Senior Interior Designer
07/2026
Role Description
At smbw, we believe our work should push and deliver beyond expectations. We are building a culture of design excellence where curiosity is paramount, creativity is expected, and every team member helps shape the practice's future. If you want to help build a design culture, contribute to meaningful projects, and grow alongside a firm pursuing ambitious goals, we would like to meet you.
We seek a Designer at Heart who is deeply passionate about interiors, materiality, art, culture, and the human experience of space. This individual thinks about design beyond work hours because they truly enjoy it, is collaborative, and is equally dedicated to the craft and execution as they are to the overall vision. As a Senior Interior Designer, you will help guide projects from concept through documentation while working closely with project leaders, consultants, and clients to deliver thoughtful, high-quality interior environments across a range of project types, from workplace and academic to civic and cultural spaces.
What You Will Do
Advance Design Excellence: You will actively contribute to the firm's evolving design culture through precedent research, materials exploration, technology adoption, internal critiques, and collaborative design reviews.
Pursue Design Relentlessly: You will explore multiple space planning and materiality options, challenge conventional solutions, and help uncover unexpected opportunities in finishes, furnishings, lighting, and layout that strengthen each project's story and identity.
Translate Stories Into Interiors: You will work closely with clients and project teams to distill project aspirations into clear design narratives that guide decisions on materiality, spatial experience, and the overall feel of a space.
Shape the User Experience: You will develop strategic space plans, finish and material palettes, furniture and fixture selections, and lighting concepts that respond to how people actually move through, use, and feel in a space.
Collaborate Across Project Teams: You will collaborate closely with architects, project managers, consultants, clients, and fellow designers throughout all phases of design and project delivery, with particular strength in full renovation projects and close coordination with architectural teams to ensure interiors are seamlessly integrated.
Develop and Document Design Solutions: You will contribute to design development, FF&E specification, construction documentation, detailing, consultant coordination, and project deliverables while maintaining a high level of design quality and technical accuracy in compliance with building codes and regulations.
Contribute Across Disciplines: You will wear many hats, contributing to design, visualization, research, presentations, documentation, client engagement, and firm initiatives as opportunities arise, including supporting Project Managers with workflows and deadlines.
Embrace Emerging Tools: You will leverage both traditional and emerging design tools, including AI enabled workflows, visualization technologies, and digital design processes, to accelerate exploration, improve communication, and expand creative possibilities.
Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design from a CIDA accredited program.
5+ years of professional interior design experience spanning design, documentation, and project delivery.
NCIDQ licensure or active progress toward completing the NCIDQ exams is preferred.
Strong design portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, materiality, space planning, and technical execution.
Deep understanding of interior materials, finishes, FF&E, lighting, and how they come together to shape user experience.
Familiarity with building and material systems and all applicable regulatory standards.
Experience coordinating with architectural teams, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams; experience with full renovation projects is a strong asset.
Advanced proficiency in Revit, Enscape, Bluebeam Studio, and Miro, with the ability to quickly adapt to other relevant design tools and technologies.
Strong verbal, written, and graphic communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
Interest in emerging design technologies, AI enabled workflows, visualization tools, and evolving methods of practice.
Demonstrated curiosity, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and design excellence.
Interest in contributing to firm initiatives, research, mentorship, community engagement, and the continued evolution of smbw's design culture.
Apply For The Position
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resumes and any inquiries to smbw Interior Design Principal Michelle Mikita. Please include “Interior Designer” in the subject line of your email. Include resume and portfolio. You may also direct any questions or inquiries to the same email address.
About smbw
smbw is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.