Associate Surface Designer

Vera Bradley•Roanoke, IN

About The Position

The Associate Surface Designer supports the design team in creating surface designs that meet design objectives and contribute to the brand vision. The role translates trend and concept direction into production-ready prints and surface designs, helps develop cohesive artwork across silhouettes and categories, collaborates cross-functionally on development needs, and maintains technical accuracy from concept through approval. The position creates and engineers artwork for home, wearables, and other categories, prepares production-ready files, and maintains artwork and color records in FlexPLM and VibeIQ. It works with product design, product development, and material development to ensure artwork meets vendor, costing, and execution requirements. The designer also tracks trends and techniques, supports the organization and distribution of artwork and standards, and contributes to a collaborative, accountable design team. The role is based in an office environment and involves desk work, intermittent movement, use of office equipment, and sensory and dexterity demands. The employer describes a competitive benefits package, including health coverage, insurance, retirement savings, paid time off, wellness resources, product discounts, and additional programs. The posted base pay range is $58,100 to $79,850; individual pay depends on work location, skills, experience, and relevant education.

Requirements

High school graduate.
At least 2 years of experience designing, managing, and manipulating surface designs on textiles.
Ability to draw, sketch, and illustrate.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and production-ready file standards.
Strong background in surface design and knowledge of textile printing, embroidery, embellishment, and the surface-design industry.
Superior score (greater than 16) on the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test and fluency in Pantone systems across creative and production settings.
Good Mac and/or PC skills, including use of Microsoft Office software.
Detail-oriented, well-organized, and able to manage time effectively.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Proactive and adaptable, with the ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and perform in a fast-paced environment.
Strong team player.
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; and examples applied to finished products.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in textile design, graphic design, or a related field.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and other design tools.
Experience with FlexPLM, VibeIQ, and Epson wide-format printers.
Fashion-industry experience.

Responsibilities

Create complementary and coordinating print and surface designs; rework layouts and repeats; and recolor artwork within production parameters.
Create style-specific artwork for home, wearables, and other categories.
Engineer surface-design repeats, placements, and complex files with technical precision for printing, embroidery, embellishment, and other surface-design techniques.
Deliver clean, production-ready artwork and maintain accountability through strike-off, sampling, and approval stages.
Prepare production-ready artwork files and maintain art and color records in FlexPLM and VibeIQ; keep the design studio artwork wall current.
Collaborate with product design, product development, and material development throughout development to ensure artwork meets vendor, costing, and execution requirements.
Stay current on industry trends and artwork techniques.
Translate trends into artwork with strong aesthetic judgment while developing a cohesive artwork collection.
Assist with organizing and distributing vector files and paper standards to cross-functional partners, licensees, and vendors.
Foster collaboration and accountability, model high standards, and reinforce shared expectations.
Contribute positively to the design team by completing tasks with urgency, a willing attitude, and dedication to designing within the brand aesthetic.
Perform other duties as needed or assigned.

Benefits

Medical plan options, including HDHP/HSA and PPO plans
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Flexible spending accounts
Employer-provided life insurance equal to two times salary
Accidental death and disability insurance
Voluntary life insurance for employees, spouses, and children
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
401(k) with company match and immediate vesting, subject to age and service requirements
Professionally managed retirement funds
Up to three weeks of paid time off in the first year, with an opportunity to earn more
Nine paid holidays per year
Paid bereavement leave
Voluntary time off for community service
Financial, physical, and mental wellness resources
Employee Assistance Program, including unlimited no-cost telephonic counseling
Leadership development, skill development, and career advancement opportunities
Employee discount on Vera Bradley products
Bonus opportunity
Identity protection
Legal services
Pet insurance
Cell phone discount
Employee referral bonus
Annual birthday gift
DailyPay
Corporate fitness facility
Individual policies through Aflac