Experiential Graphic Designer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in New York, New York

Job Description:

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm.  We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration.  Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

• Ideas:  We believe in a meritocracy of ideas.  We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.  




• Knowledge:  We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning.  We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.




• Product:  We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.




• Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work.  Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.




• Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration.  A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.




• Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Responsibilities

• Contributes to the development of distinct portions of a project with regular supervision by Project Leadership. 




• Employs techniques of graphic design to develop solutions for a wide range of architectural projects. Contributions can include: signage and wayfinding systems; environmental graphics of various scales; visual identity development; product design; animation; and more as warranted by projects.




• Works on interdisciplinary project teams collaborating with architects, interior designers, graphic designers, and engineers to contribute to a collective project ethos.




• Exhibits initiative, process innovation, problem solving, and care with a high attention to precision and accuracy.




• Produces and coordinates presentations and deliverables such as diagrams, drawings, conceptual sketches, and client presentations.




• Demonstrates a strong conceptual design ability. 




• Effectively communicates internally through timely and appropriate written, oral, and visual means.




• Effectively uses appropriate tools to design and document at all project phases. This includes working in scale in Adobe Illustrator using CadTools, and learning architectural software like Revit to produce some aspects of project documentation (prior knowledge is a plus but not required).




• Through team mentorship, gains  intermediate understanding of materials,  specifications, codes, details and construction techniques as they pertain to architectural graphics. 




• Manages time and workload to meet project task deadlines and commitments with regular interaction and direction from Project Leadership. Shares knowledge with less experienced staff.




• Contributes positively to team culture through collegiality and constructive dialogue.

 Leadership Responsibilities

• Inspires and leads others by example, participates in staff mentoring and training, clearly defines team member expectations and responsibilities, empowers others, and delegates where appropriate based on team members’ recognized abilities and potential.




• In collaboration with team members, contributes to a clear and consistent work plan to achieve the project budget, deliverables, and schedule.




• Actively engages in internal professional development opportunities.




• Contributes to the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.




• Contributes to the development of standards, policies, and procedures.




• Protects SOM from financial and legal risk.  

Minimum Qualifications 

• Completion of a professional degree in Graphic Design, Architecture, Interiors or a related field.




• 4 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.




• Strong interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills.




• Demonstrates proficiency in Adobe Suite, and Google Workspace. Familiarity with architectural software such as CadTools, Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, parametric and rendering software a plus but not required.

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM. 

Our Benefits:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance

Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs

Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our hybrid/flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program

Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development 

Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $80,000 - $95,000.

Our Culture:

Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you’ll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.

We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our DEI Action Plan was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices. 

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Visit this page to learn more about SOM's employment policy as well as additional information such as a privacy notice for California residents and how to apply offline.

For more about SOM: www.som.com

Portfolios must be submitted for all design positions (Architecture, Interiors, Planning, etc). Applications without work samples will not be reviewed.  Portfolios should be one PDF attachment, 10-20 pages, maximum 5 MB. Submit portfolios as part of your application in the section where the application asks you for your Resume or CV.