Experience Design Strategist (Architectural)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Experience Design Strategist (Architectural)

Company: Journey (ICRAVE Studio)

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time Employee

Category: Experience Design / Architectural Strategy

Date Posted: August 14, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years post-graduate)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and articulate strategic narratives that bridge client business objectives with innovative experience design solutions, particularly within architectural and interior design contexts.

• Conduct in-depth user research, market analysis, and trend forecasting to inform design strategy and identify opportunities for client differentiation.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including studio leadership, architectural and interior designers, and subject matter experts, to co-author and present compelling design concepts.

• Translate complex client needs and business goals into tangible, experience-driven design proposals that enhance user engagement and brand connection.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on applying experience design principles to architectural and interior design projects, requiring a strong understanding of spatial design and client needs within these sectors. The emphasis on "Multidimensional Experiences (MDX)" suggests a forward-thinking approach that integrates physical, digital, and virtual touchpoints.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in client workshops, discovery sessions, and strategy meetings to deeply understand client challenges, business objectives, and target audience needs.

• Author and refine strategic narratives, proposals, and presentations that clearly articulate design direction, rationale, and expected outcomes for clients.

• Conduct comprehensive research on market trends, consumer behavior, emerging technologies, and competitive landscapes relevant to architectural and interior design projects.

• Provide expert feedback and direction on design elements across all project phases, ensuring alignment with the overarching experience strategy and optimal user journey.

• Collaborate closely with architectural and interior designers to translate strategic insights into innovative and impactful spatial designs and user experiences.

• Stay abreast of industry best practices, new technologies, and evolving consumer expectations in experience design, particularly within retail, hospitality, entertainment, education, and healthcare sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking, client-facing communication, and collaborative design integration, emphasizing the strategist's role in shaping the conceptual foundation of architectural projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Interior Design. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of post-graduate professional experience in a similar strategic design or architectural design role.

• Demonstrated experience in applying systems thinking to understand interconnected design elements and broader contextual influences. Required Skills:

• Strategic Narrative Development: Ability to craft compelling stories and rationales that underpin design solutions.

• Client Engagement & Workshop Facilitation: Proven experience leading client discussions, discovery sessions, and collaborative workshops.

• Research & Analysis: Strong capabilities in market research, consumer behavior analysis, and trend forecasting.

• Presentation & Communication: Stellar presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

• Copywriting: Excellent written communication skills for crafting proposals, reports, and brand narratives.

• Documentation Tools: Proficiency in Google Slides, Adobe InDesign, and Microsoft PowerPoint for creating high-quality deliverables.

• Collaborative Platforms: Experience with tools like Miro or Mural for ideation and team collaboration.

• Self-Management: Proven ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and prioritize tasks effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with 3D modeling software and a strong understanding of spatial design principles.

• Prior experience working with established brands in the retail, hospitality, entertainment, education, or healthcare industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a combination of strategic acumen, client-facing abilities, and technical proficiency in design documentation and collaboration tools, with a preference for industry-specific experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing strategic thinking, research-driven design, and the development of experience narratives, with a clear focus on architectural or interior design projects.

• Demonstrate how market research and data were utilized to inform design strategy and client recommendations.

• Include examples of client presentations and workshop outcomes where applicable.

• Highlight your role in translating conceptual ideas into tangible design solutions. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you have documented design processes, from initial research and concept development through to final design recommendations.

• Provide insights into your workflow for collaborating with multidisciplinary design teams.

• Illustrate how you ensure user experience considerations are integrated throughout the design and documentation phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of strategic thinking, client communication, and experience design application within an architectural context. Specific emphasis should be placed on the narrative and research components.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Full-time employee contract.

• Hybrid work arrangement offering flexibility with 3 days in the New York studio and 2 days remote work.

• Opportunity to work on innovative projects with leading brands and contribute to shaping multidimensional experiences (MDX).

• Access to a collaborative and dynamic studio environment within the Journey network.

• Potential for professional development and growth within a global design and innovation agency. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility expected due to project demands and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a mid-level strategist in New York City with the specified experience. The hybrid work model offers a balance of in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Design & Innovation / Experience Design / Architecture & Interior Design. Journey operates at the intersection of these fields, focusing on "Multidimensional Experiences (MDX)".

Company Size: ICRAVE, as a founding studio of Journey, is part of a larger global agency. While specific numbers for ICRAVE aren't provided, Journey as a whole likely comprises a significant number of professionals across various disciplines.

Founded: ICRAVE was founded in 2002, and is a founding studio of Journey, indicating a strong legacy and established presence in the design industry.

Team Structure:

• The Experience Design Strategist will work within the ICRAVE studio, collaborating closely with studio leadership, architectural designers, interior designers, graphic designers, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

• The role involves cross-functional collaboration not only within ICRAVE but also across the broader Journey network.

• Reporting likely to a Studio Director or Head of Strategy, with direct client interaction. Methodology:

• Journey employs a "Multidimensional Experience (MDX)" approach, crafting story-driven, sensory-rich engagement across physical, immersive, digital, and virtual spaces.

• Emphasis on systems thinking, recognizing the interconnectedness of design elements.

• Data-driven insights and creative technological innovation are core to their process.

Company Website: https://journey.world/ and https://icrave.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be highly collaborative, innovative, and focused on delivering cutting-edge, integrated experiences. Understanding the MDX framework will be crucial for success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Experience Design Strategist, requiring a solid foundation of 3+ years of experience. It's a specialist role focused on applying strategic thinking to architectural and interior design challenges.

Reporting Structure: The individual will report to studio leadership and work directly with clients, indicating a high degree of autonomy and client-facing responsibility.

Operations Impact: The strategist's work directly influences client business outcomes by identifying opportunities, shaping design direction, and ensuring that the final built environment delivers exceptional user experiences that resonate with brand identity and business goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific industry verticals (retail, hospitality, etc.) or in particular aspects of MDX.

• Leadership: Progress to senior strategist or leadership roles, potentially managing projects or teams.

• Skill Development: Expand capabilities in emerging technologies, immersive design, and advanced strategic planning methodologies through projects and potentially further training.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader experience within the Journey network, collaborating on a wider range of innovative projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within the specialized field of experience design for physical spaces, with opportunities to expand into broader MDX strategies and leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Broadway Studio in New York, described as an "award-winning powerhouse team" environment.

Office Location(s): New York, NY.

Workspace Context:

• A hybrid work arrangement (3 days in-office, 2 days remote) promotes collaboration and flexibility.

• The studio environment is likely dynamic and highly collaborative, fostering interaction among designers, strategists, and leaders.

• Access to necessary design and collaboration tools (e.g., Google Slides, Adobe InDesign, Miro, Mural) is expected.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with a multidisciplinary team and clients.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time, with potential for project-driven adjustments. The hybrid model requires presence in the office on designated days, balancing focused work with collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model suggests a modern work environment that values both in-person collaboration for ideation and teamwork, and remote work for focused individual tasks.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess alignment with qualifications and experience. Applications without portfolios will not be considered.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, articulating their strategic process, research methodologies, and key project outcomes.

• Case Study/Challenge: A potential design challenge or case study may be presented to evaluate problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and approach to experience design within an architectural context.

• Team/Leadership Interviews: Interviews with studio leadership and team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking depth.

• Client-Facing Simulation: Potential for a mock client presentation or discussion to evaluate presentation and communication skills.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience design strategy development, research capabilities, and impactful outcomes in architectural/interior design.

• Tell Your Story: For each project, clearly articulate the client's challenge, your strategic approach, the research conducted, your role, the design solution, and the results or impact.

• Highlight Process: Demonstrate your understanding of the design process, from initial discovery and research to conceptualization and final recommendations.

• Showcase Collaboration: Include examples of how you've worked with multidisciplinary teams and facilitated client workshops.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data or metrics to illustrate the effectiveness of your design strategies.

• Tailor to MDX: Frame your work within the context of Multidimensional Experiences if applicable.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Journey's MDX framework and ICRAVE's portfolio to understand their design philosophy and project types.

• Be prepared to discuss current trends in architectural and experience design, consumer behavior, and relevant industries (retail, hospitality, etc.).

• Practice articulating your strategic process and design rationale concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount. Candidates must demonstrate not just design skills but a strategic mind that can translate research and client needs into compelling experience-driven architectural concepts.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Presentation: Google Slides, Adobe InDesign, MS PowerPoint.

• Collaboration: Miro, Mural.

• 3D Modeling Software: (Specific software not listed, but knowledge is required, e.g., SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, AutoCAD).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool, the role involves research and data analysis, implying familiarity with tools for data gathering and synthesis. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role's core responsibilities, but understanding client relationship management and project workflows is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in presentation and collaboration tools is essential. Experience with 3D modeling software is a strong plus, indicating a need for spatial design understanding.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to push boundaries and create novel experiences through design and technology.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork across disciplines and with clients.

• Systems Thinking: Understanding the interconnectedness of design elements and their impact on the broader user experience.

• Client-Centricity: A focus on understanding and meeting client needs to deliver exceptional value.

• Excellence: Commitment to high-quality design, strategy, and execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, involving multidisciplinary teams within ICRAVE and the wider Journey network.

• Facilitative approach, encouraging input and co-creation during workshops and discovery sessions.

• Openness to feedback and continuous refinement of design strategies and concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values forward-thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and a deep commitment to creating impactful experiences, grounded in strategic insight.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Strategy to Design: Effectively bridging high-level strategic concepts with tangible architectural and interior design outcomes.

• Client Alignment: Navigating diverse client expectations and ensuring buy-in for innovative, experience-driven solutions.

• Multidisciplinary Integration: Seamlessly integrating strategic insights with the technical and aesthetic considerations of architectural and interior design.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously adapting to rapid changes in technology, consumer behavior, and design methodologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• MDX Expertise: Deepen understanding and application of Journey's Multidimensional Experience framework.

• Industry Exposure: Work across diverse sectors (retail, hospitality, entertainment, etc.) offering broad learning experiences.

• Advanced Strategy: Develop skills in advanced strategic planning, user research methodologies, and future-casting.

• Leadership Track: Potential to grow into senior strategic roles, leading projects and client relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an opportunity to tackle complex design challenges by leveraging strategic thinking, with ample room for professional growth in the evolving field of experience design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used research and data to inform a significant design strategy. What was the outcome?" (Focus on process, data utilization, and impact.)

• "How would you approach developing a strategic narrative for a new retail concept aiming to create a unique customer journey?" (Demonstrate strategic framing, understanding of experience design, and client communication.)

• "Walk us through your process for facilitating a client workshop to uncover core business objectives for an architectural project." (Highlight facilitation skills, discovery techniques, and collaborative approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Journey's MDX approach and how do you see it applying to architectural design?" (Show research into the company and understanding of their core philosophy.)

• "How do you ensure collaboration and alignment when working with diverse teams, such as architects, interior designers, and graphic designers?" (Focus on communication, teamwork, and problem-solving within cross-functional settings.)

• "How do you measure the success of an experience design strategy in a physical space?" (Discuss metrics, user feedback, and business impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your strategic approach, the research/data used, your specific contribution, the solution, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Emphasize why certain design decisions were made, linking them back to research, client objectives, and user needs.

• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, illustrate how you worked with other disciplines and clients.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Present your work clearly and enthusiastically, leaving time for questions.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your process, challenges, and how you would adapt your approach to specific scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to deeply articulate your strategic process, demonstrate how you leverage research, and effectively communicate complex ideas both verbally and visually through your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Experience Design Strategist position:

• Submit your resume and a comprehensive portfolio through the application link on Greenhouse.

Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate your experience design strategy skills applied to architectural or interior design contexts, highlighting research and client collaboration.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 3+ years of post-graduate experience, key responsibilities in strategy and design, and proficiency with required tools (Google Slides, InDesign, Miro, Mural).

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, articulating your strategic process, and preparing answers to common strategy and behavioral questions relevant to design leadership.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review Journey's website and ICRAVE's portfolio to understand their MDX approach, values, and past projects, preparing to discuss how your skills align.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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