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Assistant designer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Samantha Osborne,

Samantha Osborne

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical assistant designer skills. We ranked the top skills for assistant designers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.0% of assistant designer resumes contained sketch as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an assistant designer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 assistant designer skills for your resume and career

1. Sketch

Here's how assistant designers use sketch:

Assisted Designer with color selection, sketch development, proper fit concepts, and preparation of samples for buyer meetings.
Communicate specifics about each design sketch by formulating technical packages to be sent to the production facilities utilizing Adobe Illustrator.

2. Tech Packs

A tech pack is an informative sheet that designers create to communicate with a manufacturer all the details and components necessary to turn a product into a finished product. It also serves as a "product contract" between a person and the manufacturer throughout the sampling and production process. Typically, designers include dimensions, materials, sketches, size specifications, colors, illustrations, hardware, grading, labels/tags, construction information, and legends. The tech pack is essential for quality control and also ensures that the submitted samples meet ones specifications exactly and that one does not waste time and money reproducing them if they are incorrect.

Here's how assistant designers use tech packs:

Created and organized tech packs and merchandising/marketing materials.
Design, tech packs, fabric/concept/design development

3. Adobe Illustrator

Here's how assistant designers use adobe illustrator:

Created line sheets for the Fall 2010, Holiday 2010, and Spring 2010 women's collection utilizing Adobe Illustrator.
Designed with Head Designer using Adobe Illustrator on Fall/Winter (2011), Spring (2012) and handbag collections.

4. Line Sheets

A line sheet is a sales tool for product marketing and sales to display important information about a product to potential buyers and retailer partners. It is commonly used by manufacturers, wholesalers, brands, and designers in the fashion industry.

Here's how assistant designers use line sheets:

Merchandised and assembled line sheets seasonally.
Formulated and maintained line sheets, style guides, art sheets and rack guides and provided departments with updated information.

5. Trend Research

A trend is presumed future development that may have a long-term effect. Trend analysis is the practice of collecting data and attempting to spot a recurrence, or non-recurrence, pattern. This field revolves around predicting the future of a market based on data from past sales, client preferences, and demand.

Here's how assistant designers use trend research:

Traveled overseas for international trend research and theme inspiration for upcoming seasons.
Cash handling, Customer Assistance, Customer Service, Designing, Sketching, Communicating with China, Trim and Trend Research

6. Garment Construction

Garment construction is a technical skill requiring the skills and knowledge of basic sewing techniques. These techniques include seams, darts, gathers, application of stitches, pleats, and edge finishing. Additionally, knowledge of various types of seams like a flat seam, lapped seam, French seam, and slot seam along with cut and style play an important role in the appearance of any garment.

Here's how assistant designers use garment construction:

Generated technical design packages with full garment construction requirements for knit product development.
Co-managed quality control department and gave instruction in garment construction and technique

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7. PLM

PLM stands for "product lifecycle management." This process is the management of a product's entire lifecycle, from when the product is first conceived and developed to when the product is sold and, eventually, disposed. A company may use PLM for a variety of reasons, most commonly to reduce the amount of errors in the manufacturing process and to ensure the product is sold more quickly.

Here's how assistant designers use plm:

Trained co-workers across multiple divisions on PLM to efficiently communicate all Target approvals.
Input information into Web PLM system and web store for factories to view and keep track of sample status.

8. Auto CAD

Here's how assistant designers use auto cad:

Produced Auto CAD drawings for most interior elevations including cabinetry, electrical plans, and exterior landscape plans.
Prepared Design documents using Auto Cad 2D and estimation of the total project cost.

9. Adobe Photoshop

Here's how assistant designers use adobe photoshop:

Created original print/pattern design using both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Created original prints given minimal direction utilizing Adobe Photoshop.

10. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how assistant designers use product development:

Administered product development process including sampling, prototype correction and final confirmation, sourcing and price negotiations.
Focused various brand product developments, creating colorways to enhance merchandising opportunities.

11. Technical Design

Technical design is a blueprint or prototype design that explains the technical nature of an intended design and serves as a guide to engineers during the implementation process. It's a preliminary stage before the implementation of designs where engineers take out the time to study the sketch, and be guided on what to do as regards implementation and project delivery.

Here's how assistant designers use technical design:

Designed Specialty clothing for ski product line clothing while improving the quality and technical design details through strategic analysis and recommendations.
Conveyed information provided by technical designer to factories to ensure quality control and overall garment expectations.

12. Presentation Boards

Here's how assistant designers use presentation boards:

Researched and analyzed fashion trends and prepared presentation boards.
Created and developed seasonal presentation boards.

13. Design Development

Design development is used to refer to a number of positions and skills in a number of different industries. In the architectural world, Design Development is used to refer to an architectural plan that is already halfway or more done but needs further development, alteration, and testing. In the automotive industry, it refers to the skills necessary to create and develop new car, engine, and other designs, as well as to ensure that all designs are safe and effective.

Here's how assistant designers use design development:

Assist lead designer in gathering information/material selection & design development of high-end residential and commercial design projects.
Executed daily operations of filing, organizing, and ordering components for design development.

14. Concept Boards

Here's how assistant designers use concept boards:

Assisted in trend forecasting and developed seasonal concepts -Created concept boards and accessorized for photo shoots
Created concept boards identifying color and trend direction (trim, neckline and silhouette) utilized in seasonal designs.

15. Design Details

Here's how assistant designers use design details:

Summarized design detail, measurement and email instructions to overseas factory.
Research ideas on the seasonal design concepts, trims, design details, stripes, patterns, silhouettes, etc.

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What skills help Assistant Designers find jobs?

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What skills stand out on assistant designer resumes?

Samantha Osborne

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne Design, Eastern Illinois University

Soft skills are equally important to hard skills. Graphic designers are visual communicators. Visual communication is a universal learned skill, vs. a linguistic capability. This means that graphic designers must learn to recognize and effectively utilize mood and tone in their own visual compositions in regard to color theory and psychology, gestalt principles, and font or lettering design. Essentially a well-skilled graphic designer becomes part psychologist in working through design problems and deciphering client direction, part problem-solver in developing an effective solution to the design problem, and part artist in bringing astonishing and original visual communication and graphics to reach a solution.

What soft skills should all assistant designers possess?

Samantha Osborne

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne Design, Eastern Illinois University

Three soft skills stand out most: an ability to see the big picture, an ability to "read" people, and an ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s).
i. An ability to see big picture: there are an infinite number of details in graphic design, whether you work in website design on the front or back end, or in print media with physical outputs. It's easy to get caught up on the details, especially when clients are making specific demands about things such as paper type. A skilled designer must be able to see beyond the details and look at the big picture for an effective design solution. For example, a client may be asking for an invitation design for an up-coming event. A skilled designer will ask questions and dig in, eventually uncovering that perhaps for a successful event, the client also needs a splash page and social media, either in place of or in addition to an invitation. A skilled designer addresses design problems holistically, rather than minutely.
ii. An ability to "read" people: designers are trained in art-specific vocabulary. Hue, saturation, pixels, gestalt...most non-art folks don't use or speak that language. When clients are describing their goals, they aren't using art-vocabulary. It's a designer's job to translate what the client is saying into an advanced and effective creative solution. They must be able to speak and understand the language of non-creative folks, as well as the language of the broader creative industry.
iii. An ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s): many young and inexperienced designer tend to get their hearts broken when a client smashes one of their [very well thought-out] ideas. Rather than rolling over, a designer must learn to navigate how best to build support for their idea(s). That might mean in some instances you work more fluidly with the client throughout the design process, so that they feel they have ownership in the development of the solution. In other instances it might mean that the designer is presenting options, rather than a single solution, so that the client feels empowered to make choices throughout the design process. And in some instances, it might be a matter of better explaining and presenting your idea to a client; perhaps the designer needs to push back more, perhaps they need to provide more research as to why their solution is best, or maybe they simply need to present it with more excitement and enthusiasm.

What hard/technical skills are most important for assistant designers?

Lorrie Ivas

Full-time Faculty, Santa Monica College

The ability to communicate your design concepts to the team (or future boss/interviewer) is vital. Hand and digital fashion sketching and illustration skills are necessary at every step. Scholarships, competitions, or internships often request a sample portfolio, so it doesn't go any further if the illustrations don't "wow" the judging viewer. One can sew/tailor beautifully, but knowing how to "show" that skillset to the judge or employer is vital - i.e., photographing the step-by-step process with close-up details of tailoring skills and presenting it digitally... will win. One may not show actual garments... so knowing how to "sell" your skills is crucial.

What assistant designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Gina Pisut Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Human Sciences

In addition to being well versed in computer design software for Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising graduates, students need to truly be open to learning, have strong communication skills, and be able to work well in a team. The most common feedback we get from fashion and retail companies is students must be willing to do the work, be open to learning and doing different aspects of the business, and be adaptable and able to pivot when changes come within this fast-paced industry.

What type of skills will young assistant designers need?

Barbara Anderson

Professor and Head, Kansas State University

Technology in buildings and using technology to design buildings and communicate with teams and clients will be more critical than ever.

Do you want to know more?

List of assistant designer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an assistant designer resume and required skills for an assistant designer to have include:

Sketch
Tech Packs
Adobe Illustrator
Line Sheets
Trend Research
Garment Construction
PLM
Auto CAD
Adobe Photoshop
Product Development
Technical Design
Presentation Boards
Design Development
Concept Boards
Design Details
Design Process

Market Research
Mood Boards
Lab Dips
Development Process
Technical Sketches
Embroidery
Design Ideas
BOM
Design Concepts
Sample Development
Technical Drawings
Strike Offs
Color Palettes
Design Meetings
Design Boards
Photo Shoots

Sample Room
Color Cards
Solidworks
Trend Boards
Production Samples
Color Standards
Trade Shows
Cost Sheets
Space Planning
Color Boards
Conceptual Development
Line Development
Web PDM
Overseas Vendors
Color Ways
PowerPoint

Updated January 8, 2025

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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Assistant Designer Skills

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