A wallpaper designer creates designs for use in wallpaper production. A wallpaper designer typically has a background in art, graphic design, or textiles, as well as a broad understanding of current home decor trends. Wallpaper manufacturers typically hire designers to create new products, but some wallpaper designers work as freelancers or on a contract basis for larger companies.
Employers typically demand that wallpaper designers have a bachelor’s degree in art or a master’s degree in industrial design. Fabric-backed wallpaper manufacturers typically hire designers with a background in the textiles industry or a textile-related college degree. During the interview process, job candidates are typically expected to present a portfolio of design work. Many companies hire art students as interns, and these internships frequently turn into full-time jobs once the students graduate. Companies hire designers whose work is consistent with the overall style of the wallpaper lines they produce.
A wallpaper designer usually starts working on a new line of wallpaper six months to a year before it goes on the market. Designers must be able to forecast which styles will be in high demand in the near future. Wallpaper designers go to conventions to learn about new design techniques and industry trends. Most wallpaper designers also keep up with the fashion industry to see which colors are coming into style and which are going out of style, as fashion trends often influence people’s tastes in terms of interior design.
Designers conduct research to learn about wallpaper designs that were popular in previous centuries, as well as lines of wallpaper that have been popular in recent decades. Many designers attempt to create modern interpretations of classic designs in new wallpapers. Fabric was frequently used in traditional wallpapers, and adding fabric to a modern wallpaper design often raises production costs. Designers must calculate the cost of producing a classic style design and consult with production managers to determine whether it is more cost effective to produce a paper or fabric-based design.
During the design process, the wallpaper designer uses computer programs to create preliminary designs, which are then turned into paper or fabric samples. Because some colors don’t look as bold on certain types of materials, designers adjust the color scheme to ensure that the final product matches the design’s color scheme. If their product lines prove to be popular, larger manufacturing firms frequently recruit successful designers.