/hour Hands-on experience designing real, published books Deep exposure to editorial design systems and typography at scale Understanding of print production workflows (from layout → press) A portfolio of refined, high-quality design work Mentorship from a design-driven creative team