Seasinal Creative Design Assistant

Job Title: Creative Design Assistant (Seasonal & Holiday Decor)

• Company: McFarlane Douglass & Companies
• Location: Burr Ridge, IL  (In-Person) 
• Job Type: Part-Time / Temporary / Seasonal
• Duration: Fall through Early Winter (September – December)
• Hours: Flexible (10–20 hours/week; great for class schedules!)

About Us

At McFarlane Douglass, we turn ordinary spaces into magical seasonal experiences. For over 40 years, we’ve been the creative force behind some of the Chicago area's most jaw-dropping commercial interior landscaping and holiday transformations, including everything from luxury high-rise lobbies to major landmark displays (like the Daley Plaza holiday tree!)

As we gear up for our busiest and most exciting time of the year, the rapid transition from Halloween/Autumn to Christmas, we are looking for fresh, imaginative student designers to help us brainstorm, sketch, and develop next-level seasonal concepts.

The Role: What You'll Do

This isn’t your average seasonal retail gig. You will be actively contributing to the visual concepts that thousands of people will see and interact with this holiday season.

• Brainstorm & Concept: Collaborate with our core design team to research and pitch unique themes, color palettes, and decor concepts spanning Autumn, Halloween, and Christmas.
• Visual Sketching & Rendering: Bring ideas to life through mood boards, digital renderings, or hand sketches.
• Material Exploration: Help source, match, and propose unique textures, lighting elements, and floral/botanical features.
• Collaborate across Mediums: Work alongside a diverse creative team with backgrounds in design, architecture, and graphic arts.

Who You Are

We are looking for creative thinkers who love the holidays and aren't afraid to think outside the box.

• Your Major: Ideally studying Interior Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Architecture, or Industrial Design.
• The Skills: Strong eye for spatial design, color theory, and scale. Proficiency in digital sketching (Procreate, Photoshop, SketchUp, or similar) is a massive plus.
• The Vibe: Self-motivated, enthusiastic about design trends, and collaborative.
• The Logistics: Able to commit 10–20 hours a week. We are highly flexible around midterms, finals, and class schedules.

What’s In It For You?

• Portfolio Gold: Real-world design experience. Point to major displays in Chicago and say, "I helped design that."
• Networking: Work alongside seasoned industry professionals in a unique, highly specialized creative field.
• Ultimate Flexibility: We understand school comes first. We will work with you to establish a weekly schedule that fits your classes.
• Creative Freedom: Your ideas won't just sit in a folder, they will actively shape our holiday installations!

How to Apply

Ready to bring the holiday magic to life? Please submit your resume along with a short PDF portfolio, link to your website, or 2–3 examples of your creative work (sketches, mood boards, or projects you are proud of).

McFarlane Douglass is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).