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The differences between design directors and directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a design director, becoming a director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design director has an average salary of $132,823, which is higher than the $113,489 average annual salary of a director.
The top three skills for a design director include sketch, human centered design and product design. The most important skills for a director are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| Design Director | Director | |
| Yearly salary | $132,823 | $113,489 |
| Hourly rate | $63.86 | $54.56 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 48,337 | 230,711 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A design director spearheads and oversees design projects in a company or organization. They typically have the authority to lead the creative and design teams, make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities, set goals and schedules, manage budgets and resources, and direct the project's cycle from planning to execution. They also coordinate with clients and solve issues when any arise. Additionally, a design director leads and encourages teams to reach goals, all while implementing standards and policies, developing new ones when necessary.
Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life. They work with the writers to get a clear vision of how the production should look. They lead the production team in planning for the production, identifying filming or rehearsing schedules, casting for roles, and other aspects that need to be decided upon. Directors provide direction to the actors to ensure that the actors understand their role and will be able to effectively convey emotions to the audience. They also manage all other crew members and communicate their expectations clearly so that everyone on the set is working towards one vision.
Design directors and directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Director | Director | |
| Average salary | $132,823 | $113,489 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $212,000 | Between $66,000 And $192,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Proenza Schouler | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a design director and a director in terms of educational background:
| Design Director | Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between design directors' and directors' demographics:
| Design Director | Director | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 14% |