Surface Pattern & Textile Designer – Original Fabric Collections

# Surface Pattern & Textile Designer — Original Fabric Collections

---------- is looking for a highly creative **artist, illustrator, and surface pattern designer** located in the Philippines to work directly with our team developing original fabric designs and complete fabric collections.

**Starting Pay: $5.00 USD/hour**
**Schedule: Part-Time to Start**
**Location: Remote — Philippines**
**Opportunity: Long-term position with potential for additional hours and responsibilities**

Please read this entire job posting carefully before applying. This is a specialized creative position, and we are looking for a very specific type of person.

## ABOUT THREADWORKS

---------- is a growing U.S.-based online retailer specializing in sewing, quilting, fabric, notions, machines, accessories, and other products for the sewing and quilting community.

We are now working toward an exciting new part of the business:

**Developing our own original fabric designs and collections.**

We want to build fabric collections that are unique to ThreadWorks — designs that can eventually be professionally printed, manufactured, photographed, marketed, sold online, and used by real customers in quilts and sewing projects.

We are looking for someone who can become an important part of that creative process.

This position will begin part-time. We are interested in developing a long-term relationship with the right designer, and there may be opportunities for the role and number of hours to grow as our original fabric program expands.

---

# THIS IS NOT A BASIC GRAPHIC DESIGN JOB

Please understand this before applying.

We are NOT primarily looking for someone to create:

* Canva templates
* Social media posts
* Facebook advertisements
* Basic website banners
* Logos
* Marketing flyers

We are looking for an **actual artist and designer**.

Someone who can start with a blank canvas and CREATE.

You should be able to draw, illustrate, develop original motifs, create patterns, understand color, brainstorm concepts, and eventually turn those ideas into professional seamless repeating designs suitable for printing on fabric.

Being technically good with Adobe Illustrator is valuable, but technical software ability alone is not enough.

**Creativity is one of the most important requirements for this position.**

---

# HOW WE WILL WORK TOGETHER

This will be a collaborative creative position.

Sometimes ThreadWorks will provide you with a very specific concept.

Other times, we may give you only a general direction.

For example, we might simply tell you:

**"Let's create a Southwest-inspired fabric collection."**

We do NOT want a designer who then needs us to tell them exactly what to draw, exactly where to place everything, and exactly which colors to use.

We want you to start thinking.

You might begin exploring:

* Desert wildflowers
* Cacti
* Agave
* Arizona landscapes
* Mountains
* Desert sunsets
* Western elements
* Horseshoes
* Cowboy boots
* Desert animals
* Southwestern geometric motifs
* Pottery-inspired shapes
* Turquoise
* Terracotta
* Rust
* Sage
* Sand
* Cream
* Warm sunset colors
* Tonal coordinates
* Small geometric patterns

But those are only examples.

**We want YOU to bring ideas that we haven't thought of.**

Maybe you take the concept in a completely different direction.

Great.

That's exactly the kind of creative thinking we're looking for.

---

# YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO BRING IDEAS TO THE TABLE

We do not want the creative relationship to be:

**We tell you exactly what to do ? You make it.**

We want:

**We have an idea ? You have ideas ? We brainstorm ? You sketch concepts ? We discuss them ? We select a direction ? You develop it ? We make revisions ? We develop coordinating prints ? We test colors ? We refine everything ? We build a complete collection.**

We want someone comfortable saying:

"I have another idea."

"What if we tried this?"

"I think this color palette might work better."

"What if we made this motif smaller?"

"I think this could become a great coordinating pattern."

"What if we developed a second colorway?"

"I don't think this design is strong enough yet. I have another direction I'd like to show you."

We WANT that.

We don't want someone who simply agrees with everything.

If you have a better creative idea, show us.

---

# YOU ARE NOT JUST DESIGNING ONE PIECE OF FABRIC

A major part of this position will eventually be understanding how to build **complete fabric collections**.

Imagine we create a collection inspired by the American Southwest.

We may eventually want that collection to contain:

**1. HERO PRINT**

The main statement fabric containing the most important illustrations and colors.

**2. SECONDARY PRINT**

A complementary design that supports the hero.

**3. SMALL-SCALE PRINT**

Something that works well when cut into small pieces for quilting.

**4. FLORAL OR MOTIF COORDINATE**

A pattern using individual elements from the main collection.

**5. GEOMETRIC COORDINATE**

A complementary geometric design.

**6. TONAL PRINT**

A subtle pattern that almost reads as a solid from a distance.

**7. BLENDER**

A versatile supporting fabric that customers can combine with stronger designs.

**8. STRIPE OR LINEAR DESIGN**

A pattern using the collection's colors and visual language.

And then some of those designs may have several colorways.

One concept could eventually become **10, 15, 20, or more individual fabrics.**

You need to eventually learn to think beyond:

**"Is this one pattern pretty?"**

Instead:

**"Does this belong in a collection, and what else needs to exist around it?"**

---

# YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Your work may include:

* Creating original illustrations
* Creating original fabric designs
* Developing seamless repeating patterns
* Creating pattern tiles
* Creating straight repeats
* Creating half-drop repeats when appropriate
* Developing hero prints
* Developing secondary prints
* Creating coordinating patterns
* Creating blenders
* Creating tonal designs
* Creating geometric designs
* Creating floral patterns
* Creating novelty prints
* Developing stripes
* Developing small-scale quilting prints
* Creating multiple colorways
* Creating professional color palettes
* Adjusting pattern scale
* Adjusting spacing and density
* Developing multiple concepts from a single idea
* Sketching concepts
* Brainstorming new collections
* Presenting your own ideas
* Researching design trends
* Researching quilting and fabric trends
* Researching color trends
* Developing seasonal concepts
* Making revisions based on feedback
* Preparing artwork for manufacturing
* Maintaining editable source files
* Exporting high-resolution artwork
* Maintaining organized collection folders
* Keeping versions and colorways organized
* Helping us develop an identifiable ThreadWorks design style

---

# WE CARE ABOUT COMMERCIAL DESIGN

Being artistic is extremely important, but we are ultimately creating products.

You need to learn to ask:

**Would someone actually buy this fabric?**

A beautiful illustration does not automatically make a great quilting fabric.

We need to consider:

* How the pattern repeats
* How it looks across a full yard
* How it looks when cut into small pieces
* Motif scale
* Negative space
* Color
* Pattern density
* How it coordinates with other prints
* Whether it works in a quilt
* Whether the collection feels cohesive
* Whether individual fabrics can sell independently
* Whether several fabrics encourage customers to purchase the collection together

You do NOT need to currently be an expert in quilting.

However, you must be willing and interested in learning about the customer we are designing for.

---

# TECHNICAL SKILLS

Experience with **Adobe Illustrator** is strongly preferred.

Experience with **Adobe Photoshop** and/or **Procreate** is also valuable.

You should ideally understand some or all of the following:

* Vector illustration
* Raster illustration
* Seamless repeats
* Pattern tiles
* Straight repeats
* Half-drop repeats
* Motif placement
* Pattern scale
* Negative space
* Color palettes
* Colorways
* Layer organization
* High-resolution artwork
* Production-ready artwork
* Vector vs. raster files
* Professional file exporting

If you are an exceptional artist but have limited textile experience, we may still consider you if you are willing and able to learn quickly.

---

# ARTISTIC ABILITY MATTERS MORE THAN A DEGREE

A college degree is NOT required.

We care about what you can actually create.

Potential backgrounds include:

* Surface pattern design
* Textile design
* Illustration
* Graphic design
* Fine art
* Fashion design
* Digital art
* Print design
* Product design

Self-taught artists are welcome to apply.

A strong portfolio will matter much more to us than a diploma.

---

# COLOR SKILLS

Color is extremely important in fabric.

We want someone with a strong eye for:

* Color harmony
* Contrast
* Value
* Saturation
* Warm vs. cool colors
* Neutrals
* Accent colors
* Seasonal palettes
* Commercial color combinations

We may take one pattern and create many colorways before d ---------- which ones should move forward.

You should enjoy experimenting.

---

# RESEARCH & INSPIRATION

Part of the position will involve creative research.

You may research:

* Current quilting fabric trends
* Upcoming seasonal trends
* Color trends
* Fashion
* Interior design
* Art
* Nature
* Architecture
* Vintage artwork
* Historical design
* Crafting trends
* Successful fabric collections

Research is for understanding the market and generating ideas.

**It is NOT permission to copy other designers.**

---

# ORIGINALITY & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

This requirement is extremely important.

All final artwork produced for ThreadWorks must be original and legally suitable for commercial use.

You may NOT:

* Copy existing fabric designs
* Trace another artist's illustrations
* Recreate a competitor's collection
* Download artwork from Google and use it
* Take artwork from Pinterest
* Use copyrighted characters without authorization
* Use trademarked logos without authorization
* Submit another artist's work as your own
* Use stock artwork and pretend you illustrated it
* Reuse another client's proprietary artwork

We want to create a genuine original design library for ThreadWorks.

---

# AI USAGE

If you use generative AI anywhere in your creative process, you MUST tell us.

AI may sometimes be useful for brainstorming and concept exploration, but we need to know exactly how artwork was created.

Do not submit AI-generated artwork and tell us that you personally illustrated it.

Production artwork must meet our requirements for:

* Originality
* Commercial usability
* Quality
* Editability
* Resolution
* Consistency

---

# SOURCE FILES & ORGANIZATION

Organization is extremely important.

We may eventually have hundreds or thousands of design files, versions, patterns, and colorways.

Your files must be professionally organized.

We expect:

* Logical file names
* Organized layers
* Editable source files
* Clearly separated colorways
* Version control
* Organized collection folders
* High-resolution exports
* Production files separated from concept files

We do NOT want files named:

**final-final-NEW-final2-USETHISONE.ai**

If you become part of our team, another person should be able to open your files and understand how they are organized.

Because communication and attention to detail are extremely important to this position, there is one small application instruction included here. **When submitting your application, include the exact words "ThreadWorks Fabric Designer" somewhere in the first paragraph of your application.** Do not put it in the subject line. This simply helps us identify applicants who carefully read the complete job description.

---

# ENGLISH & COMMUNICATION

Strong English communication is required.

You do NOT need to speak perfect American English.

However, you must be comfortable communicating directly with an English-speaking team.

You should be able to:

* Understand detailed written instructions
* Discuss creative ideas
* Explain your artistic decisions
* Ask questions
* Participate in brainstorming
* Understand feedback
* Explain problems
* Give progress updates
* Participate in occasional calls when needed

Both written and spoken English matter.

---

# YOU MUST BE COMFORTABLE WITH FEEDBACK

Creative work requires revisions.

Sometimes we may love the first design.

Sometimes we may ask for changes.

Sometimes we may explore a concept and d ---------- it isn't good enough.

Sometimes we may d ---------- to start over completely.

You need to be comfortable with constructive feedback.

We want someone who:

* Does not take revisions personally
* Listens carefully
* Asks questions
* Implements feedback accurately
* Can explain their own creative reasoning
* Suggests alternatives
* Improves over time
* Learns what ThreadWorks customers respond to

We do NOT want someone afraid to disagree creatively.

If you believe you have a better solution, explain it and show us.

---

# THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Our ideal candidate is:

* Highly creative
* Artistic
* Detail-oriented
* Dependable
* Honest
* Organized
* Curious
* Self-motivated
* Good at communicating
* Comfortable working independently
* Able to meet deadlines
* Open to constructive criticism
* Excited to learn
* Interested in long-term work
* Constantly noticing interesting colors, patterns, shapes, and ideas
* Capable of taking a broad concept and developing it further

We want someone who genuinely enjoys creating.

---

# PORTFOLIO REQUIRED

Do not apply without a portfolio.

We want to see your strongest work.

Please show examples of:

* Original illustrations
* Repeating patterns
* Surface pattern design
* Textile designs
* Fabric designs
* Florals
* Geometric designs
* Hand-drawn artwork
* Digital artwork
* Pattern collections
* Coordinating prints
* Different colorways

You do NOT need examples from every category.

We would rather see **10 excellent pieces than 100 average pieces.**

If you have created artwork that has actually been commercially printed, please show us.

---

# HOW TO APPLY

We want detailed applications.

Please do NOT send:

**"Hi, I am interested in this position. Please see my portfolio."**

That will not be enough.

Your application should tell us about YOU.

Please answer the following:

**1. What is your full name and where in the Philippines are you located?**

**2. Tell us about your background as an artist/designer.**

**3. How many years have you been designing?**

**4. Have you created seamless repeating patterns before? Explain your experience.**

**5. Have you ever designed fabric, wallpaper, stationery, wrapping paper, apparel, or another commercially printed product?**

**6. Which software do you use?**

Please specifically tell us your experience level with:

* Adobe Illustrator
* Adobe Photoshop
* Procreate
* Any other design software

**7. How much of the artwork in your portfolio was personally illustrated by you?**

**8. Do you use generative AI in your design workflow? If yes, explain exactly how.**

**9. Provide a direct link to your portfolio.**

**10. Choose THREE pieces from your portfolio that best represent your abilities and explain why you selected each one.**

**11. What is your written English level?**

**12. What is your spoken English level?**

**13. Are you comfortable occasionally discussing designs through a voice/video call?**

**14. How many hours per week are you currently available?**

**15. What hours do you normally work in Philippine Time?**

**16. Are you currently working for other clients or employers?**

**17. Are you interested in a long-term position if this role grows?**

**18. What type of artwork do you most enjoy creating?**

**19. What type of artwork do you believe you are best at creating?**

**20. Have you ever worked with a client who gave you a broad idea rather than exact instructions? Tell us about that experience.**

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# CREATIVE THINKING QUESTION

Do NOT create artwork for this question.

We simply want to understand how you think.

Imagine ThreadWorks tells you:

## "We want to develop an original fabric collection inspired by the American Southwest."

Give us **THREE completely different creative directions** you might explore.

For each direction, briefly describe:

* The overall concept
* Potential motifs
* The color palette
* The artistic style
* What the hero print could look like
* Two or three coordinating prints you might develop around it

There is no single correct answer.

We are looking for originality and creativity.

---

# DESIGN TEST FOR FINALISTS

After reviewing applications and portfolios, selected candidates may be invited to complete a small design test.

The test may involve taking a creative direction and developing an original fabric concept.

For example, we could ask you to develop:

* One original hero pattern
* One coordinating pattern
* One color palette
* A short explanation of your design choices

The test allows us to evaluate:

* Artistic ability
* Originality
* Pattern construction
* Color
* Commercial potential
* Creativity
* Attention to detail
* Ability to follow a brief
* Communication
* Ability to make revisions

**Any test requirements, time expectations, compensation, and rights to the resulting artwork will be explained to finalists before the test begins.**

---

# COMPENSATION & HOURS

**Starting compensation is $5.00 USD per hour.**

This position will begin **part-time**.

We want to start by learning how well we work together before increasing the size of the role.

We care much more about finding the right designer than immediately filling a large number of hours.

If you consistently:

* Produce excellent work
* Bring strong ideas
* Communicate well
* Stay organized
* Meet deadlines
* Take feedback well
* Understand our customers
* Become more independent
* Help us create commercially strong designs

there may be opportunities for additional hours and greater creative responsibility as the ThreadWorks fabric program expands.

---

# WHAT WE HOPE THIS BECOMES

We are not looking for someone to make a few patterns and disappear.

We would like to develop a long-term creative relationship with the right person.

At first, we may work closely together on individual concepts.

Over time, we want our designer to understand ThreadWorks, our customers, our preferences, and the quilting market well enough to become increasingly independent.

Eventually, we would love to be able to say:

**"Let's start working on a new fall collection."**

And have you come back with:

* Original concepts
* Mood directions
* Color palettes
* Motif ideas
* Hero-print ideas
* Coordinate ideas
* Multiple potential directions

Then we work together to choose the strongest concept and turn it into a real collection.

The end goal is not artwork that sits in a folder.

The goal is to create designs that eventually become **real bolts of fabric**.

Fabric that is manufactured.

Fabric that is photographed.

Fabric that is sold.

Fabric that customers cut and sew.

Fabric that becomes quilts, bags, clothing, gifts, and other projects.

And hopefully, over time, fabric collections that customers recognize as coming from **ThreadWorks**.

If the idea of eventually seeing something you designed become a real physical fabric excites you, we want to see your work.

Please make sure you have carefully followed **all application instructions contained throughout this posting** before submitting your application.