About the Designer - My Story

Hi, I'm Stephen Sefton.

Third Coast Pillows is my art, my story, and my way forward.

I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago in a household where resources were limited but creativity was abundant. Art became my language early. I spent four years immersed in fine arts during high school, ultimately earning recognition as outstanding senior in fine arts and showing work in local galleries. Those years taught me that making something beautiful with your hands is its own form of resilience.

After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in industrial design, I spent nearly two decades at a manufacturing company, learning every aspect of bringing products to life: design, sourcing, quality control, logistics, and management. I helped build that business, gaining invaluable knowledge about global supply chains and what it takes to run a company. But I also learned what it feels like to give everything to something that isn't yours.

In March 2020, my life changed abruptly. A severe injury led to complications that spiraled into a years-long medical crisis. By early 2021, I needed a transplant to survive. During those months of uncertainty, confined and struggling, my mind kept returning to specific memories: fishing trips with family on the Great Lakes, quiet mornings on the water, the particular way light hits Lake Michigan, the architecture and energy of Chicago. Those images sustained me when little else could.

When I finally came home, I knew I needed to create something that was entirely mine. Something that captured the places and moments that mattered most. That's when Third Coast Pillows was born.

 

The Work

Every design begins with a feeling or a memory. I create the artwork digitally using tools I've honed over years of professional design work, then I partnered with specialized manufacturers to produce pillows that meet exacting standards. Each pillow features custom zippers with enamel pulls, high-quality plush fabric, and precise fill weights engineered for genuine comfort.

The artwork ranges from Chicago landmarks to designs inspired by family experiences on the Great Lakes. Some pieces carry deeply personal meaning, encoded with details only I fully understand. Others are simply celebrations of the region I love. You don't need to know the backstory to appreciate the design, but the stories are there for those who want them.

Why Pillows?

Decorative pillows are typically stiff, uncomfortable afterthoughts. I wanted to create something different: pillows beautiful enough to be art, but soft and inviting enough that you actually want to use them. After extensive material testing and design iteration, I landed on a product that delivers on both fronts. The feedback has been consistent: these pillows are exceptionally comfortable, often becoming the favorite in any room.

The Vision

I still work full-time while building Third Coast Pillows during evenings and weekends. My wife has been remarkably supportive, believing in this vision even when results have been slow to materialize. After two years, sales have been modest, primarily to friends and family. But I'm committed to the long view.

Success means building something sustainable enough to stand on its own. Beyond that, I see potential for Third Coast Pillows to become a model: regional brands across the country, each led by an artist with a meaningful connection to their place, each supporting causes that matter. Artists are everywhere, and the systems I've built can scale. Once this works, it can work for others too.

Right now, I'm focused on showing up: craft fairs, designer events, building relationships with people who value thoughtful design and authentic stories. I'm proving that this brand deserves attention, one conversation and one pillow at a time.

 

The Commitment

When Third Coast Pillows becomes profitable, 10% of profits will support meaningful causes. I'm drawn to water conservation, given how central the Great Lakes are to this brand's identity. I'm also considering support for arts education in underserved communities, having experienced firsthand how transformative creative outlets can be.

 

Third Coast Pillows is one person in Gurnee, Illinois, creating work that means something.

Thank you for being here.

Stephen Sefton
Founder & Designer
Third Coast Pillows