Which role reports to the Design Director and Principal and is considered on par with the Senior Designer?

• A. Senior Designer
• B. Project Manager
• C. Designer / Intermediate Designer
• D. Design Assistant / Junior Designer

Answer: (B)

The role being tested is the Project Manager. In many interior design practices, the Project Manager sits between the design leadership and the project team, reporting to the Design Director and Principal. Their main responsibility is to ensure the project delivers on time, within scope, and on budget, coordinating schedules, resources, budgets, consultants, and client communications. That level of responsibility for overseeing delivery while working closely with the design leads puts them on a senior footing comparable to a Senior Designer, who is the design authority on aesthetics and technical detail. The Project Manager isn’t about making the design decisions themselves, but about making sure those decisions are executed smoothly and align with the project plan, which is why this role is considered on par with the Senior Designer in terms of leadership and seniority on the project team. The other roles are more focused on design work or entry-level coordination and typically do not carry the same level of project-delivery leadership.