Title: Senior Designer
Type: Full-Time / In-Person
Location: Sausalito, CA

Job Description

The Senior Designer’s primary responsibility is to proficiently lead teams in the execution of design from concept to successful completion, to promote the company ethos in and out of the office, and to help deliver value in the process of executing designs for our clients.

Design

  • Develop confident, innovative conceptual designs and solutions suitable to the company’s brand, character, and ethos. 

  • Creatively collaborate with Principal and design team. 

  • Clearly reflect the underlying story and design sensibility outlined by client and Principal and direct its production. 

  • Produce professional and inspired vignettes, sketches, and presentation collateral necessary for effectively selling concepts and design. 

  • Generate thoughtful, well-designed schemes, space plans, furniture layouts, elevations, lighting plans, and any required interior programming. 

  • Apply in-depth understanding of scale, proportion, and spatial layout to all design elements. 

  • Apply expert knowledge of design references to all projects (historical, vintage, contemporary, interior, architectural, product). 

  • Demonstrate familiarity with fine art, accessories, tableware, flatware, collecting, craft, and decorative arts. 

  • Source design components employing in-depth knowledge through relationships with relevant galleries, vendors, and industry trades suitable to our office. 

  • Stay up to date on current design industry trends, editorials, materials/products, and design. Attend or hold interest in design events, antique fairs, and trade shows, locally and internationally. 

  • Be open to and collaborate within a fluctuating, unconventional, and unique aesthetic design environment. 

Production

  • Autonomously direct and manage multiple {4-6} projects, and lead teams through all phases from programming and concept to design development, purchasing, and installation. 

  • Ensure project production strategically aligns with design intent and delivers outcomes that meet deadlines, budgets, and client expectations. 

  • Lead production of all necessary project collateral to effectively sell design concepts. 

  • Deliver experienced, thoughtful design sketches, 2D and 3D elevations, presentation materials, plans, construction documents, detailed specifications, redlines, or other essential design documentation for project requirements and construction methods. 

  • Collaborate with architects, consultants, contractors, millworkers, and vendors. Communicate and contribute analytical feedback necessary for production as needed to meet project goals. 

  • Manage and oversee project client meetings, site work, construction administration, shop drawing review, workroom visits, and project installations. Travel as necessary. 

  • Organize documents and compile all meeting notes, project drawings, quotes, and project information using office standards. 

  • Strategize project milestones and coordinate scheduling with team(s) to ensure successful, on-time completion. 

  • Oversee proposal and procurement process to meet budget projections and deadlines. 

  • Track project budgets and billing to ensure alignment with client expectations. 

  • Oversee overall activities of teams, identify problem areas, and take initiative to examine corrective actions. 

  • Participate in negotiating contracts for services, consultants, and contractors. 

Leadership

  • Present and sell design concepts effectively, clearly, and logically with confidence and conviction. 

  • Provide mentorship, inspiration, and guidance to junior and intermediate designers. 

  • Provide high-altitude strategic oversight of projects and production. 

  • Ensure open and prompt communication to meet client expectations and promote positive client relationships, fostering future business. 

  • Demonstrate a high level of customer service with professionalism. Anticipate client and project needs.

  • Troubleshoot issues in real time, offer solutions, and deliver suitable recommendations to move projects forward without compromising design intent. 

  • Develop and maintain relationships with vendors and fabricators and explore opportunities for partnerships with new manufacturers, artists, dealers, galleries, and distributors. 

  • Engage in new client development and marketing projects to support growth of the firm. 

  • Confidently represent and promote the studio brand in all interactions. 

Essential Skills

  • Minimum of 8-10 years’ experience in an upper-level design position with a contemporary residential design firm. 

  • Industry-recognized education/background in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or Architecture. 

  • Strong leadership, technical, management, and presentation skills. 

  • Exceptional customer service and communication skills - verbal, written, and graphic. 

  • Extensive knowledge of residential interior architecture and design industry standards. 

  • Expertise with methods/process/manufacturing for upholstery, custom furnishings, lighting fabrication, drapery/soft goods, carpet qualities, and installation methods. 

  • Expertise in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite & MS Office. 

  • Proficiency in Studio Designer software or similar. 

  • Passion for a collaborative and solution-driven design process. 

  • Innate sense of accountability and pride in one’s work. 

  • Ability to take coaching and feedback constructively. 

  • Highly motivated self-starter. 

  • Elevated level of attention to detail and follow-up. 

  • Proactive, flexible, team player. 

  • Ability to adapt to change and shifting priorities. 

  • Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle. 

Send a cover letter, resume, and portfolio, including examples of drawing sets (bath, kitchen, millwork), in PDF format to careers@cdloffice.com.