Freelance Surface Pattern Design Jobs in Illinois

About Coyuchi

For over 30 years, Coyuchi has been connecting people to the restorative power of natural textiles and premium organic home goods. Coyuchi created a market for luxury organic home textiles before there was one by crafting luxurious, coastal, and vintage-inspired bedding, bath, and home goods. Coyuchi sources the finest 100% certified organic fibers and continues to innovate its products and practices to move the industry and the consumer toward sustainability and circularity, pioneering conscious luxury without compromise.

The Coyuchi brand can be experienced across multiple channels including Coyuchi.com, our store in Point Reyes Station, a robust network of specialty retailers, hospitality accounts and partners like Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Amazon.

About the Role

The Design Director owns the design vision, direction, and hands-on execution for the Coyuchi brand — across every product category, from concept through development to launch. This is a player-coach role: you will set the creative strategy and cultivate the team that brings it to life, while staying personally close to the work. We're looking for a designer who leads with genuine passion for organic and luxury Home textiles — someone who wants to shape the design language of a category-defining brand.

Creative Vision & Design Leadership

• Refine and evolve Coyuchi’s design DNA — a home design point of view that is cohesive, differentiated, and recognizable and honors the brand’s heritage as a leader and innovator
• Amplify Coyuchi’s authority in organic practices, sustainable design innovation, exceptional quality, and California-inspired luxury
• Direct creative strategy across all categories (Bedding, Bath, Décor, Dining, Apparel), including direction for expansion into new categories to achieve the Company’s growth goals
• Monitor the competitive landscape in home furnishings and adjacent categories; translate trends and inspiration into Coyuchi’s point of view

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Directly manage and develop the Design team — set priorities, coach craft, and hold a consistent creative bar
• Direct freelancers and partners (fit models, technical designers, vendors, print and design studios)
• Set design guidelines to own consistency of design and construction detail across all product specs;

Hands-On Design & Process Ownership: Concept → Development → Launch

• Design product personally alongside the team — this is a hands-on role, not direction-only
• Prepare inspiration boards, develop color, pattern and print and test construction techniques to deliver briefed product and intended performance
• Complete specs and manage tech packs through to hand-off, in close collaboration with Merchandising, Sourcing and Product Development
• Review development samples, protos, swatches, and lab dips; evaluate strike-offs for color, print, and weaving against Coyuchi’s standards and asks
• Attend fit meetings and manage sample revisions through to final approval
• Travel to trade shows and vendor partners – for inspiration, reviews, vendor meetings (Global Travel)
• Manage the seasonal design process end to end — off-calendar innovation, seasonal assortments, and updates to existing programs — delivering inspiration, concept, color palette, materials, print, and pattern
• Own the Design and Development calendar, sequencing activities and timely hand-offs against business objectives and cross-functional accountabilities
• Partner with Sourcing and Merchandising, vendors, and suppliers on R&D and innovation — new products, finishes, treatments, substrates, and weaving/knitting techniques that meet Coyuchi’s standards (GOTS/GOLS/Fair Trade), quality, and commercial goals
• Communicate directly with vendors to execute new designs and products, including in-person meetings and vendor visits as needed

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Provide design inspiration and philosophy to Marketing to maintain a consistent point of view across the company, including input on product copy and photography and “big ideas” story telling
• Support Marketing initiatives that establish Coyuchi as a design authority — copy, photography, video, social, and media interviews as needed.

What We’re Looking For

• 7+ years of design experience in home textiles or home furnishings, ideally within a luxury or premium brand, including experience leading a design team
• Proven experience managing and developing a design team — including Go-to-Market calendar process accountabilities and hand-off management
• In-depth knowledge of material construction, weaving, knitting techniques, and dyeing processes
• Working knowledge of organic and sustainable practices and certifications (GOTS/GOLS/Fair Trade)
• Strong sense of style and color, with the ability to work across a range of materials and product types and translate market trends into Coyuchi’s DNA and aesthetic lenses
• Strong presentation, verbal, and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of global sourcing and production processes
• Bachelor’s degree in Art or Design, or equivalent experience
• Genuine passion for home textiles, natural fiber, and craft
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed