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Associate Designer Jobs in Philadelphia, PA (NOW HIRING)

The Associate Apparel designer supports QVC and HSN, and helps design and develop apparel categories/brands that align to business strategy, trend direction, and customer needs. Where You'll Work

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Associate Designer information

See Philadelphia, PA salary details

$17.9K

$53.8K

$80.3K

How much do associate designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate designer in Philadelphia, PA is $53,770.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,500.00 and $62,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate designer?

An associate designer is responsible for assisting the lead designer or art director with the production and design of creative projects. Associate designers can work in a variety of industries, include fashion, graphic design, and interior design. As an associate designer, your job duties vary significantly by industry, but they generally involve researching trends, communicating with clients, and procuring materials necessary for designing the project. Regarding academic qualifications, you need a bachelor’s degree in fine arts or a major related to the specific industry in which you choose to work. Some employers may require previous experience or a portfolio that proves your design skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate designer?

To thrive as an Associate Designer, you generally need a strong foundation in design principles, proficiency with design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), and a relevant degree or portfolio showcasing your work. Familiarity with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and sometimes prototyping platforms like Figma or Sketch is often required. Strong attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication skills help you excel in collaborative environments and respond to feedback. These skills ensure you can contribute high-quality, innovative designs that meet client or project objectives in a fast-paced industry.

What does an associate designer do?

An associate designer supports the design team by creating visual concepts, sketches, and prototypes using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. They assist in developing design ideas, preparing presentations, and ensuring projects meet client or company standards, often working under the supervision of senior designers.

How does an associate designer typically collaborate with other team members during a project?

Associate Designers work closely with senior designers, project managers, and cross-functional teams such as marketing, engineering, or product development. Collaboration often involves participating in brainstorming sessions, contributing design ideas, and iterating on feedback from multiple stakeholders. Regular communication—via meetings, design reviews, and digital collaboration tools—is essential to ensure that design concepts align with project goals and brand guidelines. This teamwork helps Associate Designers learn from experienced colleagues and refine their skills in a supportive environment.

What is the difference between Associate Designer vs Junior Designer?

AspectAssociate DesignerJunior Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in design or related field; some employers may prefer internship experienceBachelor's degree in design or related field; entry-level position
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with senior designers, participates in projects, and supports design teamsAssists in design tasks, learns workflows, and gains practical experience
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across creative agencies, in-house design teams, and studiosCommon entry-level role in similar settings

Associate Designers typically have more responsibilities and may oversee parts of projects, while Junior Designers focus on learning and supporting design tasks. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds, but Associate Designers are often more experienced and involved in project execution.

How much do associate designers make?

Associate designers typically earn between $45,000 and $65,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with specialized skills or in high-demand markets can earn more. Compensation often includes benefits such as health insurance and paid time off.
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What job categories do people searching Associate Designer jobs in Philadelphia, PA look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Designer jobs in Philadelphia, PA are:
What cities near Philadelphia, PA are hiring for Associate Designer jobs? Cities near Philadelphia, PA with the most Associate Designer job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Designer job openings in Philadelphia, PA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,093 per year, or $28.4 per hour.

Urban Outtfitters Associate Designer - Mens

Urban Outfitters

Philadelphia, PA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


URBN rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 54 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

30th of 104 rated fashion retailers


Job description

Role Summary

Urban Outfitters is seeking an Associate Designer to join our Men's Design Team.  The Associate Designer is an integral creative who can navigate multiple categories, all while leveraging modern tools and creativity to push the boundaries of design.As a brand ambassador and creative facilitator, the Associate Designer partners closely with cross-functional teams-including Buying, Product Development, and Print + Color-to drive seasonal vision, identify white space opportunities, and respond to business trends in real time. They support by providing clear communication, constructive feedback, and development opportunities to their leaders while fostering a collaborative, positive, and solutions-oriented environment.The Associate Designer supports the full design process-from concept, sketching, and fabric development through fittings, finalization, and seasonal presentations-while ensuring timelines are met and processes are continually optimized. With deep knowledge of trends, strong technical skills, and the ability to anticipate change, this role plays a pivotal part in shaping the UO aesthetic and driving the brand forward.

Role Responsibilities

JOB SKILLS

VISION

  • Assists in interpretating seasonal fashion direction, assortment opportunities, andmerchandise trends for category
  • Ability to interpret trend for the UO customer and shares research and inspiration with directreports and leads (social media, retail experience, street-style, competitive shopping andvintage exploration as it relates to the UO product)  
  • Brand ambassador and role model of our values
  • Demonstrates a close connection to UO customer
  • Works with design leads to execute creative vision in sample and presentation form

BUSINESS ACUMEN

  • Analyzing Velo metrics every Monday to understand business and sell through of product 
  • Works closely with Design lead and Buying partners to gain an understanding of financialreports and earnings as they relate to design production 
  • Maintaining and updating CADs for seasonal assortment in Adobe XD  
  • General understanding and awareness of overall fit, fabric and construction intentions
  • Ability to investigates design solutions for projects with an awareness of cost, process, and impact on partners 

LEADERSHIP

  • Supports Design lead throughout the design process by anticipating needs and assumingaccountability for their contributions in the product cycle
  • Maintain daily communication with cross-functional partners to ease any development issuesthat may arise 
  • Can independently anticipate and executes assignments and effectively manage up in atimely manner 
  • Develops well thought out comments and opinions using both POV and data to contributeduring meetings 
  • Remains humble while receiving feedback openly and positively with a willingness tocollaborate on ideas or processes that may require necessary changes

TEAMWORK/COLLABOARATION/CULTURAL FIT

  • Builds and sustains positive collaborative relationships with multi-level cross-functionalpartners  
  • Communicates and collaborates effectively both internally and with cross-functional partners and vendors to ensure product execution reflects design intent 
  • Takes responsibility for organizing their work, setting their own timelines and recognizing conditions and results that may impact the assignment
  • Maintains courteous, professional email/phone and interpersonal relationships with cross-functional partners and vendors. Ability to format a professional and comprehensive email 

DRIVE

  • Demonstrates and maintain a strong knowledge of trends, customer and brand objectives aswell as the UO design vision
  • Ability to identify efficiencies within our processes and initiate opportunities to leverageassets, avoid redundancies, and proactively align resources 
  • Flexible, adaptable and responsive to fast-paced work environment while maintaining style and design vision integrity

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Sets up spec sheets for all bodies. Communicates fit and construction details to TechnicalDesign department 
  • Actively participates, contributes, and assists Design lead in creating seasonal assortment  
  • Provides feedback / approves all samples and design submits 
  • Assist in preparing presentation materials for seasonal benchmark meetings such as SketchReview, Finalization, and Print + Color day 
  • Executing accurate fabric, trim, and wash information in design packs and tech packs
Role Qualifications
  • 4+ years of Design Experience preferred.
  • Bachelor Degree in Fashion Design or related area of study strongly preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of relevant fashion trends, customer behavior, and brand vision.
  • Ability to balance creativity with business acumen, margin parameters, and process efficiencies.
  • Strong hand and digital sketching ability
  • Ability to independently conduct set-ups and fittings
  • Adobe suite proficient
  • Microsoft Office suite proficient
  • AI prompting and generating for creative and presentation purpose (MJ, PromeAi, andChatGPT)
  • Treadstone and BOM maintenance
  • Maintain organized and up to date line sheet and assortment tools at all time
  • Highly organized with capacity to anticipate change
The Perks

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

EEO Statement

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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