What Does A Designer Do?

WHAT DOES A DESIGNER DO?

Published: Jun 05, 2025 – The Designer develops original prints, embroideries, and artworks with repeat and 3D-ready styles, while preparing full technical specs using Illustrator for imported collections. This position drives concept creation, trend research, and visual presentations to support buying and production, ensuring consistency in color accuracy with lab dips and raw materials. This role validates design deliverables through user testing, translates business needs into impactful design solutions, and facilitates design thinking activities across teams.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Designer

1. Designer Duties

Guideline Adherence: Adhere to both Cooper Carry and the Client guidelines and meet deadlines for each project.
Architectural Skills: Demonstrate architectural skills to include drawing, rendering, visual and presentation skills utilizing internal resources.
Design Collaboration: Collaborate in the design process.
Document Preparation: Prepare and produce drawings, design and construction documents for complex structures.
Opportunity Identification: Inform Project Team Leaders of potential project opportunities.
Systems Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of building systems, codes, and construction methods.
Project Awareness: Maintain knowledge of Cooper Carry projects and resources.
Team Promotion: Promote a collaborative team environment.
Quality Contribution: Contribute to the overall quality and success of the project, studio and firm.
User Collaboration: Collaboration with key product stakeholders, craft user stories that will deliver user-centered outcomes.
User Representation: Represent the voice of the user and the design discipline within a cross-functional team.
Prototype Creation: Create concepts, wireframes, interactive prototypes and design specifications.

2. Designer Details

Print Development: Create and develop new prints, artworks, embroideries, all-over prints and repeat styles
Collection Design: Design the collections and technical specifications, with Illustrator, of the category for importation
Style Development: Participate in the creation and development of new styles and themes
3D Modeling: Complete the geometries in a 3D version for overseas production
Trend Research: Constantly research new trends, participate in the growth of the assigned category and ensure technical support for the import department
Presentation Creation: Create storyboards and presentations for the buying department
Quality Approval: Approve lab dips, as well as prints
Color Consistency: Ensure, with the team of textile colorist technicians, that the colors of the raw materials are consistent with the original colors of the season
User Testing: User research and testing to validate design deliverables
Requirement Translation: Translate business requirements to end-user needs and create differentiated design solutions
Design Facilitation: Facilitate design thinking activities

3. Designer Responsibilities

Field Research: Participate in field research to aid in the development of design solutions to meet end user's needs.
Product Development: Take a product from concept through mass production with supervision and provide Engineering deliverables in all phases.
Project Facilitation: Facilitate project flow involving regular contact with manufacturing and other cross-functional team members.
Engineering Communication: Provide clear engineering information to Project Leaders and the Global Engineering team through PowerPoint and graphical tools.
Supplier Interaction: Interact with suppliers to develop part/product specifications that meet performance requirements while falling within process capabilities.
Specification Development: Work with Senior Engineers to gain the aptitude and experience working with Operations, Quality and Suppliers to establish appropriate specifications and deliver conforming products.
Design Evaluation: Evaluate product design relative to material selection, cost and reliability.
Test Establishment: Establish test regimens for components and assemblies within his/her scope in the project with minimal guidance.
Data Analysis: Deliver complete data analysis to support design recommendations.
Analytical Skills: Gain experience performing a wide variety of calculations and software-aided analyses in the following areas, including Mechanical stress analysis, material and heat treatment selection, tolerance and fit analyses, lubrication, gear design, statics and dynamics, sound and vibration on a variety of machine element designs.
Test Development: Independently develop, write and analyze test requests with the MET Test Laboratory.
Technical Support: Work as a technical resource to troubleshoot problems with manufacturing teams and suppliers.
Mentorship Provision: Serve as a technical resource on areas of expertise and provide consultation/mentorship to others.

4. Designer Job Summary

Drawing Production: Produce drawings, layouts, and/or diagrams from sketches, existing drawings, electronic images, design concepts and/or verbal instructions
Project Coordination: Work with the field-based Project Manager to capture and produce a design that displays all product requirements for either new or existing equipment installations
CAD Proficiency: Use of AutoCAD to develop designs
Standards Establishment: Establish design standards, procedures and techniques to produce high-quality drawing packages
Site Layout: Produce site layouts to the quality standards identified by the management team for package creation
Drawing Verification: Verify that all drawings convey accurate information
Documentation Completion: Ensure all necessary documentation is complete such as engineering prints, bills of materials, and related product specifications, to allow successful transfer to service
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work directly with different business functions and team members to meet serviceability, functional and time requirements
Quality Check: Perform self-check of drawing packages to established standards
Regulation Compliance: Comply with EHS regulations and policies
Construction Knowledge: Understand types of construction and acceptable standards such as NEC and ADA

5. Designer Functions

Creative Development: Develop compelling and various creative elements around innovation opportunities
Customer Insight: Identifies, understands and represents the customer’s needs in the development of products, channels, and new opportunities for the company
UX Understanding: Understand the business objectives, user needs, and UX goal scopes
Concept Creation: Create system and application concepts by defining IA, design patterns and paradigms, task flows, wireframes and mockups, and specs
Solution Design: Incorporate technical and business requirements to create intuitive user-centered solutions
Research Support: Assist researchers in understanding findings and incorporating learnings into the design
Trend Awareness: Keep up to date on current design tools and trends
Timeline Management: Effectively deliver according to timelines and escalate if issues arise where timelines cannot be met
Feedback Integration: Feedback from multiple stakeholders and incorporated with a positive attitude
Progress Review: Review developer progress to ensure conformity with the design spec and functionality in the build
Prototype Collaboration: Work with prototype developers or a prototype for rapid deployment
Team Support: Support team in ways that may not be outlined in daily job duties
Knowledge Transfer: Offer knowledge transfer sessions and help with on-the-job training for new employees to get them up to speed

6. Designer Job Description

Mechanical Design: Responsible for the mechanical design of MV switchgear, having the ability to select a standard scheme and design a non-standard scheme according to the specific engineering requirements
Solution Update: Cooperating with DI to update the major solution design in order to meet the requirements of products, giving an answer to the question raised by our customers regarding products
Project Scheduling: Cooperating in designing the project scheduling to make sure the project is completed on time
Production Support: Cooperating in the production issue, designing new structure scheme according to the market requirements, extending product functions, and optimizing the original design
Scheme Confirmation: Supporting on design scheme confirmation before contract receipt, writing the related technical documentation
Core Values: Living ABB’s core values of safety and integrity, which means taking responsibility for actions while caring for colleagues and the business
Hypothesis Development: Develop, or support others to develop, testable hypotheses based on insights, designing tests and early prototypes to prove these and de-risk product development
Pipeline Management: Support Principal Design Manager to review, prioritise and communicate the pipeline of propositions throughout the Explore/Prototype phases
Expert Collaboration: Work with subject matter experts, colleagues and external partners to understand the desirability, viability and feasibility of proposed solutions
Insight Translation: Translate research into actionable insights and effectively communicate to key stakeholders, promoting human(client)-centred product design
Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design solutions and propositions in response to insights
Innovation Leadership: Support or lead internal innovation activities, including workshop facilitation, design sprints, discovery, etc
Process Analysis: Analyse processes and identify opportunities for improving the delivery and outputs of the team or department
Communication Development: Develop communications and updates on progress, processes and customer insights to promote own work, that of the broader team, and of design-led product development

7. Designer Overview

Project Management: Taking care of the job from start to finish
Multi-Project: Managing multiple projects at the same time
Cross-Department: Working closely with members of all departments, primarily Sales, Account Management and Ad Operations, to gather project specs and understand client's KPIs and objectives
Responsive Design: Developing mobile/responsive design solutions (Teads AD formats)
Custom Solutions: Creating custom solutions for client requirements
Prototype Building: Building prototypes and demos for new or existing products
Compatibility Testing: Testing designs on multiple devices and ensuring browser compatibility
Technical Guidance: Guiding the team on best technical practices
Meeting Participation: Participating in briefings and/or presentation meetings (internal and external)
Team Communication: Exchanging between the design team
Design Compliance: Following the design guides of the company

8. Designer Tasks

Design Support: Provide design resources to a busy healthcare consultancy
Design Screening: Screen designs for digital tools
Creative Direction: Provide creative direction to all deliverables, including developing designs from concept to final product
Infographic Development: Develop infographics from source data, ensuring accurate interpretation and visual understanding
Concept Interpretation: Effectively interpret client objectives into visual ideas and concepts of the highest standard
Visual Innovation: Provide innovation to constantly drive the high demand for visual communication
Brand Compliance: Work within the boundaries of client brand guidance and other regulatory requirements, whilst seeking to continually innovate and find creative solutions
Team Collaboration: Work effectively with in-house teams, particularly medical writers and digital developers, as well as with clients, to achieve project objectives
Communication Transparency: Communicate with the line manager and the appropriate project lead/project team in a transparent and reliable manner
Style Conformance: Conform to house styles and processes

9. Designer Roles

Trend Awareness: Keep current on emerging fashion trends and all trends relating to fabrics, colors and silhouettes, for the tops and bras categories
Technical Trends: Keep current on emerging technical and performance apparel trends and innovation relating to fabrics, trims, and garment engineering
Inspiration Creation: Contribute to the creation of inspiration boards including mood boards, color stories and sketch boards based on the market and community
Product Research: Responsible for research and development of the product as part of the ideation and design team
Design Creation: Create designs of directed categories that support the brand's vision, line plans, assortment strategies, price points that are consistent with current market trends and monthly direction
Vendor Partnership: Partner with Product Developers and Vendors on raw material & trim sourcing, following throughout the design and development process
Tech Pack: Create design flats, tech packs and BOMs for overseas manufacturers to interpret sketches into prototypes
Design Accuracy: Follow through with accuracy and thoroughness on designs, ensuring quality and consistency as it relates to fit, fabric and finish of approved design direction
Communication Updates: Communicate pertinent changes and updates
Costing Awareness: Understand and consider the costing of all garments at the design and proto review stages, proactively escalating exceptions to design leads for review and approval
Fit Collaboration: Partner with Tech and Design team on Fit sessions, provide fit intent with brand standard in mind, from 1st proto to Pre-Production, for both Regular and Plus sizes
Relationship Building: Build strong cross-functional relationships with Merchandising, Production, Tech, R&D teams
Deadline Adherence: Adhere to Global Calendar deadlines and expectations through each milestone point
Leadership Coaching: Lead and coach junior designers, helping to grow knowledge and skill sets
Workflow Collaboration: Collaborate with the Design team on an effective workflow to achieve deadlines, and time management is crucial

10. Designer Additional Details

UX Leadership: Lead, define, and communicate the UX direction using appropriate tools to describe intent including sketches, workflows, wireframes, and interaction specifications
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with product management, visual designers, marketers, merchandisers, and engineers including applying design principles and user-centered design methodologies to create a great experience for couples and guests
Customer Interpretation: Interpret customer needs into effective and thoughtful product solutions
User-Centered Design: Create user-centered designs by considering site analytics, customer feedback, and research findings
Business Focus: Design solutions that drive measurable business objectives
Team Inspiration: Bring inspiring ideas into an energetic and collaborative team in a fast-paced environment
Campaign Design: Craft out and design marketing campaigns to reach marketing objectives
Brief Execution: Deliver on briefs effectively via refreshing creative solutions
Design Leadership: Lead and collaborate with other designers
Visual Standards: Maintain a high standard of visual craft
Marketing Innovation: Innovate in today's marketing landscape including digital web, social media, and interactive installations
Creative Teamwork: Work with other members of the wider creative team to deliver solutions
Idea Presentation: Presenting ideas and justifying creative decisions

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