"Revolving Door" Reputation for a Reason - Design Associate Dawson Design Associates Employee Review

The opportunities are endless at DDA. I started off my career as a junior designer and over the years worked up to a Senior Designer/Project Manager. There is a high expectation to learn, practice, develop, grow and push yourself to be the best at your career. It takes a lot of personal investment, but the tools and opportunities to succeed are all in place. The projects produced are award winning and some of the best in the world. The clients are the top in the industry and drive DDA to produce top projects for them. The creative opportunities are all around you. With proven growth and responsibility, there are lots of chances to travel to visit project sites, meet clients, tour factories and go to some of the best trade shows in the world. The culture to learn and grow is very strong at DDA. There are classes, training binders and lots of hands on training done by the owner. It’s up to the designer themselves to take those training opportunities seriously and practice their craft in order to grow. You certainly have the chance to learn and grow quickly if you take your career seriously. The office has two locations, Seattle and London. The two locations make for a very diverse office and adds a lot to the culture. The company has developed a smooth system for working on projects together from the two office locations.

The pace of the office is very intense, but that is what is expected by the higher caliber of clients and the drive for award winning projects. It’s a deadline-based industry and that is taken very seriously. The expectations of the firm by the clients does carry over to the high expectation of the projects and the design staff. Everyone is pushed for excellence, which is a good thing if you are looking for growth and to be at the top – however, the pressure can be too much for many if you are looking for a slower paced work environment. It is expected that everyone take their career seriously and put in the time to become the best – once again, this can be a good thing for those looking for opportunity, but that demand can be too much for those who just want to check in and check out.

I had the valuable experience of engaging in all phases of design, particularly focusing on boutique hotels and resorts. The opportunity to collaborate with the Principal on diverse hotel design concepts and work alongside skilled Architects to develop comprehensive CD sets was instrumental in my professional growth. Managing construction administration tasks under senior guidance further deepened my understanding of design solutions, materials, and products.

The work pace at DDA is notably swift, accompanied by high-pressure situations. Adapting to this demanding environment requires flexibility and a consistent commitment to retaining and applying daily acquired knowledge. Effective self-management, proactive learning, and adept time control are crucial skills for success in this dynamic setting.