Senior Surface Design Lead - Hybrid Print & Pattern

24 Seven Talent; Apex (NC); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

24 Seven Talent is seeking an experienced Senior Surface Design Manager in the Raleigh area to lead original prints, patterns, and surface design across apparel and lifestyle collections. You will craft a distinctive visual POV, mentor designers, and ensure production-ready artwork that aligns with seasonal priorities.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on artistry with leadership, has deep textile/surface design expertise, and can translate trends into commercially relevant print stories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Surface Design, Fashion Design, Illustration, Fine Arts, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of experience in textile, print, pattern, or surface design.
• Experience mentoring or providing creative direction to designers.
• Strong portfolio of original artwork with seamless repeats and color development.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; Procreate a plus.
• Knowledge of repeat patterns, color separation, and production requirements.
• Excellent eye for color, composition, and detail.
• Strong communication and project-management skills.
• Experience with overseas vendors preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead seasonal print, pattern, color, and surface-design development across apparel and gift categories.
• Create original artwork through hand painting, drawing, digital illustration, and other relevant techniques.
• Develop seamless repeats, border prints, engineered layouts, placement artwork, embroidery concepts, and alternate colorways.
• Research emerging trends in print, color, art, interiors, fashion, and culture, translating them into customer-focused print stories.
• Build seasonal inspiration, color direction, artwork concepts, and print-development presentations.
• Create a balanced assortment of statement prints, florals, geometrics, conversational prints, stripes, plaids, and supporting patterns.
• Prepare accurate, production-ready artwork with clear repeat, scale, placement, technique, and color information.
• Review strike-offs, lab dips, embroidery, and production submissions for color, quality, scale, and aesthetic alignment.
• Manage timelines and approvals to support on-time product development and delivery.
• Manage, mentor, and provide creative direction to junior and mid-level designers.
• Partner with design, product development, sourcing, and leadership teams to align print development with seasonal priorities.
• Collaborate with domestic and overseas vendors to communicate artwork requirements and resolve development challenges.
• Maintain an organized artwork archive and help establish efficient seasonal print-development processes.
• Ensure artwork is original, appropriately licensed, or cleared for commercial use.

Skills

Mentoring

Creative direction

Color development

Project management

Strong communication

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Surface Design, Fashion Design, Illustration, Fine Arts, or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Procreate

Job description

24 Seven Talent is seeking an experienced Senior Surface Design Manager in the Raleigh area to lead original prints, patterns, and surface design across apparel and lifestyle collections. You will craft a distinctive visual POV, mentor designers, and ensure production-ready artwork that aligns with seasonal priorities.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on artistry with leadership, has deep textile/surface design expertise, and can translate trends into commercially relevant print stories.