diff --git a/openpype/style/style.css b/openpype/style/style.css
index c57b9a8da6..da7335d5c4 100644
--- a/openpype/style/style.css
+++ b/openpype/style/style.css
@@ -614,3 +614,15 @@ QScrollBar::add-page:vertical, QScrollBar::sub-page:vertical {
     border: 1px solid {color:border};
     border-radius: 0.1em;
 }
+
+#VariantInput[state="new"], #VariantInput[state="new"]:focus, #VariantInput[state="new"]:hover {
+    border-color: #7AAB8F;
+}
+
+#VariantInput[state="empty"], #VariantInput[state="empty"]:focus, #VariantInput[state="empty"]:hover {
+    border-color: {color:bg-inputs};
+}
+
+#VariantInput[state="exists"], #VariantInput[state="exists"]:focus, #VariantInput[state="exists"]:hover {
+    border-color: #4E76BB;
+}
diff --git a/openpype/tools/new_publisher/widgets.py b/openpype/tools/new_publisher/widgets.py
index d4872d02b9..ce33cfbb13 100644
--- a/openpype/tools/new_publisher/widgets.py
+++ b/openpype/tools/new_publisher/widgets.py
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ class CreateDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         family_view.setModel(family_model)
 
         variant_input = QtWidgets.QLineEdit(self)
+        variant_input.setObjectName("VariantInput")
 
         variant_hints_btn = QtWidgets.QPushButton(self)
         variant_hints_btn.setFixedWidth(18)
@@ -370,6 +371,23 @@ class CreateDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
             action = self.variant_hints_menu.addAction(variant_hint)
             self.variant_hints_group.addAction(action)
 
+        # Indicate subset existence
+        if not variant_value:
+            property_value = "empty"
+
+        elif subset_name.lower() in existing_subset_names_low:
+            # validate existence of subset name with lowered text
+            #   - "renderMain" vs. "rendermain" mean same path item for
+            #   windows
+            property_value = "exists"
+        else:
+            property_value = "new"
+
+        current_value = self.variant_input.property("state")
+        if current_value != property_value:
+            self.variant_input.setProperty("state", property_value)
+            self.variant_input.style().polish(self.variant_input)
+
         variant_is_valid = variant_value.strip() != ""
         if variant_is_valid != self.create_btn.isEnabled():
             self.create_btn.setEnabled(variant_is_valid)