Surface Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram and  LinkedIn.

POSITION TITLE

Designer, Commercial Printed Carpet

LOCATION

Spartanburg, SC or LaGrange, GA

Hybrid schedule: Three days on-site and two days remote

Portfolio Required: Please submit a portfolio demonstrating surface design, textile design, pattern development, illustration, or other relevant creative work. Student, internship, freelance, and professional projects are welcome. Portfolios should demonstrate both finished work and elements of the creative process.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Designer, Commercial Printed Carpet supports the development of innovative carpet designs for workplace, education, and healthcare environments. This early-career opportunity is ideal for a designer with a strong foundation in surface pattern, color, composition, and visual storytelling who is interested in applying those skills within a commercial product and manufacturing environment.

Working closely with experienced designers and cross-functional partners, this position contributes to the full design process—from research and concept development through pattern creation, color exploration, sampling, and production preparation.

The Designer will gain hands-on experience translating creative ideas into commercial flooring products that are visually compelling, technically achievable, and designed to perform in real spaces.

This position reports to the VP of Marketing & Design, Milliken Flooring, and partners closely with Design, Product Development, Manufacturing, and Marketing.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the creation of commercial printed carpet designs from initial research and concept development through pattern refinement and production preparation.
• Develop original two-dimensional patterns using strong principles of composition, color, scale, texture, and repetition.
• Create seamless repeats, modular patterns, and coordinated design variations for use across commercial flooring collections.
• Contribute to the development of cohesive collections with consistent design intent, pattern relationships, and color stories.
• Research emerging trends in interiors, textiles, architecture, art, culture, color, and materials.
• Translate research and inspiration into mood boards, sketches, digital artwork, color studies, and product concepts.
• Prepare and refine digital design files based on creative direction and production requirements.
• Collaborate with Product Development and Manufacturing to learn how design concepts are translated into manufacturable flooring products.
• Participate in sampling reviews and support pattern, scale, and color adjustments.
• Assist with customer-specific design requests, presentations, and visualization needs.
• Collaborate with Marketing to support collection storytelling, naming, imagery, and product-launch materials.
• Organize design files, samples, color references, project documentation, and other creative assets.
• Manage assigned projects and design deliverables while meeting established timelines.
• Participate actively in design critiques, team discussions, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Remain open to feedback and demonstrate a willingness to learn new processes, technologies, and manufacturing capabilities.

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in textile design, fibers, surface design, illustration, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, or a related creative field.
• Recent graduates and candidates with up to three years of relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
• A portfolio demonstrating strength in pattern, color, composition, illustration, textile design, surface design, or related creative work.
• Understanding of basic pattern-development principles, including repeat, scale, rhythm, balance, and color relationships.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
• Ability to translate research, inspiration, and creative concepts into original visual designs.
• Strong attention to detail and an ability to organize multiple files, assignments, and deadlines.
• Effective written, verbal, and visual communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to receive, interpret, and apply creative feedback.
• Interest in commercial interiors, textile products, flooring, materials, or manufacturing.
• Ability to work within the hybrid schedule and regularly collaborate on-site in Spartanburg, South Carolina, or LaGrange, Georgia

The successful candidate will have strengths in the following:

• A strong creative point of view with curiosity about color, pattern, materials, and interiors.
• A thoughtful portfolio that shows both finished designs and the process used to develop them.
• Willingness to explore ideas, experiment creatively, and refine work based on feedback.
• Ability to balance individual creativity with project objectives, customer needs, and technical considerations.
• A collaborative, positive, and solution-oriented approach.
• Strong curiosity about how creative concepts become manufactured products.
• An interest in building a career within commercial textile and flooring design.

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Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact TalentAcquisition@milliken.com.