Surface Designer

verabradley; Roanoke (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Vera Bradley seeks an experienced surface designer to create cohesive prints and artwork aligned with brand vision. You will engineer repeats, collaborate with product teams, and mentor junior designers while maintaining production-ready standards.

Responsibilities include translating trends into fabric and accessory artwork, managing color directions, and ensuring designs meet vendor and cost constraints across multiple channels.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or higher; bachelor’s degree preferred in textile or graphic design.
• 5+ years designing and managing surface designs on textiles.

Responsibilities

• Create original artwork and style heritage designs meeting brand objectives.
• Engineer surface design repeats, placements, and complex files for production.
• Interpret seasonal color direction and translate trends into artwork.
• Collaborate with product design to fit silhouettes and season concepts.
• Work with development teams to ensure artwork meets vendor and cost requirements.
• Maintain art/color records in PLM (FlexPLM) and production tools.

Skills

Artistic drawing

Illustrator proficiency

Fashion industry experience

Color theory

Pantone knowledge

Textile surface design

Mac/PC literacy

Time management

Communication skills

Team player

Under pressure

Education

High school graduate

Bachelor’s degree in textile design, graphic design, or related field preferred

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Creative Suite

FlexPLM

VibeIQ

Epson wide-format printer

Microsoft Office

Job description

FUNCTION

Create surface designs that meet design objectives and contribute to achieving brand vision, translating trend and concept into production-ready prints and surface designs. Develop cohesive artwork assortments across silhouettes, categories, and channels, collaborate cross-functionally, and help mentor emerging talent, while maintaining technical excellence from concept through approval.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Note: Other duties may be assigned)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Create original artwork and style vintage/bought artwork to meet the design objectives and contributes to achieving brand vision that align trend, concept and business needs
• Engineer surface design repeats, placements, and complex files with technical precision, for all surface design techniques including but not limited to printing, embroidery, and embellishment. Deliver clean, production-ready artwork and maintains accountability through strike-off/sampling and approval stages
• Interpret seasonal color direction, concept and trends, elevating print and surface designs across channels and fabrications while designing thoughtfully within production parameters
• Collaborate with product design to create unique seasonal artwork that fits their silhouettes and the concept for each season
• Work with product design, product development, and material development throughout the development process to ensure artwork meets vendor, costing, and execution requirements
• Stay current on industry trends and artwork techniques
• Maintain a high level of aesthetic judgement and effectively translate trends into artwork while cohesively creating an overall artwork collection
• Foster collaboration and accountability. Model high standards and reinforce shared expectations
• Maintain art/color records in PLM (FlexPLM) and production line creation tool (VibeIQ) as well as keep the design studio artwork wall up to date
• Mentor assistant/associate surface designers, where appropriate, to complete projects on time, ensure their work meets objectives, and teach new skills
• Contribute positively to the design team dynamic by performing all tasks with a willing attitude, strong sense of urgency, and dedication to the company by creatively designing into the brand aesthetic
• Other duties as needed or assigned

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

High school graduate. Bachelor's degree in textile design, graphic design, or related field preferred

5+ years experience in designing, managing and manipulating surface designs on textiles

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated artistic ability to draw, sketch and illustrate
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and production-ready file standards. Proficiency in Adobe Create Suite and other design tools a plus. FlexPLM, VibeIQ, and Epson wide-format printer use experience a plus
• Experience in the fashion industry strongly preferred, strong background in surface design
• Creative eye for color
• Superior score (>16) on Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test and fluent in Pantone systems across creative and production settings
• Knowledge of textile printing, embroidery, embellishment and surface design industry
• Good Mac and/or PC skills utilizing Microsoft Office software
• Detail-oriented, well-organized and excellent time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Proactive, adaptable with the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong team player

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

• Please submit a portfolio featuring: Original hand-created and digital artwork
• Seamless repeat patterns
• Florals, paisley, conversational/novelty prints and supporting print designs
• Colorway development
• Border, engineered or placement artwork
• Examples of artwork applied to finished products

ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment. Utilizing an office desk - sitting, reading, listening, or speaking with the ability to move intermittently throughout the day
• Strong sensory skills, such as good eyesight, good hearing, and dexterity
• Ability to operate office equipment, including computers, copiers, fax machines, and phones

We are proud of the competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefit package provided to our associates and their families. Our compensati