Junior CAD Designer

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Cathay Home is a well-established, privately-owned bedding company with a beautiful showroom located right on 5th Avenue in NYC. We partner with major global retailers to design and manufacture comforters, quilts, sheets, plush blankets, decorative pillows, and bath textiles. We develop both proprietary licensed brands and private-label collections. Our close-knit, collaborative design team is looking for a Junior Designer to bring fresh perspectives to our fast-paced studio.

• Creative Ownership:
  Bridge the gap between high-level trend forecasting and real-world commercial products. You will see your designs on the shelves of major retail brands.
• Global Exposure:
  Collaborate daily with overseas production partners and gain unique insight into international trade and manufacturing.
• Mentorship &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Join a supportive 4-person design team that is eager to help you transition from the classroom to the industry.

In this role, you will support our design team by creating production-ready textile prints, executing colorways, and assisting in the development of our bedding and bath categories. You’ll be the creative force behind original artwork, helping translate initial inspiration and trend concepts into factory-ready repeats.

• CAD & Print Development:
  Create original, commercially viable repeat prints and colorways in a fast-paced environment.
• Artwork Preparation:
  Clean, color-reduce, and recolor existing print designs. Prepare final, factory-ready artwork files.
• Production Liaison:
  Work alongside our production team to review pre-production lab-dips and factory strike-offs, providing constructive color comments and approvals.
• Trend Research:
  Continuously research emerging print/graphic concepts, color stories, and competitive market trends to inspire new collections.
• Cross-Functional Support:
  Work closely with the design team to ensure artwork is prepared efficiently, helping set and meet critical production deadlines.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) in Textile Design, Surface Pattern Design, Apparel Design, or a related field.
• Experience:
  
  2-5 years of experience in textile or graphic design.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Familiarity with creating technical repeats and indexing colors is a major plus.
• Design Versatility:
  Ability to also think outside of the box. Originality is key. An open, adaptable aesthetic style with the ability to pivot between different private-label client aesthetics.
• Mindset: A healthy curiosity and desire to learn the manufacturing and business side of soft home goods.