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Surface Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

LF Studios

Surface Design Coordinator

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

The Surface Design Coordinator supports the Surface Design Department by coordinating schedules, hand-offs, documentation, drawings, client submittals, and Production deliverables. A primary ...

Vera Bradley

Associate Surface Designer

Roanoke, IN · On-site

S/he will work within the Surface Design team to initiate and develop concepts each season that are fashion driven and reflective of the creative vision. This position requires advanced technical ...

Raya Workforce

Custom Design Director

New Albany, IN · On-site

Custom Design Director Location: New Albany, IN / Louisville, KY Metropolitan Area Job Type ... The ideal candidate is an experienced Interior Designer, Digital Artist, Art Director, or Surface ...

24 Seven Talent

Textile Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

We're looking for a talented Textile + Wallpaper Designer to join a collaborative design team creating trend-driven wallpaper and surface pattern collections. This is an exciting opportunity for ...

Into Design Systems

$85K/yr

The role involves designing next-generation in-store shopping experiences and owning a multi-surface design system that spans form factors and technology stacks, including Dash Cart, Self-Checkout ...

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How much do surface design jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for surface design in the United States is $57.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42.07 and $73.32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is surface design?

Surface design refers to the creation and application of artwork, patterns, or textures onto surfaces such as textiles, ceramics, paper, and other materials. Surface designers develop original motifs and repeat patterns, often using techniques like painting, drawing, digital illustration, or printmaking. Their work is widely used in industries like fashion, home decor, stationery, and product packaging. A career in surface design blends creativity with technical skills and often requires knowledge of digital design tools.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a surface designer?

To thrive as a Surface Designer, you need expertise in pattern creation, color theory, and an understanding of textile or product materials, often supported by a degree in surface design, textile design, or a related field. Proficiency with design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as familiarity with digital printing techniques, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help distinguish outstanding surface designers. These skills and qualities are crucial for creating visually appealing, market-ready designs that meet client or industry specifications.

What are the typical challenges surface designers face when collaborating with product development teams?

Surface designers often work closely with product development teams to ensure their patterns and textures are both visually appealing and technically feasible for manufacturing. A common challenge is balancing creative vision with production constraints, such as material limitations, color fastness, and print methods. Effective communication and flexibility are key, as designers may need to adjust their designs to meet technical requirements or feedback from other departments. Regular collaboration helps ensure the final product maintains design integrity while being practical to produce.

What is the difference between Surface Design vs Textile Design?

AspectSurface DesignTextile Design
CredentialsPortfolio, possibly a degree in design or related fieldDegree in textile design, fashion, or related field
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, print shops, digital platformsFabric mills, fashion houses, print studios
Industry UsageApplied to various surfaces like packaging, ceramics, wallpapersFocused on fabric and textile patterns for clothing, home decor

Surface Design involves creating patterns and visuals for a variety of surfaces, including packaging, ceramics, and wallpapers. Textile Design specifically focuses on designing patterns for fabrics used in fashion and home textiles. While both roles require strong artistic skills and knowledge of pattern creation, Surface Designers often work across multiple materials, whereas Textile Designers specialize in textiles and fabrics.

How much do surface designers make?

Surface designers typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior or specialized designers with strong portfolios and skills in design software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop can earn higher salaries, especially in competitive markets.

What does a surface designer do?

A surface designer creates patterns and artwork for surfaces such as textiles, wallpapers, packaging, and home decor. They use design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and often collaborate with manufacturers or brands to develop visually appealing designs that align with product specifications.
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Surface Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Surface Design job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,062 per year, or $57.7 per hour.

Surface Design Coordinator

Cincinnati, OH • On-site

LF Studios
See more jobs at LF Studiosexternal

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

LF Studios specializes in the design and fabrication of animatronic figures, sculpted elements, exhibits, and interactive experiences. Our work can be found in leading theme parks, museums, science centers, and entertainment spaces all over the world. We are seeking a Designer or skillful 3D modeler to help bring our figures and characters to life in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Surface Design Coordinator supports the Surface Design Department by coordinating schedules, hand-offs, documentation, drawings, client submittals, and Production deliverables.
A primary responsibility of this position is coordinating the flow of work and information between the Creative Development, Technical Surface Design, and Mechanical/Engineering teams, ensuring each discipline receives the information needed to begin and complete its work efficiently.
The Surface Design Coordinator works closely with designers, Project Management, and the Production Designer to ensure design deliverables are organized, complete, communicated clearly, and completed according to project schedules. 
Core Responsibilities:
  • Coordinate design schedules, priorities, reviews, deliverables, and hand-offs across the Surface Design Department.
  • Coordinate hand-offs and exchange of information between Creative Development, Technical Surface Design, and Mechanical/Engineering, tracking dependencies and ensuring each team has the information required to proceed.
  • Maintain visibility of active design tasks, upcoming deadlines, client reviews, approvals, and Production hand-offs.
  • Identify missing information, unresolved dependencies, schedule conflicts, and overdue deliverables and communicate them to the appropriate team members.
  • Work with designers to prepare and compile client design submittals, including models, renderings, drawings, reference information, and other supporting documentation.
  • Track client submittals, comments, approvals, revisions, and outstanding action items.
  • Assist designers with the preparation, formatting, organization, and revision of drawings and design documentation.
  • Work with the Production Designer and assigned designers to compile Character Methodology Sheets, shell drawings, fabrication information, and other Production documentation.
  • Coordinate Production hand-offs and ensure required documentation has received the appropriate review before release.
  • Maintain organized project records, drawings, revision histories, approvals, and current design documentation.
  • Help ensure affected teams are informed when revisions or design decisions impact their work.
  • Support department leadership with workload coordination and identification of upcoming resource or scheduling conflicts.

Design Review & Documentation:
  • Review complex Technical Surface Designs for production feasibility and alignment with established Production standards.
  • Review shell drawings and all Character Methodology Sheets for clarity, completeness, manufacturability, and consistency with the intended production methodology.
  • Work with the Design team to ensure documentation released to Production clearly and accurately communicates fabrication requirements, materials, tooling, assembly, and design intent.
  • Identify and resolve missing, unclear, conflicting, or incomplete production information before release.

Qualifications & Capabilities:
  • Strong organizational, communication, and coordination skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and deliverables simultaneously.
  • Strong attention to detail and document-control practices.
  • Ability to understand and follow multidisciplinary design and production workflows.
  • Comfortable working with technical drawings, 3D models, design documentation, and Production information.
  • Familiarity with CAD, 3D modeling, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, or comparable design and documentation software is preferred.
  • Ability to recognize missing or conflicting information and coordinate with the appropriate team member for resolution.
  • Experience with project coordination, design coordination, document control, product development, fabrication, or a related environment is preferred.

Accountabilities:
  • Accountable for maintaining visibility of Surface Design schedules, deliverables, reviews, and hand-offs.
  • Accountable for coordinating timely and organized hand-offs between Creative Development, Technical Surface Design, Mechanical/Engineering, and Production.
  • Accountable for ensuring client submittals and Production documentation are organized, complete, and routed through the appropriate review process.
  • Accountable for maintaining accurate records of design revisions, approvals, outstanding items, and documentation status.
  • Accountable for communicating missing information, schedule risks, unresolved dependencies, and overdue deliverables to the appropriate team members.