What does an associate designer do?
An Associate Designer helps in developing sketches on paper and in graphic design software. They usually are supervised by the junior staff and interns.
Associate designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real associate designer resumes:
- Create & manage PPC advertising campaigns and perform basic SEO maintenance to improve web traffic.
- Select all fabrics and trims, develop styles from first sketch through production, manage sample room, and extensive fittings.
- Develop marketing and brand awareness initiatives through social media outlets; create and manage company Facebook and Houzz profiles.
- Design print collateral such as brochures and promotional products
- Establish new grade rules in PLM.
- Operate POS & other computerize cash registers.
- Head graphic designer for major kids apparel company.
- Source fabric and trim: woven and knits (domestic and import).
- Work on illustrator sketches, add callouts adn keep track of PLM style status.
- Create colors, flat sketches, patterns, overseas packages, and prints utilizing cad system.
- Specialize in children (boys and girls) clothing, including woven, knits and sweater.
- Formulate guidelines specs from sketch for cost, and issue full specs for production upon approval of final samples.
- Interact with marketing team to design and develop point of sale (POS) packaging to increase brand appeal.
- Organize work load, including cutting, construction, finishing for the order of women's make to wear apparel.
- Design the layout and interfaces of all in-house sites, and conceptualize the UI and UX framework of the task intranet site
Associate designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Associate Designers are proficient in Sketch, CAD, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Time-management skills, Communication skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Associate Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Sketch, 10%
Updated tech packs to stay on top of Design sketch revision, construction details and specs following Concept line review.
- CAD, 8%
Developed and implemented CAD guidelines.
- Customer Service, 7%
Assisted management with coaching and cross training customer service representatives to implement new promotional offers on a consistent basis.
- Design Projects, 4%
Design and supervise interior design projects and supervised day-to-day progress to completion.
- PowerPoint, 4%
Scheduled meetings and created PowerPoint presentations.
- Space Planning, 4%
Work included space planning, design development, construction documents and construction administration.
Common skills that an associate designer uses to do their job include "sketch," "cad," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important associate designer responsibilities below.
Time-management skills. The most essential soft skill for an associate designer to carry out their responsibilities is time-management skills. This skill is important for the role because "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Additionally, an associate designer resume shows how their duties depend on time-management skills: "supported product development by adhering to merchandising calendar deadlines. "
Communication skills. Many associate designer duties rely on communication skills. "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information.," so an associate designer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways associate designer responsibilities rely on communication skills: "managed product development through effective communications with domestic and overseas vendors. "
Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of associate designers is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday associate designer duties, as "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "worked with scrum product development method - analyzed, estimated, developed, documented, and reported. "
Artistic ability. For certain associate designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "artistic ability." The day-to-day duties of an associate designer rely on this skill, as "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what associate designers do: "used creative and artistic skills to bring additional innovation to design processes. "
Computer skills. Another common skill required for associate designer responsibilities is "computer skills." This skill comes up in the duties of associate designers all the time, as "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." An excerpt from a real associate designer resume shows how this skill is central to what an associate designer does: "utilized computer-aided design equipment and graphic tools such as catia. "
Creativity. While "creativity" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to associate designer responsibilities. Much of what an associate designer does relies on this skill, seeing as "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of associate designers: "worked closely with the creative director and product development. "
The three companies that hire the most associate designers are:
- Peloton Interactive, Inc.50 associate designers jobs
- The Freeman Company LLC20 associate designers jobs
- The Tile Shop19 associate designers jobs
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Compare different associate designers
Associate designer vs. Visual merchandiser
A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans. They must also be knowledgeable on product information to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. Visual merchandisers should be creative in setting up the uniformity of the store's visuals within the budget goals. The designs must be appealing enough to drive the customers around the premises, potentially generating revenues and increasing profitability.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an associate designer are more likely to require skills like "sketch," "cad," "design projects," and "powerpoint." On the other hand, a job as a visual merchandiser requires skills like "ladders," "sales floor," "store management," and "drive sales." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Visual merchandisers earn the highest salaries when working in the retail industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,869. On the other hand, associate designers are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $61,366.The education levels that visual merchandisers earn slightly differ from associate designers. In particular, visual merchandisers are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an associate designer. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Associate designer vs. Graphic designer/production
A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that associate designer responsibilities requires skills like "cad," "customer service," "human centered design," and "space planning." But a graphic designer/production might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "art direction," "adobe indesign," "signage," and "adobe creative suite."
Graphic designer/productions may earn a lower salary than associate designers, but graphic designer/productions earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $59,531. On the other hand, associate designers receive higher pay in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $61,366.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Graphic designer/productions tend to reach similar levels of education than associate designers. In fact, they're 2.5% 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 associate designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood
Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Associate designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, associate designers are more likely to have skills like "cad," "customer service," "design projects," and "human centered design." But a graphic designer, marketing is more likely to have skills like "adobe creative suite," "brochures," "blog posts," and "flyers."
Graphic designers, marketing make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $52,640. On the other hand, associate designers are paid the highest salary in the retail industry, with average annual pay of $61,366.graphic designers, marketing typically earn similar educational levels compared to associate designers. Specifically, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Associate designer vs. Graphic designer internship
In a graphic design internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to accomplish tasks while under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. An aspiring graphic designer may use this opportunity to observe and participate in designing for various industries, handle different clients, participate in creative meetings, and learn strategies from experts. Furthermore, there may also be technical tasks involving research and analysis, gathering materials, coordinating with vendors, and producing reports and other necessary documentation. They may also be responsible for maintaining a database and responding to calls and inquires.
Types of associate designer
Updated January 8, 2025
