Apparel & Merchandise Designer

ATN HR Consulting•Alpharetta, GA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Swain Apparel Group is seeking a creative and detail-oriented Apparel & Merchandise Designer to develop original apparel, promotional product, and merchandise designs for a diverse portfolio of clients. This role is responsible for transforming client concepts into production-ready artwork while maintaining high standards of creativity, quality, and brand consistency. The ideal candidate has experience designing custom apparel and merchandise from concept to completion, understands garment decoration and production processes, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. This is a hands-on creative role requiring original design work-not simply modifying existing templates or artwork. This position is currently hybrid and based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Team members are expected to reliably commute to the office as business needs require.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Visual Communications, or a related field preferred.
Three (3) or more years of professional experience designing apparel, merchandise, promotional products, or related creative work.
Demonstrated experience creating original designs from concept to completion.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Experience preparing production-ready artwork for apparel decoration methods.
Strong understanding of typography, color theory, composition, and print production.
Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
A portfolio showcasing original apparel, merchandise, and graphic design work is required for consideration. Portfolios should demonstrate experience creating: Custom apparel designs Promotional merchandise Brand identity or campaign work Production-ready artwork Client-facing design projects

Nice To Haves

Experience in the custom apparel, promotional products, branded merchandise, or retail apparel industry.
Knowledge of garment construction, apparel decoration methods, and print production processes.
Experience creating technical artwork, mockups, and presentation materials.
Experience working in a high-volume creative or production environment.

Responsibilities

Create original apparel, merchandise, and promotional product designs for clients across a variety of industries.
Develop creative concepts that align with client branding, marketing objectives, and project requirements.
Produce original artwork, graphics, illustrations, typography, and layouts for apparel and merchandise applications.
Present design concepts and revisions based on client and internal feedback.
Prepare production-ready artwork for screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment (DTG), direct-to-film (DTF), sublimation, heat transfer, and other decoration methods.
Ensure artwork meets production specifications, color standards, sizing requirements, and vendor guidelines.
Review artwork carefully for quality, accuracy, and print readiness prior to production.
Collaborate with Sales, Account Managers, Production, and Leadership throughout the design process.
Translate client requests into creative solutions while balancing branding, functionality, and production requirements.
Participate in creative brainstorming sessions and contribute innovative design ideas.
Manage multiple design projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and production schedules.
Maintain organized digital files, artwork libraries, templates, and design assets.
Communicate project status and timelines effectively with internal stakeholders.
Stay current on apparel trends, decoration techniques, graphic design trends, and industry best practices.
Recommend creative approaches, production techniques, and design improvements that enhance client deliverables.