Senior Designer - Full Service | Lifestyle

Role:  Senior Project Designer – Hospitality, Full-Service

Reports To:  Director/Team Leader

Location:  Chicago - Downtown

Company Overview 

Design Environments is a leading national interior design and interior architecture company that provides interior design, furniture, fixture and equipment procurement services, project management and warehousing and installation services to its clients. 

Headquartered in Marietta, GA, the company has design studios and offices in Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, and Greensboro, NC. The company is the culmination of five acquired companies by Blackford Capital based in Grand Rapids, MI over the past five years. Recently in September 2022 the companies were consolidated and rebranded as Design Environments. The company services the hospitality, senior living, multi-family housing, single family housing, and student housing market verticals.

One of the company’s primary target markets for accelerated growth is in the hospitality full-service market that includes brand hotels, soft brand hotels and independent hotels.

The company differentiates itself from its competitors by delivering innovative solutions with a concierge level of service. The company’s long-term success has come from the relationships it has built and by delivering results that exceed our client’s expectations.

Role

A Senior Project Designer is a critical part of the project team. This position plays a supportive roll within management and demonstrates strong leadership skills.  This position also requires attention to detail and strong communication skills with Clients and internal interaction and is part of the collaborative design process through all the phases of the project. While contributing skills and talents to projects, the position provides mentoring and guidance to junior level designers.  Attention to detail, willingness to learn and strong communication skills are key to the success of the role.

Job Responsibilities

1. Manage multiple projects at one time.
2. Client interaction and build relationships with clients
3. Work with Director to determine deliverable schedule for projects
4. Responsible to review and approve digital color boards for presentations
5. Work with team to develop design narratives based on research
6. Ensure design solutions are unique and appropriate for each design market segment
7. Provide direction and feedback on furniture and finishes selections
8. Build digital design presentations for client and brand review
9. Write and Quality Control FF+E Specifications
10. Work on ID drawing sets with team
11. Delegate project tasks to design team as appropriate to meet deadlines.
12. Manage project and construction timelines to ensure deliverables are complete in a timely manner. 
13. Keep Studio Director apprised of any schedule or deadline changes as it relates to project timelines.
14. Complete understanding of all phases of construction from schematic to design development to construction documents as it relates to the production efforts by the design staff.
15. Coordinate the Construction Documentation set with the team to ensure all finishes and design intent are accurately documented and thoroughly correspond to the design intent, finish schedule, and material specifications.
16. Operate AutoCAD system with a high level of proficiency and working knowledge of drafting principles.
17. Direct installers in a competent and confident manner
18. Address unforeseen challenges while maintaining composure in the presence of Client
19. Review and approve all millwork shop drawings, shop drawings related to ID construction items, FF+E shop drawings, finish samples.
20. Provide architectural plan critiques
21. Review construction documents as needed
22. Prepare design presentations including rendered plans and elevations and supporting 3D studies Attend on-site project meetings, box review, punch review as part of the team and be responsible for issuing written meeting notes to the team.
23. Participate in project installation as required.
24. Ensure team’s presentations are complete and innovative prior to review with Studio Director
25. Demonstrate professional maturity and ability to interact and commune with clients in both the office and entertainment environment. Positively promote the firm in outside marketing opportunities.
26. Provide management support to design staff and oversee the quality assurance of all work
27. Assist Director with feedback and review of team performance
28. Competent understanding of the total procurement process. Ability to work with project manager and procurement team to ensure design intent is met with FF&E deliverables.
29. Ability to clarify questions that may arise based on design deliverables.
30. Coordinate design solutions with vendors and other project consultants.
31. Conduct or delegate project site visits and project installations.
32. Prepare design solutions that meet local building codes and ADA guidelines.
33. Ensure that correct forms and procedures are followed throughout design process.

Required Skills – Mentor Level

1. AutoCAD and/or Revit
2. SketchUp (with Enscape plug-in)
3. Indesign
4. Photoshop
5. Microsoft (word and excel)
6. FF+E Specification writing
7. NCIDQ certification is a plus

Key Attributes

1. Leadership
2. Creative Problem Solving
3. Organization and Time Management
4. Written and Verbal Communication
5. Collaboration/ Team Player
6. Flexible
7. Accountable
8. Constant Learner
9. Ability to adapt to new systems, software, and technology
10. Detail Oriented, Accurate and Efficient
11. Ability to Travel

Experience

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts: Interior Design
   1. Associate Degree in Interior Design would be considered based on professional experience.
2. 8+ years of professional experience (hospitality experience preferred but not required)

Compensation Package

1. Competitive Base Salary
2. Annual Bonus Opportunity
3. Personal Time Off
4. 10 Paid Holidays
5. Health Care Benefits.
6. 401(k) with Company Match