Sep 2010 — Now
Independent Creative Consultant | Trend, Concept, Color, Textile & E-Commerce Design · www.mariahpeters.com
I help brands bring fresh, meaningful design to life through trend, concept, color, and textile direction. From seasonal storytelling to custom print repeats and surface artwork, I create elevated, expressive design solutions that feel cohesive, intentional, and true to brand. I love working hands-on to build custom collections that make product feel unified, distinctive, and thoughtfully crafted.
Textile & Surface Design
From bold all-over prints to subtle graphic embellishments, I bring a strong eye for detail, pattern, and material to every project. My work spans apparel, accessories, and soft goods across women’s, men’s, and kids’ categories.
Branding & E-Commerce
In addition to product design, I build branding systems and full e-commerce websites—from visual identity and creative assets to designing and launching Shopify sites. I enjoy helping brands bring their story to life in a cohesive, polished way across digital touchpoints.
Creative Tech & AI Integration
I'm passionate about using AI tools to elevate my workflow—from building creative prompts and concept boards to exploring new visual directions and writing copy that supports campaigns and seasonal launches.
Clients include: Lole, GGBlue, Carbon38, 10:Counts Active, Pam & Gela, Amazon, Walmart, JanSport
Aug 2014 — May 2019
Sr. Manager - Print & Textile Design ·
AthletaAs Senior Manager of Print & Textile Design at Athleta, I led a talented team of in-house and freelance designers in creating all-over prints, engineered layouts, and graphic novelties across women’s and girls’ performance and lifestyle apparel. I collaborated closely with cross-functional partners—from Design and Product Development to Sourcing and Merchandising—to bring collections to life with compelling, technically sound textile solutions.
With frequent development trips to Asia, I worked directly with mills and factory partners to manage strike-offs, troubleshoot challenges, and ensure accuracy from concept to production. I also implemented key workflow improvements that streamlined our process and enhanced team efficiency across seasonal calendars.
Dec 2013 — Aug 2014
Textile Designer – Freelance/Contractor · Old Navy
As a contract Textile Designer on Old Navy’s Kids & Baby team, I developed seasonal print collections across apparel, accessories, and footwear categories. My work included original artwork, print development, and embellishment design tailored to the Girl’s product line, as well as Baby/Toddler (both Boy’s and Girl’s) divisions.
I partnered closely with the in-house design team to build and translate seasonal concepts into color, print, and pattern direction—contributing to cohesive color stories and trend-right assortments. I worked in NedGraphics to prepare files for production, including pre-press setup, reworking vintage prints, and refining purchased artwork—ensuring technical accuracy and maintaining design integrity from concept through final execution.
Jul 2012 — Apr 2014
Textile/Technical Designer – Freelance/Contractor · Pottery Barn
As a freelance Textile and Technical Designer for Pottery Barn and PBTeen, I supported the development of home furnishings and accessories through original artwork, print-ready file preparation, and production specifications.
My work included designing and refining prints—from concept creation to technical execution—while also reworking vintage and purchased artwork to align with brand aesthetics. I ensured all files were prepped for production, including indexing and cleanup, and created detailed product specs with accurate dimensions, material callouts, and construction notes to guide vendors through sampling and production.
Jan 2012 — Jan 2013
Instructor: Computers for Textiles (PhotoShop & Illustrator) · Academy of Art University
As an instructor for the Computers for Textiles course at Academy of Art University, I taught Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to students in the Textile Design and Fashion programs, focusing on practical applications for surface design and digital print development.
I created the full syllabus and course content, guiding students through techniques for creating original artwork, editing and preparing files for production, and using Illustrator as a tool for CAD-based textile layouts. Emphasis was placed on industry-standard practices, including color indexing, repeat development, and preparing artwork for color separations—giving students a strong technical foundation to support their creative growth.
Mar 2005 — Sep 2010
Materials & Graphic Design Manager ·
JanSportAt JanSport, I led the Color, Textile & Graphic Design, and Materials teams, managing all seasonal design and development across categories—from outdoor gear to lifestyle accessories. Over five years, I helped define the brand’s creative direction by building global seasonal color palettes, leading trend research and concept presentations, and developing original prints, graphics, and material stories that supported the evolving brand vision.
I managed a cross-functional team of Material Developers, Graphic Designers, and a CAD Designer, and partnered closely with product managers and design leads to ensure cohesive, on-brand storytelling across the entire line. I also led the launch of the Artist Series Collection—curating collaborations with independent artists to bring fresh, limited-edition designs to the line.
Regular development trips to Asia deepened my hands-on experience with mills, factories, and trim suppliers, where I sourced innovative materials and ensured design integrity through production. This role combined creative leadership with a deep understanding of materials development, color strategy, and end-to-end execution.
Jan 2002 — Mar 2005
Freelance Graphic/Fashion Designer · ExDesigns
Dec 2001 — Jul 2002
Prepress & Graphic Designer · AJ Printing & Graphics
Jan 1999 — Oct 1999
Illustrator · Emp's Graphic Eye
