A global, employee‑owned firm specializing exclusively in interior architecture and design services.
11 days ago
Expert & Leadership (13+ years), Experienced (8-12 years)
Full Time
Seattle, Washington, United States
Office Full-Time
Company Size
1,140 Employees
Service Specialisms
Sector Specialisms
At IA Interior Architects, the Design Director sets a clear vision for design excellence and leads the studio in delivering innovative, high‑performing environments. The role partners closely with clients, project teams, and firm leadership to translate business and human needs into strategic, aspirational, and executable design solutions.
The Design Director builds trusted client relationships by understanding business objectives, culture, performance goals, budgets, and schedules, and translates these insights into a clear design vision. They lead and elevate design quality across the studio, ensuring consistency, rigor, and innovation in all outcomes.
Key duties include directing and presenting design concepts for major projects, overseeing space plans, design concepts, documentation, and furniture packages, and collaborating with Project Managers and technical leaders to align design intent with client goals. They mentor designers, lead training initiatives, design reviews, and team‑building efforts to uphold IA’s standards and best practices.
In addition, the Design Director maintains industry and client relationships, identifies business development opportunities, partners with design and marketing teams on photography, storytelling, and award submissions, and fosters collaboration across studios to align with firmwide standards and strategic objectives.
The role champions the integration of emerging technologies such as AI‑enabled design tools, guiding teams in research, precedent analysis, test fits, visualization, and iterative exploration while preserving design integrity. They collaborate with firm leadership to evaluate and implement digital tools that improve quality, coordination, and client experience, and promote a culture of learning around automation and data‑driven design.
Required qualifications include a degree from an accredited architecture or interior design program, with a license preferred, and at least 15 years of progressive workplace design experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects. The candidate must possess exceptional storytelling, presentation, and client engagement skills, advanced expertise in concept development, space planning, 3D visualization, deep knowledge of design phases, building systems, codes, ADA, FF&E, and advanced proficiency in Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and AI‑assisted design tools.