Bestor Architecture’s staff at work, from Archinect’s Studio Visits: Bestor Architecture feature. Photo courtesy of Yoshihiro Makino

Within the architecture studio, designers exist as a polymorphic phenomenon so varied and nuanced that there subsists no exhaustive description of their fundamental nature. On a foundational level, designers design, but they are also so much more than that. Some might run their own projects, working through all phases of a project, while others may only operate in the schematic phases. The differences are endless. Moreover, designers can be junior, intermediate, and senior; all experience levels spanning eons uncommon in other positions. And so the challenge becomes one of defining such a wide-ranging position, a task this series has set out to tackle.

For our fifth installment of Archinect's Guide to Job Titles, we peer into the nature of the Designer, probably one of the most varied job titles in the profession, in an effort to wrap our heads around its essential building blocks. How might we better understand the foundations of this role? How does one fit into the larger team structure? And what do firms look for?

The Role of the Designer

An inevitable part of the architectural design process is obviously the design of the architecture. At the most basic level, this is what a designer does. A project is commissioned, and the work begins, a vision might be cast by leadership, which is then developed by a team of architects and designers. This is one model. The leadership receives a prompt of sorts from the client: there's an acre plot of land, a new home is desired, x bathrooms, x bedrooms, living space, outdoor area, and so on and so forth. A design principal (or design team) conceives a preliminary design concept from any number of approaches, and then that concept is further developed. 

Perhaps an idea of an organic connectedness to a surrounding landscape with a central living space and perimeter sleeping quarters begins as a starting point. That loose idea could be passed on to a team of designers who would further develop it. They might create some ideas of a floor plan on their own or build on an initial one that's been passed down. They will consider the constraints of the site, things like setbacks, local codes, and climate. Material selection might come into play. The list is endless, but in the end, the Designer will be a part of the development of the design concept, working to realize it into existence. 

...all architects are designers. Here we're instead seeking to understand the role of the Designer within the larger architectural project team.

This is really the definition of what an architect is traditionally thought of and is indeed one of the core functions of the service architects provide: to design and help facilitate the realization of a piece of architecture. And so all architects are designers. Here we're instead seeking to understand the role of the Designer within the larger architectural project team.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

As with all positions in architecture, Designers are highly varied, particularly when it comes to experience level. As such, it would serve us well to identify some of the main differences in duties based on level of experience. With that in mind, here are some of the typical qualifications and responsibilities for a Designer:

Junior/Entry-Level Designer (0-3 years of experience)

• Conceptual design development through drawing, diagrams, renders, models, etc.

• Proficiency in Revit (or applicable software [ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, and Rhino, to name a few])

• Ability to read, correct, and interact with construction documents

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Proficiency in Adobe Suite

Intermediate Designer (3-5+ years of experience)

• Participate in all project phases, including conceptual designs, presentations, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration

• Collaborate and coordinate with clients, consultants, and contractors.

• Proficiency in BIM

• Architecture license (sometimes depending on the organization)

• Knowledge of local codes and regulations

• Ability to navigate relevant building and safety/permitting agencies

Senior Designers often share similar responsibilities that a Project Architect or Project Manager might have. It ultimately will depend on the firm in question. Some companies might categorize a licensed architect as a Senior Designer (or in some cases a Designer or Intermediate Designer) who will have the typical duties of that role in managing project, the internal team, schedules, budgets, technical production of CDs, and coordinate consultants, contractors, and the like. Duties could include all of these things, some of them, or others beyond what's listed, it will always be a matter of determination by the firm defining the position.

...the duties of a Designer really depend on the experience level.

In the end, the duties of a Designer really depend on the experience level. For example, more junior designers typically function as project support staff, and so, the range of responsibilities and tasks will vary widely, but usually might build on the recent skills one has developed in school. That could be tasks like renderings, presentations, and 3D modeling (digital and physical), coupled with things that don't take a lot of experience to do, such as redlines or transferring a sketch into a Revit model or set of drawings.

What are firms looking for?

So what are firms looking for in a Designer? In Los Angeles-based Bestor Architecture's search for a Designer, the firm states:

Applicants should have the ability to translate design concepts into reality as an integral member of a project team. The ideal candidate for this position is a highly motivated, flexible, and cooperative problem solver with a strong work ethic and excellent communication skills.

Candidates should also have knowledge of project processes related to coordination, workflow, project approvals, construction detailing, materials, methods, and codes. A minimum of 3 years of post-graduate experience working in architecture is listed as a requirement, along with an ability to meet aggressive deadlines while maintaining high-quality work.

New York-based METHOD Architects seeks comparable characteristics in its search for a new Project Designer. Concerning the position, the firm states:

The Project Designer acts as METHOD Architect's supporting staff member in performing services and producing its deliverables under the direction of the Senior Project Designer and oversight of the Senior Design Project Manager.

The duties mirror those we've discussed thus far, emphasizing the role of this team member as support for the senior level staff. Across all levels, we see the need for an agile and multidisciplinary team member, able to provide support (and sometimes leadership) on a wide array of project needs. This is the essence of the Designer. "On a typical day, I could spend a lot of time in Revit working on any number of tasks. Anything from updating schedules, to modifying code analysis, to refining casework details," said Gohar Nazaryan, a Designer at CO Architects. "I'll also find myself meeting with our interiors department to talk to reps about new products for future projects. As a Designer, I'm able to participate in many different areas of the process."

The controversies of alternative ‘designer’ titles

It’s also worth noting the broader industry use of the title “Designer.” In Unlicensed? Don’t call yourself an ‘Architectural Designer’ or ‘Design Professional’, Archinect’s Antonio Pacheco provided a brief survey of some state-level regulations and their relation to unlicensed professionals. Pacheco explains how referring to oneself as an  “architect” or “architectural designer” online or in print could be in violation of state law. Take this example from California, looking at § 5536 of Article 3, Chapter 3, Division 3 of the California Business and Professions Code, Architects Practice Act. It reads:

It is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both fine and imprisonment to advertise or put out any sign, card, or other device that might indicate to the public that he or she is an architect, that he or she is qualified to engage in the practice of architecture, or that he or she is an architectural designer.”

Pacheco cites Idris Ahmed, an Enforcement Analyst with the Enforcement Unit at the California Architects Board. Ahmed’s concludes, “The only title that an unlicensed individual could use would be ‘designer.”” Not Architectural Designer, but merely Designer. But keep in mind, in this case, all unlicensed professionals would be Designers, but all Designers are not unlicensed, as we see in some of the requirements for intermediate and senior “Designers.”

What about pay?

If we survey a collection of firms seeking Designers, we see experience levels ranging from 0 years of experience to 10 plus years. Nailing down a specific salary range for the Designer job title would prove counterproductive. Instead, job seekers pursuing this role should consider their specific circumstances in understanding an appropriate salary range to ask for and expect. Characteristics such as the size of your firm you are applying for, its area of focus (high-end residential vs. K-12 education, for example), your expected responsibilities and duties, your level experience, your portfolio, and where you live. These, among many other factors, will help narrow your lense when it comes to the question of pay.

Designers Design

In many ways, Designers fulfill the core of what many people picture when they think of an architect. The role of a Designer is not an exhaustive picture of what an architect does. But instead tends to act as support staff in a wide range of areas. The vastness of variation for this particular job title lends it to almost infinite interpretation. But, if we look for a common foundation amongst those interpretations, we realize designers will always design. That could manifest in many ways, from conceptual sketches to construction detailing. But, all in all, the role of the Designer is one of furthering the design of a project as a collaborative member of a larger team.

Interested in a Designer job?
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