I’m Suzena Samuel, a design leader and illustrator specializing in children’s publishing with over 16 years of experience shaping the visual identity of more than 200 children's books. I combine hands-on artistry with strategic art direction to deliver market-leading covers and interiors. I’m passionate about mentoring creative teams, optimizing workflows, and keeping our products aligned with the latest global trends. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to lead diverse teams, manage large-scale projects, and collaborate with international licensors. Whether it's creating interactive book designs or refreshing classic titles, I always strive to elevate quality and bring stories to life in vivid, engaging ways.…

Suzena Samuel

I’m Suzena Samuel, a design leader and illustrator specializing in children’s publishing with over 16 years of experience shaping the visual identity of more than 200 children's books. I combine hands-on artistry with strategic art direction to deliver market-leading covers and interiors. I’m passionate about mentoring creative teams, optimizing workflows, and keeping our products aligned with the latest global trends. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to lead diverse teams, manage large-scale projects, and collaborate with international licensors. Whether it's creating interactive book designs or refreshing classic titles, I always strive to elevate quality and bring stories to life in vivid, engaging ways.…

Available to hire

I’m Suzena Samuel, a design leader and illustrator specializing in children’s publishing with over 16 years of experience shaping the visual identity of more than 200 children’s books. I combine hands-on artistry with strategic art direction to deliver market-leading covers and interiors. I’m passionate about mentoring creative teams, optimizing workflows, and keeping our products aligned with the latest global trends.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to lead diverse teams, manage large-scale projects, and collaborate with international licensors. Whether it’s creating interactive book designs or refreshing classic titles, I always strive to elevate quality and bring stories to life in vivid, engaging ways.

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Work Experience

Division Lead (Penguin Select) at Penguin Random House India
October 1, 2022 - Present
Spearheaded design and art direction for three key publishing verticals (Early Learning, Classics, Licensing), delivering over 150 titles annually. Launched the Early Learning Program and refreshed over 60 Select Classics titles with contemporary covers for hardbacks and paperbacks. Fostered skills in typography, special finishes, and interactive design including audios and novelty products. Led a team of 10+ designers and illustrators, built and mentored hybrid teams, and expanded a cost-effective freelance network. Streamlined workflows with production teams, reducing turnaround times by 30%, and introduced A+ content outsourcing for Amazon to enhance sales efficiency. Collaborated with global licensors and international illustrators for cross-market adaptation. Recognized for outstanding performance in 2024 for elevating the quality of ELP and Classics to international standards.
Supervisor, Media Ops at Airbnb India, Gurugram
September 30, 2022 - August 2, 2025
Led a team of 8 photo editors during the COVID-19 period, implementing hybrid workflows and allyship training to maintain productivity and morale. Coordinated with global teams to curate over 500 assets per month, aligning with creative guidelines and trend forecasts. Introduced scoring systems for image quality which reduced revisions by 25%.
Senior Art Editor at Wonder House Books, Delhi
August 31, 2019 - August 2, 2025
Led a 15-member design team managing over 30 titles annually. Coordinated with freelancers and vendors to meet tight deadlines. Developed templates and concepts for book fairs, increasing visibility by 40%.
Project Art Editor at DK India Pvt Ltd, Delhi
September 30, 2018 - August 2, 2025
Managed licensed children’s books including Disney and Lego from concept to print. Designed pop-up and novelty books and coordinated with UK teams. Gained expertise in jacket designs.

Education

Bachelor of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Sales Marketing at Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008
Diploma in Arts, Illustration and Computer Graphics at Shankar Academy of Arts
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009

Qualifications

Creative Writing Course
December 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Consumer Goods, Retail
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