WHAT DOES A DESIGN ASSOCIATE DO?

Published: Oct 14, 2024 - The Design Associate crafts engaging narratives for project reports and presentations, infusing passion for editorial design to make complex data accessible and visually compelling. Innovates in co-creative workshops and supports corporate branding efforts, while developing impactful creative deliverables like interactive documents and infographics. Fosters robust client relationships, enhancing store sales and customer loyalty through personalized design consultations and strategic community engagement.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Design Associate

1. Design Associate Duties

  • Material Development: Develop designed materials for multifaceted and highly complex products and services, as well as support internal communications to the Board, advisory groups, and fellow employees (e.g., websites, product graphics, email templates, marketing collateral, social media graphics, brand campaigns, and photography).
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Take ideas from concept to execution and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including product and project managers, team colleagues, Information Technology, and content experts.
  • Creative Communication: Develop communications that are creative and clear, align with technical and brand standards, and facilitate an excellent end-user experience.
  • Content Management: Manage the company library of branded content, including source design files, edited drafts, and finalized products that are used and circulated.
  • Website Maintenance: Maintain the company's internal website using Dreamweaver and external websites using proprietary advanced CMS platforms that leverage HTML/CSS practices.
  • Channel Execution: Execute postings/updates to electronic channels.
  • Content Relevance: Ensure that website and social media content stays relevant and up-to-date, and review and interpret analytics, data monitoring, and multimedia activity.
  • Team Support: Serve as a reliable teammate in all department activities, including staff meetings, brainstorming sessions, and other duties.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations for sound, streamlined business operations.

2. Design Associate Details

  • Collaboration: Collaborate with exhibition designers in exhibition projects across all curatorial departments, envisioning aesthetic language and materializing ideas into a physical space.
  • Visual Generation: Generate visuals and design studies to create aesthetic concepts of diverse exhibition projects by collaborating with exhibition designers, curators, interpreters, visual designers, and experience designers, aiming to fulfill the projects’ vision and narrative in a physical space.
  • Research and Material Creation: Conduct research for design inspiration and create the needed materials to visualize and express design concepts and direction, for example, mood boards, sketches, physical models, 3D models, plans, and presentations.
  • Exhibition Design: Design with granular detail the components of an exhibition such as casework, platforms, pedestals, and other specific needs, and define style and materiality in consultation with departments such as Conservation and Collection & Loans, ensuring that all museum and loan protocols are met for the safety of the artworks on display.
  • Safety Compliance: Ensure that exhibitions meet safety and accessibility standards by considering ADA, universal design, and code regulations.
  • Protocol Consultation: Consult with Safety and Protection Services teams to corroborate that designs fit all needed protocols.
  • Drawing Package Creation: Create drawing packages for the fabrication and build-out of exhibitions and all physical components that need to be built for them.
  • Feasibility Assurance: Ensure that designs are feasible, properly detailed for fabrication and build-out, and within the given budget for the project.
  • Inventory Sourcing: Source cases from existing inventory for exhibition projects and gallery rotations, and collaborate with the rest of the exhibition design team in maintaining the casework database and workflow up to date.
  • Quality Control: Maintain close communication with the production teams during the fabrication and build-out processes to ensure quality control and adequate execution of the envisioned designs.
  • Installation Oversight: Maintain close communication with curatorial and installation teams during installation periods, overseeing the adequate implementation of built components and providing feedback and design support.
  • Documentation: Document the design process from concept through completion by keeping project folders up to date and properly archiving projects when completed.
  • Design Innovation: Innovate in design solutions and foster strong design thinking and collaboration among colleagues while accomplishing projects that align with visual styles and identity.
  • Sustainable Practices: Work on ensuring environmentally sustainable practices throughout design and production processes, fostering the re-use of materials, selection of environmentally friendly materials whenever possible, and reduction of waste.

3. Design Associate Responsibilities

  • Product Vision: Deeply comprehend and champion The X Company’s product vision and design standards across assigned projects during development and construction.
  • Feedback Relay: Relay feedback and insight on design standards and specifications gained during development and construction back to the Design Team for incorporation into design standards.
  • Quality Execution: Effectuate the execution of high-quality product through the review and markup of architectural and interior design drawing documentation for conformance to X Design specification standards, and through coordination with the X Development Team and design consultants.
  • Space Actualization: Actualize move-in ready apartments and hospitality-grade communal spaces through the successful installation of FF&E and art installations.
  • Rendering Management: Manage and execute project-specific renderings with 3rd party vendors.
  • Design Review: Support the project’s Development Associate by reviewing design-specific RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, samples, and mockups.
  • Punch Process Support: Support the project’s Project Manager during the punch process to ensure the Design Standards and Design Documentation are properly executed in the field.
  • Feedback Loop Creation: Create a feedback loop and patch Design Standards.
  • Installation Communication: Support the project’s Development Associate and Project Manager in ensuring the design intent of art and other specialty installations is communicated to the Development Team and properly executed in the field.

4. Design Associate Accountabilities

  • Sales Analysis: With direction and data from merchandising, review and analyze past sales history and market recaps to better develop design types for future apparel collections.
  • Gender Balance: Ensure gender balance, correct number of body styles, etc.
  • Design Inspiration: Seek, collect, and organize design inspiration for future seasonal products to facilitate the design development process.
  • Apparel Design: Design (CAD) and present apparel styles for each season, inclusive of fabrications, sizes, and deliveries.
  • Fabric Approval: Develop and oversee fabric and print approvals for seasonal collections.
  • Design Organization: Once the initial design idea is approved, ensure the drawings/pictures are organized on design boards.
  • Line Review Scheduling: Schedule 2–3 line reviews per season to gain feedback and suggestions on various looks.
  • Cost Negotiation: Oversee initial costing negotiations once designs are approved.
  • Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with marketing, retail/visual merchandising, and ecommerce to communicate design information, including inspiration, product details, and line coordination.
  • Photoshoot Coordination: Attend photoshoots to ensure design and fit details are correct, and communicate any necessary changes to the team.
  • Team Alignment: Attend bi-weekly touch base meetings to ensure alignment with the team around design and production phases.
  • Manufacturer Research: Research and review current/potential manufacturers for future business.
  • Recommendation Making: Make recommendations based on the review.

5. Design Associate Functions

  • Narrative Building: Build compelling narratives in project reports and presentations.
  • Editorial Design: Leverage passion for editorial design to bring complex information to life in immersive, innovative ways.
  • Workshop Facilitation: Bring co-creative workshops to life.
  • Brand Development: Support the development of corporate branded material as you continue to refine marketing and business development strategies.
  • Creative Deliverables: Brainstorm and develop creative deliverables (e.g. interactive documents, infographics).
  • Design Tasks: Work on discrete design tasks (e.g. creating icons for reports, improving presentation layouts).
  • Customer Engagement: Proactively engage with customers and build long-lasting relationships with them.
  • Business Development: Build your own personal book of business and drive store sales through client follow-up, phone calls, personalized outreach, community involvement, networking, and clienteling.
  • Design Consultation: Help clients with furniture selection, in-home design consultation, floorplans, and finish options.
  • Loyalty Awareness: Create customer awareness of the loyalty programs available to them.
  • Visual Merchandising: Assist in seasonal floor-set changes and ensure visual standards are met.
Relevant Information
What Does A Design Assistant Do?