Architectural Designer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for an architectural designer job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an architectural designer. Feel free to use our architectural designer job description template to produce your own architectural designer job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an architectural designer.
Who is an Architectural Designer?
An architectural designer is a person who is responsible for designing a construction project. They produce concepts that are appealing to the eye and easy to construct by utilizing their expertise in math, science, construction, and design. They work with clients to confirm the project’s needs, budget, and timeline. They then provide project plans, drawings, and specifications from the project goals.
Architectural designers, also referred to as building designers, collaborate closely with civil engineers, project managers, and construction crews. Additionally, they collaborate with architects or work for an architecture firm.
A construction project’s design is often the responsibility of an architectural designer. They meet with clients to discuss the project’s demands and budget before producing plans, design guidelines, and layouts tailored to the client’s requirements. An architect is obliged to follow instructions to meet safety standards and adhere to legal requirements.
An architectural designer should be able to communicate with clients and think of new building design ideas. They should also possess technological expertise to help them complete their work effectively.
Upon request, architectural designers can produce 2D and 3D models using physical and digital drafting tools after receiving design specifications. Designers in this position must adhere closely to instructions while ensuring that designs satisfy stringent criteria, such as safety standards and legal requirements. Architectural designers may work for private businesses or governmental organizations and reside anywhere from densely populated urban to rural areas. Years of experience and the successful completion of crucial license acquisition requirements are frequently prerequisites for advancement in this field.
They may collaborate with clients, contractors, and other experts to ensure that the project satisfies the client’s needs and budget.
Architectural designers must be able to manage several deadlines since they frequently work on several projects at once.
Architectural Designer Job Description
What is an architectural designer job description? an architectural designer job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an architectural designer in an organization. Below are the architectural designer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an architectural designer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an architectural designer include the following:
- Attend seminars and conferences to stay current with design trends.
- Collaborate with the team and the stakeholders to ensure the accuracy of the initial design work.
- Finish drafting tasks by sketching in both 2D and 3D.
- Design revisions and modifications as necessary.
- Collect the required dimensions, measures, and standard computations for design layouts.
- Conduct research and add aesthetic features to designs when necessary.
- Create architectural blueprints with CAD software and traditional drawing methods for management and client approval.
- Engage in conversation with other architects and designers to share ideas and offer assistance.
- Ensure the recording and maintenance of all pertinent data and documentation.
- Get project requests and preliminary designs.
- Give clients appropriate design advice depending on aspects like their budget, the location of the construction, and current trends.
- Make sure the design requirements adhere to legal requirements and safety norms.
- Meet with clients to go through design specifications for new builds, additions, or repairs
- Rework and change designs in response to management’s and clients’ feedback.
- Supply management with estimates for the price, duration, equipment, construction, and other details.
Qualifications
- High school certificate or GED
- A bachelor’s degree in architecture, building design, or related field
- Great track record of building structural designs
- Knowledge and practical experience with CAD software
- Thorough understanding and background in using physical drafting tools
Essential Skills
Architectural designers rely on a combination of hard and soft skills to effectively perform work duties. They produce building designs. They must coordinate with other professionals, interact with clients, and handle the project’s financial components.
- Creativity
Planning and designing building and landscape layouts are the responsibility of architects. Innovative thinking is a crucial component of their work. Architectural designers can satisfy their client’s needs by using creativity to provide distinctive designs and a welcoming atmosphere. They can also apply this skill when a customer requests they alter and tweak the design to meet their needs.
- Design Skills
Several elements influence the design of a building. Building aesthetics are significant and can raise the project’s final worth. Architectural designers must also consider functionality and authenticity when delivering designs to clients. In your studies, you can pick up and refine design skills that apply to building.
- Commercial Awareness
The profitability of building and construction projects depends on a budget. It means the designs must be practical to build within the project’s budget. To make their projects viable, architectural designers may need to grasp building commercialism.
Commercial knowledge is understanding the costs of the materials, labor, and equipment to construct the project. Understanding commercial needs can make it easier for designers to work with customers and managers and comprehend necessary changes.
- Computer knowledge
The majority of architectural designers regularly use computers. To communicate using email and other team tools, you must have a basic understanding of computers. However, architectural styles might need more sophisticated computer literacy skills.
Without solid training in the newest design tools, it will be difficult for you to get employment in architectural design. You will require Microsoft and AutoCAD program expertise for every job posting you see.
You will spend a lot of time training and mastering these tools, so after graduation, you feel entirely at ease creating design papers and models.
You will need to keep up with new technologies and constantly improve your knowledge of well-known applications like Sketchup, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign long after training.
You may build designs and simulations using a variety of computer software. Familiarity with the standard design software will help you in the field.
- Communication skill
Any occupation that deals with people daily needs good communication skills. Architectural designers collaborate with many people from various backgrounds.
They collaborate with engineers and construction personnel to turn blueprints and designs into reality. To ensure that the project requirements are exact, architectural designers often collaborate closely with clients and stakeholders throughout the project. They frequently work with project managers to discuss projects’ budgetary and schedule needs. They rely on effective communication to make sure they achieve their objectives.
- Creativity and Problem-solving
A successful career in architectural design requires this crucial talent. The core competency of designers is the ability to solve problems creatively.
As an architectural designer, you will be fixing difficulties all day long, whether your client wants to cut expenses or you need to amend a technical design issue.
In this context, you also need persistence and patience. Before it is officially accepted, your design may need to be revised multiple times. Or, you might need to change it due to a last-minute construction issue or client request, which can be difficult.
Whatever the situation, you must be prepared to get your hands dirty and come up with a solution that benefits everyone. In this sector, flexibility and openness are huge pluses, along with a complete dedication to producing top-notch design work.
- Interpersonal Skill
In careers that demand cooperation and communication, interpersonal skills are essential. To create designs, architects collaborate with their clients and management. Strong interpersonal abilities, such as the capacity for active listening and problem-solving, enable them to operate successfully and efficiently with anybody they come into contact with in their profession.
- Building Codes Knowledge
Almost every country has its building codes. These codes establish the minimum necessary standards for sustainability, health, and safety in building design and construction. Architectural designers must be familiar with building codes to produce good designs.
- Math proficiency
Building a solid structure requires math. Calculating the strengths, weaknesses, and qualities of the materials used in architectural designs is a skill that designers need to have. They might need to test their strength after selecting the building materials to ensure they can withstand the physical strain.
To create a safe and practical building design, designers might use math skills to calculate the credibility of the materials and structure of their ideas. Although they will likely use software to simulate the credibility of the structure, having a background in mathematics can help them understand the theory behind it and adjust the model as necessary. They also use this skill to estimate, budget, sketch and schedule architectural design.
- Organizational and Attention to Details
Everything in design work is in the details, so after discussion and agreement, you are to map out the concept using minutely detailed drawings, renderings, blueprints, etc.
You should avoid making errors in measurements, dimensions, plumbing, electrical layouts, surfaces, materials, etc. Such errors might cost your employer a lot of time and money.
Architectural designers who are successful are exceedingly thorough. They check their work two or more times. They are intensely focused and detail-oriented.
Remember that it will be your responsibility as an architectural designer to ensure your designs comply with building code requirements. You must be thoroughly familiar with those codes.
Additionally, you will need to plan for each project’s application and acquisition of the necessary permits for it to proceed.
And once construction begins, you will be actively monitoring it to ensure the work exactly fits what you outline in your plan.
All of this requires planning, organizing, and observational skills.
- Teamwork
The work of architectural designers is collaborative. They are a member of a team. Working under a lead designer, your responsibilities as a technician will include dealing with clients and coordinating with contractors to keep projects on schedule. A small, specialized architecture practice with less than fifteen people can be where you end up working.
- Time Management
Architectural designers join other specialists to get involved with construction project planning and design. They must therefore possess time management skills. Architectural designers can use time management skills to maintain deadlines and increase client satisfaction. You can practice this skill by carefully planning your schedule and avoiding interruptions when working on a task.
How to Become an Architectural Designer
There is no formal schooling requirement for architectural designers. However, great programs in your country of residence exist to give you the expertise you need to impress employers.
The following are the steps you should take to become qualified for and find employment as an architectural designer:
Complete the necessary training
Although there are no official criteria, most businesses prioritize applicants with degrees or diplomas in architecture, building engineering, interior design, or related fields. The qualifications needed vary depending on the company and position you apply for.
Acquire work experience
Many organizations like their potential employees to have some professional experience in addition to formal education. The organization and position being offered often determine the desired amount of experience. The completion of an internship is one approach to getting work experience. You may strengthen your network, put your knowledge to the test, and hone your talents by participating in internships.
Alternatively, you can get expertise by working in the construction industry before moving on to architectural design. It can be done before, during, or after your studies. Working in the construction industry enables you to understand how these projects run. Additionally, you may readily apply the abilities you develop while working in construction to your career as an architectural designer. To demonstrate to potential employers the effects of your work, you might include experience and skills on your resume.
Create a portfolio
It is nice to have the necessary credentials and experience, but it is also critical to highlight your skills. Building a portfolio of your finished designs will help you achieve this. In this manner, you can demonstrate your value when you apply for an architectural designer position.
Where to Work as an Architectural Designer
Construction companies and governmental organizations are just a few of the places where they work. Although they occasionally put in extra time to meet deadlines, they work conventional business hours.
Due to the range of roles, there are numerous workplaces. Most of the design work is in the office, but there will also be site inspections, meetings with local government and planning departments, and visits to clients’ workplaces.
An architectural designer may work from their own office, occasionally from home, or several business offices, depending on whether they are a freelancer or an employee of a corporation.
They may also need to attend international conferences, placements, and meetings.
Architectural Designer Salary Scale
Most architectural designers’ salaries fall between $47,610 and $68,650 per year, with some earning as much as $92,145 and others as little as $31,500 in the United States. The salaries vary due to location, years of experience, company, industry, etc.
In the United Kingdom, an architectural designer makes an average pay of £39,110 per year.