Introducing New Design Manager – Carrie Knights

Carrie Knights is a highly skilled graphic designer and illustrator with over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She offers extensive expertise in children’s novelty, activity books, picture storybooks, and more. Carrie has a genuine passion for finding creative solutions that inspire and delight children, and she is currently shortlisted for the BookTrust Storytime Prize 2022-23 for ‘Can You Tickle a Tiger?’. Her natural strength and ability for illustration is invaluable to her work. When she is not working, Carrie is a keen baker, with a collection of urban art. She also loves high heels, fast cars, and action movies.

1. What is your title at Collaborate, and how would you describe your role?
I am a Design Manager at Collaborate Agency in the UK. My role includes designing, illustrating, and managing projects. Daily I liaise with our clients, artists, and studio team to create children’s books and products we can all be proud of.

2. Where are you located?
I have recently moved to Rushmere St. Andrew, a small parish in Suffolk on the east coast of England.

3. What skills are essential to your role at Collaborate?
Being organised, and a good communicator and relationship builder. Having a keen eye for illustration and design, and being instinctive! Repro experience, being able to confidently take books from the concept stage to print.

4. How long have you been working in the #kidscomms industry?
Prior to joining Collaborate, I have over 22 years of experience in children’s publishing at Imagine That. I started my career there as a prototyper/junior designer and progressed through to Senior Designer for the Imagine That imprint working primarily on children’s novelty, activity, and picture storybooks.

5. How collaborative is your role?
There’s a great deal of collaboration in my role which is why it is so important to communicate well and build strong working relationships to ultimately become someone our clients can trust and rely upon.