Kitchen designers works either in the hospitality industry or in the domestic market, but the hotel and leisure industry has greater scope for better salaries, and more job security. A creative mind along with good organisational and interpersonal skills is all important in a design area where logic plays a major part in the process. Work available for kitchen designers can range from permanent positions in small independent operations to large commercial outfits who manufacture kitchens retailed by other organisations and exclusive upscale operations.
The ability to negotiate in a friendly manner with private clients regarding the practicality of their requirements is important, with some manufacturing companies requiring sales experience as well as marketing skills. In these jobs there is a need for a designer who can then sell the new project to a client. The qualifications for the position, apart from pervious experience and a design portfolio, are the minimum of Computer Aided Design (CAD) expertise and aknowledge of Planet design software. Salaries start from between £17,500 and £20,000 plus commissions on sales, with designers for upscale manufacturers on much higher levels of earnings.