Designer

Overview

In this role you will lead and craft architectural ideas while hands-on designing, guiding interdisciplinary teams from concept through schematic design. You’ll shape clear narratives and visuals that connect concept, context, and programme, while mentoring colleagues and collaborating with clients and global studios. This is a design-led, studio-focused position that values authorship, editorial storytelling, and the ability to translate ambitious ideas into coherent spatial and material strategies. You play a central role in shaping major projects and the studio’s design culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, complex projects from first principles through schematic design
• Generate, test and communicate compelling architectural ideas
• Build clear design narratives connecting concept, context, programme and experience
• Shape presentations with editorial eye, visual hierarchy and storytelling
• Direct teams through concept and schematic design development
• Translate design ambition into spatial, structural and material strategies
• Collaborate with clients, consultants and SOM’s global studios
• Mentor designers and strengthen design authorship culture

Key requirements

• At least 6 years’ experience leading design (not just project delivery)
• Track record of originating and developing architectural concepts through schematic design
• Strong judgement across form, programme, structure, material and context
• Ability to turn complex ideas into clear narratives and well-crafted presentations
• Experience presenting design ideas to senior clients and collaborators
• Ability to guide teams while remaining hands-on in the design process
• Professional registration is preferred
• Portfolio demonstrating individual design authorship and design process through schematic design

• leadership
• mentorship
• strong communication
• design authorship
• concept development
• presentation design

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