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What does an architectural designer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
What does an architectural designer do

An Architectural Designer is specialized in planning and designing structures/urban landscapes. They ensure that company policies and standards are maintained when providing services to clients.

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Architectural designer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real architectural designer resumes:

  • Manage in- house projects and AutoCAD drawings.
  • Manage design and coordinate construction of grind up, interior finish, conversions and remodel projects.
  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Submit drawings to OSHPD for approval.
  • Submit & review OSHPD back check comments.
  • Participate in sustainable practices for leer certified projects.
  • Develop websites using PHP, MySQL, and Java applications.
  • Research current/new design materials; windows, doors, etc.
  • Cut and clean glass in preparation to refurbish windows operation.
  • Conduct speci cations for building codes, materials, and leer development.
  • Lead design team on 36,000 sf health care clinic from inception to tenant occupancy.
  • Assist office in commercial and residential cad designs, customer inquiries, contracts and meetings.
  • Coordinate architectural, civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings to complete drawings sets.
  • Collaborate on site planning and design of retail space ranging from 30,000 sf - 300,000 sf.
  • Prepare color drawings of landscape plan, elevations and interior designs for marketing and presentation purposes.

Architectural designer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Architectural Designers are proficient in Sketch, SketchUp, and BIM. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Time-management skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Architectural Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Sketch, 15%

    Render three dimensional models in AutoCAD and Sketch Up programs for production review and customer presentations.

  • SketchUp, 7%

    Worked extensively in Google SketchUp to produce promotional models as representations of proposed designs.

  • BIM, 6%

    Design development Advanced surface modeling Presentation rendering Tender contract preparations BIM team member using Digital Project Completed IDP, Spring 2012

  • Architectural Design, 6%

    Provided architectural design and construction drawings with plans, elevations, architectural details and specifications for new and existing retail stores.

  • Building Codes, 5%

    Reviewed construction documents for compliance with the local building codes and regulations and accessibility requirements.

  • Construction Drawings, 4%

    Prepared complex architecture and engineering construction drawings for commercial, residential, religion and financial institution projects utilizing AutoCAD.

Most architectural designers use their skills in "sketch," "sketchup," and "bim" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential architectural designer responsibilities here:

Math skills. The most essential soft skill for an architectural designer to carry out their responsibilities is math skills. This skill is important for the role because "drafters work on technical drawings." Additionally, an architectural designer resume shows how their duties depend on math skills: "implemented conceptual overlays and mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed components and specifications fitting regulations and building codes. "

Time-management skills. Many architectural designer duties rely on time-management skills. "drafters often work under deadline," so an architectural designer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways architectural designer responsibilities rely on time-management skills: "composed printable construction documents for k-12 schematic design and design development deadlines. "

Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of architectural designers is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday architectural designer duties, as "drafters must take care that the plans they convert are technically accurate according to the outlined specifications." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "worked closely with computer aided drafting programs to develop full detailed construction drawings. "

Technical skills. For certain architectural designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "technical skills." The day-to-day duties of an architectural designer rely on this skill, as "drafters in all specialties must be able to use computer software, such as cad, and work with database tools, such as building information modeling (bim)." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what architectural designers do: "prepared feasibility studies, technical reports, design analyses, and specifications associated with the implementation of construction concepts. "

Creativity. Another crucial skill for an architectural designer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what architectural designers relies on this skill, since "drafters must be able to turn plans and ideas into technical drawings of buildings, tools, and systems." How this skill relates to architectural designer duties can be seen in an example from an architectural designer resume snippet: "prepared a full visualization package for the 700,00sf lotus creative center in shanghai. "

See the full list of architectural designer skills

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Compare different architectural designers

Architectural designer vs. Drafting internship

Drafting interns perform jobs like designing engineering drawings and visual aids, forming the detailed layout execution of distinct mechanical parts, resolve design problems in BIM models and visual presentations. Also, the pattern of new products, alter existing products using SOLIDWORKS, estimate the shipboard pipe systems, and develop a superficial model of NIDA glider using CATIA V5. Additionally, they aid field technicians in gathering field information points with GPS units, counsel less experience BIM designers in discrete parts of the country through the phone, and enhance drawings in both Revit and AutoCAD in line with the instructions provided by the architect.

We looked at the average architectural designer salary and compared it with the wages of a drafting internship. Generally speaking, drafting interns are paid $16,838 lower than architectural designers per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both architectural designer and drafting internship positions are skilled in sketch, bim, and building codes.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between architectural designers and drafting internship. For instance, architectural designer responsibilities require skills such as "sketchup," "architectural design," "rhino," and "construction administration." Whereas a drafting internship is skilled in "solidworks," "engineering drawings," "creo," and "design drawings." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Drafting interns tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $47,037. In contrast, architectural designers make the biggest average salary, $60,879, in the professional industry.The education levels that drafting interns earn slightly differ from architectural designers. In particular, drafting interns are 10.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an architectural designer. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Architectural designer vs. Autocad drafter

An Autocad Drafter develops drawings and plans for the construction and manufacturing industries. They use various types of computer-aided design and drafting software.

A career as a autocad drafter brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of an architectural designer. In fact, autocad drafters salary is $17,138 lower than the salary of architectural designers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both architectural designers and autocad drafters have skills such as "sketch," "building codes," and "construction drawings. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, architectural designer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "sketchup," "bim," "architectural design," and "rhino." Meanwhile, an autocad drafter has duties that require skills in areas such as "layout drawings," "gis," "solidworks," and "fabrication drawings." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Autocad drafters may earn a lower salary than architectural designers, but autocad drafters earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $45,111. On the other hand, architectural designers receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $60,879.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Autocad drafters tend to reach lower levels of education than architectural designers. In fact, they're 10.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for architectural designers in the next 3-5 years?

Dak Kopec Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design Program, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

COVID-19 has changed the playing field, and future skills will need to include creative ways to use materials and systems for enhanced infection control. This will consist of thinking differently about ventilation systems, space planning, and material specifications.

Architectural designer vs. Computer aided drafter

A computer-aided drafter is responsible for creating designs, usually for industrial manufacturing and construction projects, using computer-aided software systems and applications. Computer-aided drafters should have excellent command in programming languages and navigating computer system codes to develop a technical output, following the clients' specifications and business requirements. They also work closely with design engineers to discuss dimensions, costs, materials, and production processes. A computer-aided drafter must be highly communicative and organizational, incorporating all the schematics, developing operational manuals, and performing draft adjustment as needed.

On average scale, computer aided drafters bring in lower salaries than architectural designers. In fact, they earn a $15,602 lower salary per year.By looking over several architectural designers and computer aided drafters resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "sketch," "bim," and "construction drawings." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, architectural designers are more likely to have skills like "sketchup," "architectural design," "building codes," and "rhino." But a computer aided drafter is more likely to have skills like "cad standards," "cad drawings," "autocad release," and "layout drawings."

Computer aided drafters earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $46,473. Architectural designers earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $60,879.Most computer aided drafters achieve a lower degree level compared to architectural designers. For example, they're 11.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Architectural designer vs. Drafter

The duties of a drafter vary on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a drafter specializes in creating a three-dimensional model for software and other applications upon gathering details and specifications from designers and other personnel. A drafter usually works with a team and is supervised by a manager or a more experienced colleague. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with the team involved, all while adhering to the policies and standards of the company.

Drafters typically earn lower pay than architectural designers. On average, drafters earn a $15,580 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, architectural designers and drafters both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "sketch," "construction drawings," and "shop drawings. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "sketchup," "bim," "architectural design," and "building codes" are skills that commonly show up on architectural designer resumes. On the other hand, drafters use skills like layout drawings, engineering drawings, assembly drawings, and gd on their resumes.The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for drafters, with average annual pay of $46,073. Comparatively, the highest architectural designer annual salary comes from the professional industry.The average resume of drafters showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to architectural designers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 12.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of architectural designer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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