Graphic design support for media & publishing teams that never stop publishing

When your editorial calendar is running at full speed, design bottlenecks slow everything down—delayed issue layouts, inconsistent social graphics, and ad templates that need constant revision. Media and publishing teams often have strong content but limited in-house design bandwidth to execute it consistently across print, digital, and social channels. Trusty Oak's Specialist-level EAs handle the recurring and project-based design work so your editors and producers can stay focused on content.

Fractional graphic design support for media and publishing companies

How Trusty Oak handles graphic design for media and publishing companies

A Trusty Oak graphic design Specialist works inside your existing tools—typically Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, or Canva Pro—and picks up templated or defined-scope work with minimal ramp-up time. For media and publishing clients, that usually means handling things like issue layout support, digital ad production, newsletter header design, and branded social graphics on a recurring schedule. Your Client Success Manager builds a Strategic Delegation Plan at onboarding that maps out which tasks go to the EA, what brand assets they need access to, and how approvals flow back to you. The client's role is to provide brand guidelines, content, and feedback—the EA handles execution and revision cycles. Most clients find that once the first two or three deliverables are approved, the feedback loop tightens significantly.

What your EA takes off your plate

Before your first session, pull together your brand style guide, a folder of approved past issues or campaigns, and any existing templates—even rough ones. The most common mistake media clients make is handing off a design task without context about tone or audience, which leads to technically correct work that still feels off-brand. The more reference material you share upfront, the fewer revision rounds you'll need.

1

Magazine or Newsletter Layout Production

Build and format editorial layouts in InDesign using established templates, placing copy and images to spec for print or digital PDF distribution.

2

Social Media Graphics for Editorial Content

Create on-brand quote cards, article preview graphics, and cover reveal assets sized for Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook using Canva Pro or Photoshop.

3

Digital Advertising Asset Production

Produce display ad sets and sponsored content graphics in standard IAB sizes, formatted for platforms like Google Display Network or direct publisher placements.

4

Brand Template Updates and Maintenance

Revise existing InDesign, Illustrator, or Canva templates when fonts, colors, or layout standards change, ensuring all future issues or campaigns start from a current baseline.

5

Cover and Feature Image Retouching

Perform photo retouching, color correction, and compositing in Photoshop for cover images or feature spreads that need polish before publication.

Tools our team works with

We adapt to your existing stack — no forced migrations.

Adobe Express
Google Slides
Dropbox
Canva
Microsoft PowerPoint
Unsplash / Pexels

...and many more!

Trusted by media and publishing companies

Trusty Oak supports media and publishing companies including An Arm And a Leg, IDSCO, Susan B. Trachman, MD — handling everything from graphic design to broader operational support.

What graphic design support costs for media and publishing companies

Drag the sliders to build a monthly plan that fits your workload.

Executive Assistants
~$35/hour
10 hours $350
Specialists
~$50/hour
20 hours $1,000
Fractional Executives
~$95/hour
0 hours $0
Your monthly budget
$1,350

Starting at $1,000/month. One-time $300 onboarding fee includes your Strategic Delegation Plan.

Book a Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Specialist EAs are proficient in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva Pro, and can work inside your shared account or a seat you provision for them. Your Client Success Manager will sort out access logistics during onboarding so no time is wasted on setup.
Trusty Oak EAs work within agreed-upon schedules, and your Client Success Manager helps you structure the engagement around your publication calendar. That said, Trusty Oak works best for clients who can plan tasks a few days out—if you need same-day emergency turnarounds as a regular pattern, that's worth discussing during the consultation so expectations are set correctly.
Those 92 entries reflect real work logged across industries, and Trusty Oak matches you with an EA whose background aligns with your specific needs. During onboarding, you can discuss the EA's familiarity with editorial layout, publication workflows, or specific tools before work begins.

Get design work off your editorial team's plate

Starting at $50/hr with no long-term lock-in after the first three months, a Trusty Oak graphic design Specialist can be integrated into your publishing workflow within days. Schedule a consultation to talk through what you'd delegate first.