What does a design consultant do?
A design consultant is an individual who provides expertise incorporating functionality and aesthetics to a space or product based on the evaluation of the needs of customers or clients. Design consultants may collaborate with other professionals such as architects, graphic designers, or fashion designers to cater to the needs of their customers. They assist in improving existing designs, either in interior designs, fashions, or graphics. Design consultants may also work in different work settings like retail stores, architectural companies, or graphic design firms.
Design consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real design consultant resumes:
- Manage a CMS website and WordPress blog.
- Lead 5 country assessment of SME constraints and opportunities in order to program $2 million of donor funds.
- Manage team of design, engineering, DBA, and QA members to implement wine club subscription e-commerce services.
- Develop construction drawings using AutoCAD; coordinate bid process and vendor selection; and manage construction process through final punch list.
- Manage the integration of multiple demonstration rooms into a comprehensive solution displaying design possibilities, implementation techniques, and corporate capabilities.
- Specialize in RF telemetry circuits.
- Design the complete structure using REVIT.
- Create SQL scripts for counts to be part of a report or spreadsheet.
- Develop an interactive cad device, and game controller for the video game industry.
- Set up, migrate, and restructure client web pages within proprietary CMS system.
- Render design ideas in paste-ups, hand drawings, AutoCAD, and Google SketchUp.
- Generate sketch details of how interior partitions would meet exterior curtain walls for client review.
- Provide cad consulting for local sole-practitioners, including cad and BIM problem solving and implementation.
- Communicate design requirements to cabinet installers, as well as plumbing, electrical and HVAC trades.
- Involve in several projects that require all aspects of piping, HVAC and sheet metal design.
Design consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Design Consultants are proficient in Product Knowledge, Java, and Design Process. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Visualization, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Design Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Product Knowledge, 9%
Performed in home design consultations for window coverings implementing product knowledge and matched products with customers specific needs.
- Java, 8%
Produced an e-business site on AS/400 platform using WebSphere Commerce Suite, WebSphere, JSP, DB2, and Java technologies.
- Design Process, 8%
Helped establish Design process and operating procedures in relationship to the Chinese Manufacturing facility owned by Agile.
- Design Services, 7%
Provided design services for a joint venture German/American team developing a Process Control programming-language system.
- Design Solutions, 6%
Design lead collaborating with cross-functional teams to translate strategic and customer experience objectives into design solutions & products.
- Leveraged, 5%
Leveraged rapid client interview process to design marketing materials for local political campaign leading to record engagement.
Common skills that a design consultant uses to do their job include "product knowledge," "java," and "design process." You can find details on the most important design consultant responsibilities below.
Problem-solving skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a design consultant to have is problem-solving skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "interior designers must address challenges, such as construction delays or unavailability of certain materials, while keeping the project on time and within budget." Design consultants often use problem-solving skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "reviewed brds, hlds, llds, provided subject matter expertise and leveraged product/process/technology partners to deliver solutions. "
Visualization. Many design consultant duties rely on visualization. "interior designers need a strong sense of proportion and visual awareness in order to understand how the pieces of a design will fit together to create the intended environment.," so a design consultant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways design consultant responsibilities rely on visualization: "provide design support as needed to assist private clients with residential space planning through 2d/3d graphic visualization. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of design consultants is interpersonal skills. This skill is critical to many everyday design consultant duties, as "interior designers need to be able to communicate effectively with clients and others." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "secured several large design projects as a result of refined interpersonal skills. "
Detail oriented. For certain design consultant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a design consultant rely on this skill, as "interior designers need to be precise in measuring interior spaces and creating drawings, so that their drawings can be used by workers such as engineers or other designers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what design consultants do: "revamped website design through detailed wire framing, heuristic evaluation and user profiling for 'elestar'-crane manufacturing company in pune. "
Artistic ability. Another crucial skill for a design consultant to carry out their responsibilities is "artistic ability." A big part of what design consultants relies on this skill, since "interior designers use their sense of style to develop aesthetically pleasing designs." How this skill relates to design consultant duties can be seen in an example from a design consultant resume snippet: "designed updates and proofread websites for errors offered artistic consulting services for website design developed logo and other graphic elements"
Creativity. While "creativity" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to design consultant responsibilities. Much of what a design consultant does relies on this skill, seeing as "interior designers need to be imaginative in selecting furnishings and fabrics and in creating functional spaces that serve the client’s needs and fit the client’s lifestyle." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of design consultants: "leveraged creativity and critical thinking skills to help clients with ground-breaking displays to outshine their competition. "
The three companies that hire the most design consultants are:
- Bank of America106 design consultants jobs
- Salesforce50 design consultants jobs
- Guidehouse46 design consultants jobs
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Compare different design consultants
Design consultant vs. Kitchen and bath designer
As the name entails, kitchen and bath designers design kitchens and bathrooms using their interior design skills and knowledge of space, colors, lighting, and textures. They typically begin working on their projects by doing a tour and talking to clients to better understand their requirements. Their typical tasks may include designing and preparing a plan layout, coordinating the purchase of materials, and developing and implementing marketing programs. Kitchen and bathroom designers may also conduct workshops and seminars and participate in safety meetings.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a design consultant are more likely to require skills like "java," "leveraged," "math," and "lead generation." On the other hand, a job as a kitchen and bath designer requires skills like "customer satisfaction," "custom cabinets," "design software," and "plumbing." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Kitchen and bath designers tend to make the most money working in the construction industry, where they earn an average salary of $58,049. In contrast, design consultants make the biggest average salary, $94,021, in the technology industry.The education levels that kitchen and bath designers earn slightly differ from design consultants. In particular, kitchen and bath designers are 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a design consultant. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Design consultant 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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real design consultant resumes. While design consultant responsibilities can utilize skills like "java," "design process," "design services," and "design solutions," visual merchandisers use skills like "customer service," "ladders," "store management," and "drive sales."
Visual merchandisers earn a lower average salary than design consultants. But visual merchandisers earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $37,869. Additionally, design consultants earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $94,021 annually.visual merchandisers earn lower levels of education than design consultants in general. They're 6.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Design consultant vs. Associate designer
An Associate Designer helps in developing sketches on paper and in graphic design software. They usually are supervised by the junior staff and interns.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a design consultant is likely to be skilled in "java," "design services," "leveraged," and "math," while a typical associate designer is skilled in "customer service," "adobe illustrator," "tech packs," and "apparel."
Associate designers earn the best pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $61,366. Design consultants earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $94,021.associate designers typically earn similar educational levels compared to design consultants. Specifically, they're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Design consultant vs. Assistant designer
Assistant designers act as administrative support to senior designers in creating innovative designs by negotiating with the vendors about the prices of decoration materials. They are keen and up-to-date to the latest fashion and trends by conducting surveys and research. They are exceptionally creative and innovative and have excellent IT skills as they use illustration, typography, and photography layouts in the design process. However, being an assistant designer, career development relies on his/her /her specialism, reputation, and experience depending on how its opportunities are influenced by the company he/she works for.
Types of design consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
