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The differences between design directors and lead 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 design director and a lead designer. Additionally, a design director has an average salary of $132,823, which is higher than the $110,001 average annual salary of a lead designer.
The top three skills for a design director include sketch, human centered design and product design. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Design Director | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $132,823 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $63.86 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 48,337 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.
Design directors and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Director | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $132,823 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $212,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Proenza Schouler | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a design director and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Design Director | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between design directors' and lead designers' demographics:
| Design Director | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |