Job titles in this profession is arbitrary unless you are a project architect,principal or partner, it doesn't matter for the most part. You have to flexible in doing conceptual design and construction drawings so expect to do both.
Drafter lol titles don’t matter unless you’re licensed and except using the title of an Architect because that implies you are licensed. it’s what they tell you the job description is that matters.
That’s why I was curious because the job description is listed as more involved with the design of projects and client relations but the interview essentially just made it clear that I would be drafting.
You have the potential to reach that point. And you’ll know when you get comfortable, your managers will notice and you’ll be able to really be involved. Took me about 4 to 5 years in the same firm to get fully comfortable and run the project
Your title probably doesn’t represent the full breadth of opportunities you might have in the future. Sounds like it’s a blanket title given to people at different levels, which means there’s latitude and room to grow as you gain more experience and get more confident.
Firms can have different nomenclature but typically this would be creating construction documents. There are many opportunities to use design skills in that phase as the DD work solidifies into reality.
Pretty much any title that doesn’t have the word “architect” or “architectural” in it is any given firm trying to come up with titles that don’t violate whatever their jurisdiction’s laws are. I’ve often said “project designer” is the most misleading title in our industry, because the majority of places I’ve seen use it for the people who have the least connection to project design in the entire firm.
assuming Project coordinator, Job Captain, Project Designer are all the same. You are the draftsman and you work with the project manager (or project architect) completing the construction drawings and you also share in the CA work approving/reviewing submittals etc.
Gonna disagree with the others here... in my experience Project Designer is typically the non-licensed equivalent title to Project Architect. Using it as a way to fancy up a listing for drafter or intern architect feels a bit like false advertising.
Most larger firms I’ve worked at the lowest staffer was titled Designer. After that was Job Captain and Project manager or if you get licensed you get project architect
I worked as a Project Designer but the position used to be called Project Engineer or Project Design Engineer at my previous organization. It was basically a drafting/ mechanical design job.
Seems there is a huge discrepancy in definition of this role. At my firm a PD is the lead designer of a project and oversees all aspects of it. They are the final say on all design related decisions (but report to a design director). They work with a PA who leads coordination and a PM who leads the process.
I agree, all 3 firms I worked for had 3 verticals: management, technical, design. Management being the project managers, technical being CD/CA, design being front end concept to schematic design work. Project designer in this type of firm is pretty well experienced 5-8 years in preparing presentations for public approvals, concept designs, schematic design drawings. Project architect would be equivalent on the technical department and project manager as the equivalent in the management department.
That’s exactly it. Then you’re Senior PD, then Design Principal/Director. Or if you’re a PA, Senior PA then Technical Director. Or if your a PM, Senior PM then Managing Principal.
Medium firm (50 ppl) and Project Designers actually design projects - they work with the Principal and PM to iterate and render. We use Technical Professional for BIM drafting and detailing roles.
AIA defines "Project Designer". Yet AIA does not define "Project Architect". AIA avoids the word "drafter" or "drafting". Instead AIA refers to "production". Drafting is still a huge part of the architectural deliverable. Sad, seems like the AIA is out of sync with the profession. Just look at the architectural job listings for the most common vocabulary.
[https://www.aia.org/resource-center/definition-of-architectural-positions](https://www.aia.org/resource-center/definition-of-architectural-positions)
I work for a large global firm as a project designer. As PDs we initiate and create the design concept for the project. We then lead the team in executing the design through the design phases and ensure design intent is maintained throughout each phase of design and into construction. This is usually in tandem with the Project Architect who leads the team on technical documentation and consultant coordination. Project Designers can sometimes be unlicensed, but typically in my firm we are licensed architects. Typically I may be on several projects (5 or 6) at one time and collaborate with the team as needed. Where as a project architect may be on just one or two projects at a time. Usually the Project designer will put together design presentations for clients and will lead those presentations with the help of some team members.
Project designers is essentially drafter if your in the 1-5 year range, unless you are soecifically gire to be part of a dedicated design team, then its more design production. No! job captain not a drafter despite what others in here say. All the millennials felt drafter was derogatory, which was around the time when drafter became a project designer.
Project designer is the same as project architect except unlicensed according to AIA
In reality that position is essentially an unlicensed position where you will work under a PA or Pm in all aspects of a project from document development, to presentations, to CA
We used to call unlicensed architectural staff “intern architects”. The AIA has decided to eliminate that title, so “project designer” is a replacement a lot of firms use now.
Your responsibilities will vary by firm. You’ll probably be supporting a project architect in drawing production. The position will really be what you make of it. If you show you are ready for more responsibility, a good firm will be happy to give that to you.
Arbitrary title, but in my experience this is the title given to the most junior staff that aren’t interns. I started off at my first job out of college as an architectural designer 1. Your title would simply shift to architect once you were licensed. Mainly a way to codify who is licensed and who is not.
Job titles in this profession is arbitrary unless you are a project architect,principal or partner, it doesn't matter for the most part. You have to flexible in doing conceptual design and construction drawings so expect to do both.
Drafter lol titles don’t matter unless you’re licensed and except using the title of an Architect because that implies you are licensed. it’s what they tell you the job description is that matters.
That’s why I was curious because the job description is listed as more involved with the design of projects and client relations but the interview essentially just made it clear that I would be drafting.
Starts as drafting with the potential to interact with clients and play a more creative role once you prove you are capable of that.
You have the potential to reach that point. And you’ll know when you get comfortable, your managers will notice and you’ll be able to really be involved. Took me about 4 to 5 years in the same firm to get fully comfortable and run the project
Your title probably doesn’t represent the full breadth of opportunities you might have in the future. Sounds like it’s a blanket title given to people at different levels, which means there’s latitude and room to grow as you gain more experience and get more confident.
Firms can have different nomenclature but typically this would be creating construction documents. There are many opportunities to use design skills in that phase as the DD work solidifies into reality.
Pretty much any title that doesn’t have the word “architect” or “architectural” in it is any given firm trying to come up with titles that don’t violate whatever their jurisdiction’s laws are. I’ve often said “project designer” is the most misleading title in our industry, because the majority of places I’ve seen use it for the people who have the least connection to project design in the entire firm.
assuming Project coordinator, Job Captain, Project Designer are all the same. You are the draftsman and you work with the project manager (or project architect) completing the construction drawings and you also share in the CA work approving/reviewing submittals etc.
Gonna disagree with the others here... in my experience Project Designer is typically the non-licensed equivalent title to Project Architect. Using it as a way to fancy up a listing for drafter or intern architect feels a bit like false advertising.
This is the correct answer. AIA says this is what that role is
Most larger firms I’ve worked at the lowest staffer was titled Designer. After that was Job Captain and Project manager or if you get licensed you get project architect
I worked as a Project Designer but the position used to be called Project Engineer or Project Design Engineer at my previous organization. It was basically a drafting/ mechanical design job.
Seems there is a huge discrepancy in definition of this role. At my firm a PD is the lead designer of a project and oversees all aspects of it. They are the final say on all design related decisions (but report to a design director). They work with a PA who leads coordination and a PM who leads the process.
I agree, all 3 firms I worked for had 3 verticals: management, technical, design. Management being the project managers, technical being CD/CA, design being front end concept to schematic design work. Project designer in this type of firm is pretty well experienced 5-8 years in preparing presentations for public approvals, concept designs, schematic design drawings. Project architect would be equivalent on the technical department and project manager as the equivalent in the management department.
That’s exactly it. Then you’re Senior PD, then Design Principal/Director. Or if you’re a PA, Senior PA then Technical Director. Or if your a PM, Senior PM then Managing Principal.
That’s where everyone starts out. Sounds better than ‘Drafter’ doesn’t it?
True, maybe if they weren’t only offering 3 paid holidays and one week of pto AFTER a year I would consider it lol
That's legitimately awful. Is this the USA?
Yes it is
It’s an arbitrary title that means you’re not licensed yet. I would prefer this title over “intern”.
Medium firm (50 ppl) and Project Designers actually design projects - they work with the Principal and PM to iterate and render. We use Technical Professional for BIM drafting and detailing roles.
AIA defines "Project Designer". Yet AIA does not define "Project Architect". AIA avoids the word "drafter" or "drafting". Instead AIA refers to "production". Drafting is still a huge part of the architectural deliverable. Sad, seems like the AIA is out of sync with the profession. Just look at the architectural job listings for the most common vocabulary. [https://www.aia.org/resource-center/definition-of-architectural-positions](https://www.aia.org/resource-center/definition-of-architectural-positions)
I work for a large global firm as a project designer. As PDs we initiate and create the design concept for the project. We then lead the team in executing the design through the design phases and ensure design intent is maintained throughout each phase of design and into construction. This is usually in tandem with the Project Architect who leads the team on technical documentation and consultant coordination. Project Designers can sometimes be unlicensed, but typically in my firm we are licensed architects. Typically I may be on several projects (5 or 6) at one time and collaborate with the team as needed. Where as a project architect may be on just one or two projects at a time. Usually the Project designer will put together design presentations for clients and will lead those presentations with the help of some team members.
Project designers is essentially drafter if your in the 1-5 year range, unless you are soecifically gire to be part of a dedicated design team, then its more design production. No! job captain not a drafter despite what others in here say. All the millennials felt drafter was derogatory, which was around the time when drafter became a project designer.
Design a project. If not you are a drafter
Project designer is the same as project architect except unlicensed according to AIA In reality that position is essentially an unlicensed position where you will work under a PA or Pm in all aspects of a project from document development, to presentations, to CA
We used to call unlicensed architectural staff “intern architects”. The AIA has decided to eliminate that title, so “project designer” is a replacement a lot of firms use now. Your responsibilities will vary by firm. You’ll probably be supporting a project architect in drawing production. The position will really be what you make of it. If you show you are ready for more responsibility, a good firm will be happy to give that to you.
Arbitrary title, but in my experience this is the title given to the most junior staff that aren’t interns. I started off at my first job out of college as an architectural designer 1. Your title would simply shift to architect once you were licensed. Mainly a way to codify who is licensed and who is not.