Product Designer - Hard Surface Flooring

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Hard Surface Flooring

Company: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Location: Dalton, Georgia, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Industrial Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to the creation of innovative and commercially viable hard-surface flooring products, focusing on visual design, color, and pattern development for residential brands.

• The Product Designer will leverage consumer insights, market trends, and competitive analysis to conceptualize and develop new flooring designs across resilient, laminate, and hardwood categories.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product development, manufacturing, and global sourcing partners, is critical for translating creative concepts into manufacturable products.

• This position requires advanced proficiency in design software, particularly Adobe Photoshop, for image editing, pattern development, and asset creation supporting product visualization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the extensive focus on visual elements like color, pattern, surface design, and the use of Adobe Photoshop strongly indicates a specialization within visual design, bridging product design and graphic/surface design within the context of hard-surface flooring. The "Residential Hard Surfaces Product Designer" description solidifies this.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop original product visuals, colorways, patterns, surface designs, and cohesive concept collections for Shaw Residential's hard-surface flooring categories (resilient, laminate, hardwood).

• Utilize Adobe Photoshop for advanced image editing, creating repeatable layouts, scaling patterns, and generating essential design assets for product development and marketing materials.

• Translate consumer insights, in-depth trend research, competitive intelligence, and identified market opportunities into commercially relevant and appealing design solutions.

• Partner closely with Product Development, Manufacturing, Sourcing, and global supplier teams to refine and validate design concepts, ensuring feasibility based on materials, product construction, manufacturing capabilities, and technical specifications.

• Create and maintain coordinated design stories, palettes, and visual platforms to ensure brand differentiation and market relevance across various residential brands, product categories, and distribution channels.

• Generate a high volume of diverse design concepts to support immediate product development priorities and explore future innovation opportunities.

• Proactively research and explore emerging trends, novel materials, cutting-edge technologies, advanced manufacturing processes, and evolving consumer preferences to identify potential product gaps and future market opportunities.

• Establish, organize, and meticulously document physical and digital product, material, and design libraries to ensure easy accessibility, foster collaboration, and maintain long-term asset value.

• Present compelling product concepts, insightful trend analyses, and strategic design recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders, effectively incorporating feedback to guide future design directions.

• Facilitate seamless collaboration across diverse geographical regions and time zones, including proactive engagement with Asia-Pacific sourcing and manufacturing partners to support global product design and development initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a hands-on design role with a strong emphasis on visual creation and translation into manufacturing specifications. The mention of "design assets" suggests a need for understanding how designs are used beyond just the physical product, potentially including marketing and digital platforms.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Textile Design, Surface Design, or a closely related field.

Experience: Two to five years of professional design experience, with a demonstrated track record in creating visually compelling designs for manufactured products.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with a strong emphasis on Adobe Photoshop for photo editing, image manipulation, pattern development, and color adjustments.

• Solid understanding of fundamental design principles, including color theory, pattern, scale, composition, and layout.

• Expertise in trend forecasting methodologies and the ability to apply them to product design.

• Proven ability to translate abstract creative concepts into clear, actionable visual assets for product development and manufacturing teams.

• Experience in organizing and maintaining digital and physical design libraries.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across global time zones, including occasional evening calls. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience designing for hard-surface flooring, ceramic tile, wallcoverings, decorative surfaces, packaging, or similar manufactured products involving pattern, material, and construction.

• Specific experience with resilient flooring, laminate, hardwood, tile, or expertise in wood visuals, stone visuals, repeat patterns, or general surface design.

• Demonstrated experience in translating consumer insights, design trends, and market research into successful manufactured product solutions.

• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, material science, product construction, sampling techniques, sourcing procedures, and commercialization pathways.

• Experience working collaboratively with technical teams, manufacturers, global suppliers, or cross-functional product development groups.

• A robust portfolio showcasing strong Photoshop skills, exceptional color sense, pattern execution, and layout capabilities in product, industrial, graphic, packaging, surface, or retail environment design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "highly preferred" qualifications are critical for candidates to highlight. They indicate a strong bias towards candidates with direct experience in flooring or related hard-surface materials, and a deep understanding of the manufacturing and commercialization process, not just the aesthetic creation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong foundation in visual design principles, color theory, and pattern development.

• Case studies showcasing the end-to-end design process, from initial concept generation and trend research to final design execution and translation for manufacturing.

• Examples of work created using Adobe Photoshop, highlighting advanced image manipulation, pattern creation, and layout design capabilities relevant to product visualization.

• Visualizations of design concepts for manufactured products, ideally including hard-surface flooring, resilient, laminate, or hardwood, demonstrating an understanding of material properties and visual appeal.

• Documentation of how design concepts were refined based on technical constraints, manufacturing capabilities, or material limitations. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how design concepts were translated into technical specifications or assets suitable for product development and manufacturing partners.

• Documentation of research methodologies used for trend forecasting, consumer insights, and market analysis that informed design decisions.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams (e.g., product development, manufacturing, sourcing) during the design process, potentially including shared documentation or feedback loops.

• Demonstrations of how design libraries (physical or digital) are organized and maintained for accessibility and future reference.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role like this, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to showcase not just aesthetic talent but also the ability to understand and apply technical constraints and collaborate effectively with technical teams. The emphasis on "translation" and "feasibility" suggests a need to show how designs move from concept to reality.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 2-5 years of experience in the flooring or home furnishings sector in Georgia, the estimated salary range is $60,000 - $85,000 annually. This estimation considers the hybrid work model, the required advanced software skills, and the specific industry focus.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans.

• Life Insurance and Disability Coverage for financial security.

• Tuition Reimbursement to support continued education and skill development.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) for tax-advantaged healthcare savings.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) for work-life balance.

• Parental Leave to support new parents.

• 401K and Retirement Plans to secure future financial well-being.

• Exclusive Product Discounts for employees on Shaw products.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a standard 8-hour shift per day. The schedule involves non-rotating shifts starting in the AM, with specific daily hours to be confirmed. This is a hybrid role requiring approximately four days per week in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for similar roles in the Dalton, Georgia area, considering the experience level and specialized nature of the product design. The benefits listed are directly from the provided text.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Shaw Industries Group, Inc. operates within the broader Manufacturing and Home Furnishings sector, with a specific focus on flooring and surface solutions. This industry is characterized by innovation in materials, design, sustainability, and operational efficiency. As a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Shaw benefits from a stable and growth-oriented corporate backing.

Company Size: With approximately 18,000 associates worldwide and over $5 billion in annual sales, Shaw is a large, established enterprise. This size indicates robust resources, established processes, and opportunities for cross-functional interaction and potential career advancement within a significant organization.

Founded: Shaw Industries was founded in 1946, with its headquarters in Dalton, Georgia. This long history signifies stability, deep industry expertise, and a strong foundation in carpet and flooring manufacturing, now expanded to a comprehensive range of surface solutions.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a larger Product Development or Design division. It comprises specialists focused on different aspects of design and product creation.

• Reporting structure is expected to be hierarchical, with designers reporting to a Design Manager or Director, who in turn may report to a VP of Product Development or similar executive.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key element, involving close partnerships with Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, Sourcing, and external suppliers to ensure designs are market-relevant, manufacturable, and commercially successful. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights methods are employed through market research, consumer trend analysis, and competitive intelligence to inform design directions.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are applied to manage the design process efficiently, from concept ideation to final product specification, ensuring timely delivery.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely integrated through the use of design software and digital tools to streamline asset creation, pattern development, and library management.

Company Website: https://careers.shawinc.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Shaw's position as a major player in the flooring industry, emphasizing its long-standing history and broad product portfolio. The size and structure suggest a professional environment with established operational procedures and a focus on cross-functional teamwork essential for product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Product Designer role is positioned at an intermediate level, typically requiring 2-5 years of professional experience. It involves hands-on design work with significant responsibility for conceptualizing and developing product visuals that directly impact commercial success. The role requires a blend of creative talent and practical application, translating design concepts into manufacturable realities.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Lead Designer, who oversees the creative output and strategic direction of the design team. This manager would then report to higher levels of product development or marketing leadership. Collaboration will extend across various departments, including product development, manufacturing, and sourcing.

Operations Impact: The designs created by this role directly influence product lines, market appeal, and sales performance for Shaw Residential's hard-surface flooring. Successful designs contribute to revenue generation, brand positioning, and market share by meeting consumer demands and differentiating Shaw's offerings from competitors. The ability to translate trends into commercially viable products is a key driver of business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific hard-surface flooring categories (e.g., resilient, laminate, wood visuals) or advanced design techniques.

• Leadership: Progress to Senior Product Designer, Lead Designer, or Design Manager roles, overseeing projects, mentoring junior designers, and shaping design strategy.

• Cross-Functional Roles: Transition into Product Management, Marketing, or Trend Forecasting roles, leveraging design expertise in broader business functions.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to attend industry trade shows, workshops, and training sessions to stay abreast of the latest design trends, materials, and software technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities emphasize both deepening design expertise and branching into related business functions, typical for creative professionals in a large manufacturing company. The "Operations Impact" section highlights how design directly ties into the company's revenue and market success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a hybrid role, meaning a combination of remote work and in-office presence. The primary work location will be Shaw's corporate campus in Dalton, Georgia. The office environment is expected to be professional and collaborative, supporting team interaction and access to necessary resources.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Dalton, Georgia (Postal Code: 30720). This is Shaw's corporate headquarters, suggesting a central hub for design, product development, and strategic decision-making.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting is designed to foster collaboration among designers, product developers, marketing teams, and manufacturing liaisons, facilitating brainstorming and feedback sessions.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite), potentially 3D modeling tools, physical material samples, and other resources essential for product design.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person meetings, design reviews, and informal discussions with colleagues, which are crucial for creative synergy and problem-solving in design.

Work Schedule: The role requires approximately four days per week in the office, with a standard 40-hour work week. Shifts are typically 8 hours, starting in the AM, with specific daily timings to be confirmed. This schedule balances the need for in-person collaboration with the flexibility of a hybrid arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment. The emphasis on four days in the office suggests a strong need for in-person collaboration, likely due to the nature of design reviews and team-based creative processes.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and design experience.

• Skills Assessment: Potential technical assessment or portfolio presentation focused on Adobe Photoshop proficiency, color/pattern development, and design process.

• Behavioral Interviews: Questions assessing competencies such as planning, organization, communication, innovation, relationship-building, and adaptability.

• Cross-Functional Panel Interview: Discussions with members from Product Development, Marketing, and potentially Manufacturing to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of the product lifecycle.

• Final Interview: Meeting with hiring leadership to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Photoshop Mastery: Highlight specific examples demonstrating advanced Photoshop techniques for image editing, pattern creation, and layout design as applied to product visuals.

• Illustrate Design Process: Clearly articulate your approach from concept ideation and trend research to final design execution, emphasizing how you translate insights into tangible designs.

• Demonstrate Technical Understanding: Include projects that show how you considered materials, manufacturing constraints, and product construction in your design decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, showcase projects where you worked with cross-functional teams, explaining your role and contributions to the collaborative process.

• Curate for Relevance: Prioritize projects most relevant to hard-surface flooring, patterns, colorways, and surface design. Ensure a strong representation of your work with repeatable patterns and visual assets.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you approach trend forecasting and consumer insight translation into design.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, explaining the "why" behind your creative choices.

• Research Shaw Industries' current product lines and understand their brand aesthetic to align your presentation with their market position.

• Prepare questions that demonstrate your understanding of the product development cycle, manufacturing considerations, and the flooring industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are critical for this role. Candidates should expect a rigorous assessment of both their creative skills and their ability to integrate design with commercial and manufacturing realities. The emphasis on Photoshop and pattern development means the portfolio should be a strong showcase of these specific skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Advanced Proficiency): Specifically Adobe Photoshop for all image editing, pattern development, layout creation, and asset generation.

• Adobe Illustrator: Likely used for vector-based pattern creation, logo work, or detailed graphic elements.

• Adobe InDesign: Potentially used for creating presentation decks, mood boards, or design documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for the designer, understanding how design performance is measured through market data, sales figures, and consumer feedback is crucial. This might involve familiarity with internal reporting dashboards or market research data. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design tasks, but awareness of how design assets are managed and distributed within a larger system (e.g., PDM - Product Data Management or DAM - Digital Asset Management systems) would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily weighted towards Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop. This is a core requirement and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency. Any experience with tools for managing digital assets or product data would be a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to create fresh, trend-forward designs that push the boundaries of hard-surface flooring aesthetics and functionality.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (product development, manufacturing, marketing) to bring designs to market successfully.

• Customer Focus: Designing with an understanding of consumer needs, preferences, and market trends to ensure commercial relevance and appeal.

• Quality & Excellence: A commitment to producing high-quality design visuals and contributing to the creation of superior-quality products.

• Efficiency: Streamlining the design process through effective use of tools and clear communication to meet development timelines.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with product development, manufacturing, and sourcing teams to ensure designs are technically feasible and commercially viable.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to constructive criticism and iterative design processes, incorporating feedback from stakeholders to refine concepts.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to design libraries and sharing insights on trends, materials, and techniques with team members.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication, especially with global partners, to ensure alignment and address potential issues promptly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values emphasize a blend of creative output with practical application and strong teamwork. The "operations" aspect here refers to the internal processes and collaborative methods that enable the design function to operate effectively within the larger business.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Commercial Viability: The constant need to generate innovative designs that also meet strict manufacturing constraints, material limitations, and market demands.

• Global Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with international teams (e.g., Asia-Pacific partners) across different time zones, cultures, and communication styles.

• Rapid Trend Cycles: Keeping pace with evolving design trends, consumer preferences, and technological advancements in the fast-moving flooring industry.

• Translating Abstract Concepts: Clearly articulating and translating complex design ideas and visual concepts into actionable specifications for technical and manufacturing teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Trend Forecasting & Market Analysis: Opportunities to delve deeper into market research methodologies, attend industry conferences (e.g., Domotex, NeoCon), and develop advanced trend forecasting skills.

• Material & Manufacturing Expertise: Gaining a deeper understanding of hard-surface flooring materials, construction methods, and manufacturing processes through collaboration with R&D and production teams.

• Advanced Design Software: Potential for training in new design software, 3D visualization tools, or CAD programs relevant to product design and prototyping.

• Brand Strategy & Product Management: Learning how design integrates with broader brand strategy and product lifecycle management, potentially leading to roles in product management or marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic and demanding nature of product design in a large manufacturing company, requiring adaptability and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are designed to foster continuous learning and career progression within Shaw's extensive organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating a broad trend forecast or consumer insight into a specific product design for hard-surface flooring. Walk us through a past example." (Focus on your methodology, Photoshop use, and consideration of materials/manufacturing).

• "How do you ensure your designs are commercially viable and manufacturable within given constraints? Provide an example of a design challenge you faced and how you resolved it." (Focus on collaboration with technical teams and problem-solving).

• "Imagine we need a new collection of resilient flooring inspired by natural wood textures, but with a modern, abstract twist. What are your initial steps, and how would you approach developing the visual assets?" (Demonstrate your creative process and Photoshop application). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Shaw Industries and our position in the hard-surface flooring market?" (Research Shaw's brands, recent innovations, and market presence).

• "How do you approach collaboration with teams in different regions and time zones, particularly with manufacturing partners?" (Highlight your communication and cross-cultural collaboration skills).

• "How do you stay current with design trends in the flooring industry and beyond?" (Showcase your proactive approach to learning and trend research). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation to tell a story for each project: the problem/opportunity, your creative process, the tools used (especially Photoshop), the solution, and the impact (if known).

• Highlight Photoshop Skills: For each relevant project, specifically point out how you used Photoshop for image editing, pattern repetition, colorway development, and creating final assets.

• Showcase Design Process: Clearly illustrate your research, ideation, concept development, and refinement stages. Use mood boards, sketches, and digital mockups effectively.

• Address Constraints: If applicable, discuss how you incorporated material properties, manufacturing limitations, or cost considerations into your design decisions.

• Tailor to Shaw: Emphasize projects that align with Shaw's product categories and aesthetic sensibilities. Be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy fits with their brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of both creative design principles and the practical realities of product development in a manufacturing context. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Shaw careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your design portfolio to prominently feature projects showcasing advanced Adobe Photoshop skills, pattern development, colorway creation, and surface design, ideally related to flooring or similar manufactured goods. Include case studies that illustrate your design process from concept to execution.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 2-5 years of relevant design experience, advanced Photoshop proficiency, and any experience with hard-surface flooring, manufacturing, or cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design rationale, creative process, and problem-solving skills. Prepare to discuss your experience with trend forecasting, consumer insights, and collaboration with technical teams. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Shaw Industries, its various brands (especially residential hard surfaces), its market position, and recent product innovations. Understand their commitment to design and manufacturing excellence.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.