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Job outlook for design directors in the United States
Design director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected design director job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 6,800 new jobs for design directors are projected over the next decade.
Design director salaries have increased 12% for design directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 14,174 design directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 48,337 active design director job openings in the US.
The average design director salary is $132,823.
Are design director jobs in demand?
Design Director job and salary trends over time
Design Director jobs over time
Design Director job growth rate over time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,174 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 14,705 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 14,761 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,402 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 13,867 | 0.00% |
Average design director salary over time
Design Director salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $132,823 | $63.86 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $129,663 | $62.34 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $125,334 | $60.26 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | $121,178 | $58.26 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | $118,541 | $56.99 | +1.6% |
Design Director jobs by state
Most common states for design directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 169 | 24% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 696 | 22% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 562 | 19% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 691 | 14% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 525 | 13% |
| 6 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 553 | 12% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 515 | 12% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 350 | 12% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 778 | 11% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 63 | 10% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,541 | 9% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 666 | 9% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 441 | 8% |
| 14 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 102 | 8% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,315 | 7% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 592 | 7% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 402 | 7% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 255 | 7% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 71 | 7% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 52 | 7% |
Most common cities for design directors
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 3 | 11% | $97,408 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $107,240 |
| 3 | Dover | 3 | 8% | $110,603 |
| 4 | Hartford | 6 | 5% | $111,880 |
| 5 | Lansing | 3 | 3% | $111,731 |
| 6 | Tallahassee | 4 | 2% | $97,763 |
| 7 | Little Rock | 3 | 2% | $94,980 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $100,297 |
| 9 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $143,443 |
| 10 | San Francisco | 5 | 1% | $159,007 |
| 11 | Washington | 4 | 1% | $129,868 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $108,798 |
| 13 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $85,728 |
| 14 | Montgomery | 3 | 1% | $94,009 |
| 15 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $151,920 |
| 16 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $113,786 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $90,141 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $134,441 |
Design Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of design director experts
Indiana University Bloomington
Moravian College
Troy University
University of Findlay
Villanova University
Case Western Reserve University
Viterbo University
Covenant College
Texas Tech University
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
University of Pittsburgh
The One Club
Siena College
American University
St. Norbert College
What will help Design Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joyce Stoner: Salaries are not very high in art conservation as you start out. But if you work with a mentor, publish and give talks, have a high profile for your knowledge and expertise, and eventually go into private work, especially in modern and contemporary paintings, to my knowledge that is where the higher salaries are found.
What Design Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
George Logothetis Jr: Being able to flex between the various media channels and show competence and imagination in them all. Young creatives have to be versatile and fluent on all communication platforms. It’s also important to maximize your craft and continually hone it. Whether you are art or copy, having a heightened sense of design and writing will not only make the job easier, but you will be more productive. The better your skills are the more work you can create. If you bring lots of work to every meeting, you will always be appreciated.
Dr. MaryJo Rosania-Harvie
Assistant Professor of Practice | Art Education Coordinator | Interim Art Department ChairMoravian College
Fine And Studio Arts
What general advice would you give to a Design Director?
Dr. MaryJo Rosania-Harvie: Definitely leadership skills - having the ability to express their ideas and be open to feedback; and the ability to give effective feedback. Artists learn to do this in school through critique and sharing their work with an audience. Also, entrepreneurial skills, critical thinking, and always creativity.
What will help Design Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. MaryJo Rosania-Harvie: For someone beginning their career, I would advise them to consider the problem-solving and critical thinking skills they developed in school, and highlight those skills when meeting with potential employers and clients. They can consider themselves entrepreneurs, and should try to be flexible and open-minded.
What general advice would you give to a Design Director?
Christopher Stagl MFA: This industry is all about connections with people. You have to network and market yourself. This will lead to opportunities for you creatively - which may start small but you build upon success, grow your clients, and progressively begin to charge more and more as you grow in to your field. Never stop learning, never stop making (even if it's mistakes), and never stop networking.
What will help Design Directors increase their earning potential?
Christopher Stagl MFA: a. Remain curious about creative problem solving with diverse and unique approaches. b. Seek feedback. Just because your classroom projects are over doesn't mean you still shouldn't be reaching out your peers and mentors to get feedback. c. Do your research, always. Never just assume you know the market or the demographic - do your due diligence and ask all the right questions to learn about your client. d. Tell a good story. The creative industry is really about people - figure out who the people are you're speaking for and speaking to and find the story that lives in those thrulines. e. Be Hungry and Hustle. Nobody is going to do this for you - creative work isn't going to come to you - you have to go get it.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Design Director job market given the pandemic?
Anne Beekman: Employers are looking for versatility, someone who can take on multiple roles: graphic design, social media, photography, and web. Anything else that you can add - the ability to write, to do illustration, video, animation - will give you an edge in a competitive job market.
What Design Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anne Beekman: Keep your design skills sharp, for they quickly fade if you don't use them. Continue to build your portfolio with self-initiated projects. Do tutorials to improve with technology and software. Read design books and magazines to stay on top of trends. Then, when a potential employer asks what you have been doing for the past year since graduation, you can show that you are capable of self-initiated learning.
What general advice would you give to a Design Director?
Anne Beekman: For your first job, be willing to take a design position that is not creative, churning out work that is not beautiful, and that is low paying. It will give you needed experience, and you will learn to work fast and accurately. But don't settle there. After a year or two, start looking for a position where you can move up, within the company or elsewhere.
Edward Sobel
Associate Professor, Resident DirectorVillanova University
Department of Theatre
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Design Director job market given the pandemic?
Edward Sobel: The theater is a complicated career path under non-pandemic conditions. Only a small percentage of those wishing to achieve a sustainable income in the theater can do so. That has been exacerbated in the pandemic environment. Due to health and safety guidelines, most professional not-for-profit theaters and commercial producers are not presenting plays, if they are at all, as they did before the pandemic. Some have pivoted in creating on-line content; others have gone dark. If the pandemic is brought under reasonable control, it remains to be seen if and when audiences will be willing to return to in-person participation.
Many aspiring theater artists sustain themselves through "day jobs," particularly in the service sector. Those jobs also are likely to be scarcer, at least for a while. In short, a challenging job market has gotten more challenging and is likely to be so for the foreseeable futu
What Design Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Edward Sobel: I would recommend becoming familiar or expert in creating work that can live in a medium other than in-person performance. For example, one could learn about digital editing software or lighting and camera technique. The future is likely also to reward those with entrepreneurial skills. They are learning how to create and manage a budget, articulate a business plan, and raise money. I'd also suggest that artists who can make a strong case for the social benefit of the work they do, be it locally, community-based, or more widely, are more likely to find support and success. Investing now in those social causes for which one feels an affinity will serve the greater good and allow a graduate to begin building a network to continue their artistic work meaningfully.
What general advice would you give to a Design Director?
Edward Sobel: It's important to know that theater is a relationship-based career. Look to build relationships with those with whom you share a common aesthetic and a sense of purpose. Building relationships takes time and care, and only sometimes pays immediate dividends. Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint. Be persistent. You may not ever be able to make a living in the theater. But if you quit, you definitely won't.
I'll add, many but not all who obtain a degree in theater wish to work in the profession. A theater degree, particularly within a liberal arts context, offers highly marketable and desirable skills. The theater is a collaborative art form, making those with a theater degree experience working as part of a team. The theater is storytelling. Those with a theater degree have learned how to construct a compelling narrative and to communicate it clearly. They have practiced analytical and presentational skills. They have embodied empathy. All of this position a graduate well in many other occupations, including law, teaching, advertising/marketing, social work, etc.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Design Directors?
Steven Ciampaglia: While there is a lot of worry over how the pandemic's economic impact will affect the creative arts, I am not that pessimistic. In troubled times, people always turn toward the arts for solace. Witness how individuals have spent their time in quarantine re-engaging with books, movies, music, videogames, etc. And even though the end of the pandemic may be in sight with the announcement of vaccines, I believe that this re-engagement with the arts is not going away. Therefore, the market for young artists will stay elevated, which is good news for art majors graduating this year.
What type of skills will young Design Directors need?
Steven Ciampaglia: While there is a lot of worry over how the pandemic's economic impact will affect the creative arts, I am not that pessimistic. In troubled times, people always turn toward the arts for solace. Witness how individuals have spent their time quarantine re-engaging with books, movies, music, videogames, etc. And even though the end of the pandemic may be in sight with the announcement of vaccines, I believe that this re-engagement with the arts is not going away. Therefore, the market for young artists will stay elevated, which is good news for art majors graduating this year.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Design Directors?
Erin Jerozal: I think the most significant impact will be the continuation of virtual auditions and self-tape submissions. The industry was already moving heavily in this direction, and the pandemic has shown (and necessitated) the growth of that even further. In-person auditions will hopefully never entirely be replaced, but intimacy and honest connection can still occur in virtual settings. This can allow all sides of the casting process to conserve travel resources and see artists audition outside of the significant markets more consistently.
What are the best companies to work for a Design Director?
Kayb Joseph: We encourage students to take a small business course, as most studio owners are small businesses. We also promote internships to determine the right fit.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Design Directors to find work opportunities?
Kayb Joseph: Small to mid-size cities are more competitive.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Design Director job market given the pandemic?
Mark Charney Ph.D.: Indeed, the epidemic has presented the art time to assess. I believe we'll find a more bearable work week, less exploitation (especially in unpaid internships and fellowships), and, hopefully, greater attention to equality, inclusion, and diversity. While performance and pedagogical jobs will still exist, choices will be more purposeful, honestly assessing needs and community engagement. And the skills of those majoring in the arts will continue to feature excellent communication skills, especially in writing.
What general advice would you give to a Design Director?
Cynthia Tovar: Due to the pandemic, it is unfortunate that there are limited job openings for new graduates entering the workforce; however, there are a number of ways that a young professional can continue to network and gain experience, including virtual internships and entering into an official mentorship or training program (such as the ARCS Mentorship Program, The Museum Leadership, Polaris mentorship program, the Broad Diversity Apprenticeship Program, or The Registrar Hour, Intern Hour). Emerging professionals that join ARCS as an individual or student member, will have access to job listings, networking opportunities, funding opportunities for conferences and the mentor program among other benefits.
For those that do enter the workforce, many institutions' staff are still working remotely or operating in a hybrid model. There will be a need for new staff to communicate effectively with their supervisors, while working remotely, over video meetings. They might also be expected to learn new software or technology such as DocuSign to facilitate remote working and or be expected to serve as a virtual courier using video technology and digital condition reporting techniques. Museums can benefit from a fresh viewpoint that advocates for efficiencies and new ways of operating in these challenging times.
What type of skills will young Design Directors need?
Cynthia Tovar: Young graduates should have received hands-on experience working with collections, if possible, through an internship or volunteering. Museum study helps one understand general concepts but working with and learning from those already in the field is often the best way of gathering skills in areas such as condition reporting, collection management and care, exhibition installation and art supervision, and the like.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Design Directors to find work opportunities?
Cynthia Tovar: There are cities that have more museums per capita than others (New York, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, for example), but opportunities can be found in all places throughout the U.S. by searching on registrar and collection specialist listservs.
How do you envision technology impacting Design Directors in the next 5 years?
Cynthia Tovar: There very well may be an enduring impact from the coronavirus pandemic on museum collection operations, such as reconsidering the need for couriers and how installation crews work together, but how long this will last remains to be seen. So far, the most immediate impact would be having a new hire join on in a remote work scenario and conducting training and integration to museum culture in a virtual manner.
What general advice would you give to a Design Director?
Yash Egami: A recent Forrester report says that the ad industry will lose 50,000 jobs through 2021, with 35,000 of them already lost since the pandemic. The traditional ad agency model was already in trouble, with many brands hiring away talent and creating their own in-house agencies. Add to that the recent reckoning with the Black Lives Matter movement, and what we're seeing is an industry that is being forced to go through monumental change in order to survive.
While traditional roles like art director or copywriter are on the decline, the good news is that, in an effort to reinvent themselves, agencies are seeking creatives with digital skills like UX design and programming. The rise of in-house creative departments has also meant more opportunities for job seekers within brands rather than agencies. And because of the demand for more diversity from clients and those within advertising, recruiters are making more of an effort to hire multicultural talent.
At The One Club for Creativity, we've been at the forefront of change in the industry through our diversity and inclusion, professional development and gender equality programs. We recently hosted our annual multicultural career fair, "Where Are All the Black People?" that brought together thousands of diverse talent with 40 agencies and companies looking to hire. We launched One School, a free online program for Black creatives who want to get into the industry but don't have a portfolio or the economic means to afford to go to ad school. And we're working on upskilling courses for professionals who want to reinvent themselves or keep up with the changing demands of our industry.
So if you're a recent graduate who specializes in art direction, our advice would be to keep an open mind about what kind of company you want to work for and think about expanding your skillset to include digital skills so that you can future-proof your career. Where you are isn't as important because, since the pandemic, agencies have become more comfortable with working remotely and they are more open to having a workforce not centered on the traditional agency hubs, like New York or Los Angeles.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Design Directors in the next 3-5 years?
Scott Foster: Visual interfaces. Visual communication, overall, is where our society is headed. Graphic Art and Design are the following English and Communications majors. Consider that we've gone from a marketplace where a company could thrive without a website to our current situation where growth is impossible without a web or social media presence over the last ten years. While these tools are supported by technology, the user interface is the visual component that mediates between a company and its consumer base. Those that are effectively designed will be the ones that see more use and market presence.
What experience really stands out on Design Director resumes?
Nancy Snider: This is just to me, but-
- internships and other work at organizations in the graduate's primary area of study/interest
- creative work of distinction
- awards/honors
- international work in the graduate's primary area of study/interest
- language skills
- computer skills
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Design Directors?
Nancy Snider: Absolutely, on them and all the rest of us. We are living through one of the significant moments in human history. It cannot help but shape everything to come in profound ways.
What type of skills will young Design Directors need?
Brian Pirman: For someone who is contemplating a career in graphic design, I recommend several things. One would be to develop a portfolio that shows a diverse skill-set. This may include expertise in design and layout, photography, illustration, typography as well as animation and video. If you have a more varied skill set, you are more likely to either gain employment or able to do freelance work. The other thing is internships, internships, internships. Having a portfolio of applied work (versus school projects), as long as it's good, will separate you from the competition.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Design Directors to find work opportunities?
Brian Pirman: Traditionally, the best job markets have been larger metropolitan areas. That's mainly because there are more agencies and design firms in larger cities than there are in smaller cities. With that said, because of the internet and online communication, this is starting to change where one can pretty much do work for anybody, anywhere. Therefore, the opportunities are pretty much all-over, geographically speaking.
How do you envision technology impacting Design Directors in the next 5 years?
Brian Pirman: Good question. Because more and more content is being delivered online, and in particular through the video, I see the field continuing in the same direction. What I mean by that is, design students should really consider using video with other elements and principles of design, which may include composition, scale, contrast, pattern, texture, etc. Strong knowledge of typography is also crucial. However, just because you know how to make videos, do design and layout, and have the ability to use the tools the professionals use, that does not mean you will get hired for your skillset. You must have work in your portfolio that shows you have the ability to think critically and be creative. Creativity cannot be overestimated. The major firms that do work for large corporate clients are not hired for the how-to, in terms of creating, but rather the IDEA behind the message.