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Design Director

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Salary and Benefits

Design Director
$91K-$112K / yr. (est.)
$92K
$101,964 / year
$112K
Average base salary
The salary information provided is based on data collected from various reliable sources and may vary depending on individual qualifications and other factors.

About Design Director

What does a Design Director do?
Silhouette of man standing in front of microphone
Serious director talking on cellphone in cozy office

In the position of Design Director, we oversee design and branding projects for customers. We develop creative solutions and supervise their implementation. In this leadership role, individuals work with a range of clients and provide advice to meet clients’ needs and challenges. We manage design teams to elaborate and present creative concepts. These include strategic plans, storyboards, and mockups to give an idea of how the finished project will look like. As Design Directors, we report to Account or Art Department Directors. Our typical employers are advertising companies, marketing agencies, or interior design companies.

Core tasks:

  • develop and supervise client-specific design projects
  • establish design teams and manage staff members
  • take part in client meetings and review client feedback
  • represent the design perspective at a leadership level
  • work with stakeholders across the organization

Insights

Professional Growth

How Many Years of Experience Do Professionals Need Before Becoming Design Director?
On average, people work 7+ years in other positions prior to becoming a Design Director.
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Motion DesignerAustin, TX - A year ago
🤷 I guess it depends on the person and their career path. Some excel quickly, others take their time, but hey, as long as the work is great, does it even matter?
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Design Director9 months ago
At least 10, and most people get surprised at what it takes to become a Director. It takes being able to manage up, and down at the same time. Helping the team understand what the measurement of success is for the individual, the team, the greater team and what the stakeholders want and need to know. It is helping senior leadership understand the intersection of user needs and business needs. It is being an advocate for the UX team for senior leadership and helping them see the value of the team. It is unglamorous things like, creating job descriptions, putting someone on a PIP, deciding who gets a promotion,... or not. It is deciding what tools the team will use and managing the tools, repositories and often time vendors and writing RFPs and SOWs. It is standing up for your designers, having their back and helping them grow new skills. No way you can do all that with less than 10 years experience.

Professional Growth

How Long Do Design Director Employees Typically Stay in Their Roles?
On average, Design Directors works in this position for 5+ years across multiple employers.
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UX DesignerSeattle, WA - A year ago
Working as a Design Director for over 5 years at one employer indicates dedication and loyalty - two important traits to succeed.
avatar-of-creator
Creative DirectorChicago, IL - A year ago
🙌 Praise to the Design Directors who continuously strive for excellence, regardless of the number of years spent at any given company.

Professional Growth

What Is the Job Hopper Score for Design Director Employees?
Frequent job changes in Design Director, indicating a willingness to change companies and roles more frequently.
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Art DirectorChicago, IL - A year ago
Who are we to judge someone's career choices? There could be valid reasons behind those frequent job changes for a Design Director.
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Creative DirectorMiami, FL - A year ago
Doesn't a Design Director switching jobs often bring fresh perspectives and skills from different design teams? 🌟

Career path

Path to job

Fields of study

Discover a Design Director's areas of knowledge sorted by their majors.

Top educational institutions

Explore the list of higher education institutions that a Design Director typically studied at.
Fashion Institute of Technology
Parsons School of Design

Path after job

Community

Demographics

Culture & Values

What Is the Age and Gender Ratio of Design Director Employees?
Gender ratio in Design Director position: 0.617292801835389 Male and 0.382707198164611 Female. Age ratio in Design Director position: 16-20: 4%, 21-30: 43%, 31-40: 38%, 41-50: 12%, 51-60: 3%, 60+: 0%. Design Director position is predominantly male (61.7%) with the largest age group being 21-30 years old, followed by 31-40 years old.
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Design DirectorBoston, MA - A year ago
Seems like the industry is biased towards the younger generation. Millennials and Gen Z, we're dominating the design game! 💪
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Design DirectorSeattle, WA - A year ago
Can we talk about the fact that there are still 0% design directors above the age of 60? Ageism much? 👴

Workplaces

Professional Growth

Who Are the Top Employers for Design Director?
Top employers of Design Director position: Gensler, InVision, NIKE. People who work in Design Director position most typically go on to work for the Gensler.
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Design DirectorSan Francisco, CA - A year ago
I've worked at Gensler and they prioritize profits over design innovation. InVision truly believes in pushing boundaries and encourages experimentation.
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Design DirectorAustin, TX - A year ago
👍 Gensler's projects leave a bigger impact in the architecture and design community than anything InVision can offer. NIKE should stick to athletic gear, not design.
Gensler
InVision
NIKE

Professional Growth

What Industries Does Design Director Typically Have Experience In?
Industry Background: The most typical industries of Design Director: Professional / Scientific / Technical, Manufacturing, Retail, Information Technology, Publishing & Broadcasting. Design Director employees most likely come from a Professional / Scientific / Technical industry background.
avatar-of-creator
Design DirectorMiami, FL - A year ago
Y'all ain't seen nothin' yet! As a Design Director in the retail sector, I ensure stores are visually appealing to attract customers. 💃
avatar-of-creator
Design DirectorNew York City, NY - A year ago
What about the publishing industry? The role of a Design Director is vital in creating visually stunning book covers and engaging layouts!

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Discussion about Design Director

Want to know more about Design Director position?
Share your thoughts and ideas about Design Director position with others in our community.
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Do a lot of women work as a Design Director?
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Liam Brown3 years ago
40% are women in this profession only.
What is the most common age of a Design Director?
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Sophie Hayes3 years ago
32 is the average age of people working as a Design Director.
How much experience do you need to work as a Design Director?
avatar-of-creator
Isabella Holmes3 years ago
You should work for 7 years on average to become a Design Director.
What industries does a Design Director typically work in?
avatar-of-creator
Sophie Hayes3 years ago
Manufacturing is the most probable for a Design Director to work in.
Is a degree needed to work as a Design Director?
avatar-of-creator
Benjamin Gardner3 years ago
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is the typical for a Design Director
Where are you working as a Design Director?
avatar-of-creator
Sophie Hayes3 years ago
Gensler, InVision, NIKE and Ralph Lauren has the most employees.
How long do people usually work as a Design Director when they switch to another position?
avatar-of-creator
Liam Brown3 years ago
On average people change after more than 5 years.
How common is it for a Design Director to jump from company to company?
avatar-of-creator
Benjamin Gardner3 years ago
A Design Director typically works for multiple companies.
What work history do people usually have before becoming a Design Director?
avatar-of-creator
Isabella Holmes3 years ago
Typical prior positions for a Design Director are Designer, Art Director or Creative Director
What can be the next step in your career path from Design Director?
avatar-of-creator
Benjamin Gardner3 years ago
Changing from a Design Director to Creative Director, Designer or Art Director is a typical career path.
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