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Custom designer vs senior designer

The differences between custom designers and senior designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a custom designer and a senior designer. Additionally, a senior designer has an average salary of $102,058, which is higher than the $59,230 average annual salary of a custom designer.

The top three skills for a custom designer include sketch, customer orders and customer service. The most important skills for a senior designer are sketch, graphic design, and human centered design.

Custom designer vs senior designer overview

Custom DesignerSenior Designer
Yearly salary$59,230$102,058
Hourly rate$28.48$49.07
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs45,12347,503
Job satisfaction-1
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a custom designer do?

A custom designer's duties depend on their line of work or industry of employment. They are typically working together with a company's design and creative team where the tasks include meeting with clients to identify their preferences and needs, gathering and analyzing data to determine the best procedures, conceptualizing plans, drafting designs, and producing samples or prototypes for client approval. Furthermore, as a custom designer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with the creative and production team to ensure the accuracy and quality of the end product.

What does a senior designer do?

Senior designers are typically in charge of realizing design solutions that adhere to the business goals and marketing strategies of an organization. They should be comfortable managing graphics designers and making decisions. They must have extensive knowledge of styles, layout techniques, and graphic design while also managing projects and people effectively. Senior designers have a variety of duties, which include delegating tasks to junior designers, maintaining high-quality standards, and collaborating to improve digital creativity standards.

Custom designer vs senior designer salary

Custom designers and senior designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Custom DesignerSenior Designer
Average salary$59,230$102,058
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $81,000Between $72,000 And $143,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyGeneral MotorsLyft
Best paying industryRetailMedia

Differences between custom designer and senior designer education

There are a few differences between a custom designer and a senior designer in terms of educational background:

Custom DesignerSenior Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Custom designer vs senior designer demographics

Here are the differences between custom designers' and senior designers' demographics:

Custom DesignerSenior Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 44.4% Female, 55.6%Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between custom designer and senior designer duties and responsibilities

Custom designer example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish a theme redesign using css edits and html edits for a not for profit children's social network helpline.
  • Design and code responsive email templates to current industry standards using CSS, HTML and some JSON.
  • Develop functional wireframes and GUI prototypes in HTML using Dreamweaver MX.
  • Perform QC test on the fabric to ensure it meet customer requirements.
  • Utilize various graphical and animation software tools and technologies to transform graphical concepts into specific electronic applications on and off-line.
  • Create t-shirt graphics and logos for embroidery.
  • Show more

Senior designer example responsibilities.

  • Identify, plan and lead brainstorming sessions for new blue-sky product opportunities across all boys' lines.
  • Design all marketing collateral within those standards including flyers, ads, conference materials, brochures, and design mailed pieces.
  • Implement HTML and CSS tags.
  • Format designs and media for use in print and web applications; deliver production-ready graphics in HTML and CSS.
  • Design and production of marketing materials, PowerPoint templates for pitch decks, event graphics, various collateral and HTML e-mails.
  • Lead the team in brainstorming sessions and assist with market research and testing.
  • Show more

Custom designer vs senior designer skills

Common custom designer skills
  • Sketch, 13%
  • Customer Orders, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Customer Specifications, 8%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
Common senior designer skills
  • Sketch, 15%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
  • Human Centered Design, 4%
  • User Experience, 4%
  • UI, 4%
  • CAD, 4%

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