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The differences between designer/art directors and lead designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a designer/art director, becoming a lead designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, which is higher than the $97,448 average annual salary of a designer/art director.
The top three skills for a designer/art director include photography, graphic design and creative concepts. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Designer/Art Director | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,448 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $46.85 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 53,314 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
An art director collaborates with the design and art staff for books, public relations firms, advertising agencies, or newspaper publishers. Art directors create designs and layouts that embody the organization and send the message they want the audience to get. They work with producers and directors of theatres, television, and movie productions to oversee set designs. Being an art director also includes critiquing people's work, working to reach deadlines while still following the budget allocated for a certain project, and (on occasion) disciplining designers who are slacking off on the job.
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.
Designer/art directors and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Designer/Art Director | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $97,448 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $157,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Media | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a designer/art director and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Designer/Art Director | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between designer/art directors' and lead designers' demographics:
| Designer/Art Director | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 11% | 13% |