Urban designer

Urban design is about the layout of buildings, spaces and landscapes for life in cities, towns and villages.

Practitioners need an understanding of how planning works, what makes an area special and how to provide good transport infrastructure.

The term urban designer is nearly 30 years old and it is a mainstream profession, growing rapidly in importance.

The field appeals to people who are interested in more than just the design of a building. They want the challenge of creating a place that will be enjoyed by a community. Urban design spans many professions, and offers great variety with plenty of scope to specialise. The best urban design is the result of good teamwork.

Urban designers spend around 70% of their week in the office and 30% on site or with clients.

Did you know?
Urban designers working for private consultancies may get the chance to work on overseas projects. China is a growing market, for example.

Facts and Figures

  • Starting salary:

    The typical starting salary in London is £20,000.

  • Senior level salary:

    After five years, the salary of an urban designer will rise to around £40,000.

  • Education:

    A university undergraduate degree in any subject relating to the built environment or spatial design is a good start. The best subjects to study are architecture, town planning, landscape architecture, geography or engineering. You may then choose to take a postgraduate course in urban design or a related subject. These are offered by universities across the UK.

  • Skills:

    Work experience and a fascination for the complexity and variety of cities is essential. Good teamwork and negotiating skills are important because urban designers have to liaise with clients and other people working on a project.

  • Likely employer type:

    Planning departments of local authorities, private urban design practices, architectural and planning firms, property developers, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and regional development agencies.

  • Opportunities:

    There is work for urban designers across the UK and demand is increasing with the growing recognition of the importance of well-designed urban environments. There are also plenty of opportunities to work part-time.

Tagged questions

Related careers