What does a graphic design manager do?
A graphic design manager is primarily in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a graphic design team, ensuring adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their duty to learn and analyze the purpose of design, coordinate staff, liaise with internal and external parties, set goals and objectives, manage schedules, and conceptualize plans. Furthermore, as a graphic design manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Graphic design manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real graphic design manager resumes:
- Train employees how to utilize CMS to manage Psych.org content by assigning department web liaisons in web management tasks
- Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
- Operate and maintain CNC machinery to increase shop productivity.
- Use HTML and image editors as needed to maintain product catalog.
- Operate computer and thermal wax printer to create heat transferable patterns.
- Identify and implement SEO and SEM tactics that deliver quality measurable results.
- Train retail and human resources staff how to use Facebook for business.
- Used HTML5+CSS3 to create dynamic web pages, incorporate advanced SEO on websites.
- Create and design all clothes for the characters in the Facebook game being develop.
- Rework PowerPoint template for better readability and usability.
- Maintain equipment schedule and manuals according to ISO standards
- Develop marketing strategies including a company website and brochures.
- Produce original artwork used in client proposals, presentations, brochures and other marketing collateral.
- Deliver PowerPoint presentations and seminars to customers to discuss and anticipate their product desires and requirements.
- Implement HTML email templates, enabling administrative staff to send a properly brand communication with minimal graphics team involvement.
Graphic design manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Graphic Design Managers are proficient in Graphic Design, Project Management, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Graphic Design Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Graphic Design, 9%
Involved in the decision making process for all graphic design related projects, from internal company communications to external customer-directed communications.
- Project Management, 7%
Project management and lead designer specializing in large catalogs for hi-tech customers.
- Customer Service, 7%
Communicated and provided exceptional customer service over the phone a closing over-the-phone sales skillfully.
- Adobe Photoshop, 6%
Design Newsletter utilizing Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
- Adobe Creative Suite, 5%
Developed, designed, and managed the production of marketing materials for customers using Adobe Creative Suite software.
- Brochures, 5%
Produced original artwork used in client proposals, presentations, brochures and other marketing collateral.
Most graphic design managers use their skills in "graphic design," "project management," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential graphic design manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a graphic design manager to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Additionally, a graphic design manager resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "build html emails and update wordpress and database integration. "
Artistic ability. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling graphic design manager duties is artistic ability. The role rewards competence in this skill because "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." According to a graphic design manager resume, here's how graphic design managers can utilize artistic ability in their job responsibilities: "designed artistic postcards, forms, business cards, flyers, advertisements and output film. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for graphic design managers to perform their duties. For an example of how graphic design manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a graphic design manager: "designed powerpoint presentations as the main division communications vehicle and developed training materials for new hires during their two-day introductory training. ".
Computer skills. A big part of what graphic design managers do relies on "computer skills." You can see how essential it is to graphic design manager responsibilities because "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical graphic design manager tasks: "collaborated with creative team to design and produce computer-generated artwork for marketing and promotional materials. "
Creativity. Another common skill required for graphic design manager responsibilities is "creativity." This skill comes up in the duties of graphic design managers all the time, as "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." An excerpt from a real graphic design manager resume shows how this skill is central to what a graphic design manager does: "served as creative director for location photo shoots used in corrugated packaging and point of purchase displays. "
Time-management skills. While "time-management skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to graphic design manager responsibilities. Much of what a graphic design manager does relies on this skill, seeing as "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of graphic design managers: "managed multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to and creating deadlines and production schedules. "
The three companies that hire the most graphic design managers are:
- DLR Group6 graphic design managers jobs
- Citi2 graphic design managers jobs
- Anheuser-Busch2 graphic design managers jobs
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Compare different graphic design managers
Graphic design manager vs. Associate art director
Associate art directors are professionals who assist art directors in performing creative-driven tasks such as producing graphic design for brands, layouts, and advertisements. These associate art directors are required to stay updated on the latest techniques using computer-aided design software such as PhotoShop, AutoCAD, and After Effects. They must organize photoshoots and work with PR managers and agents to coordinate the schedules of their models. Associate art directors must also establish a graphic design studio team and provide training for their designers and interns.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a graphic design manager are more likely to require skills like "project management," "customer service," "brochures," and "print collateral." On the other hand, a job as an associate art director requires skills like "photography," "sketch," "animation," and "web design." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Associate art directors really shine in the media industry with an average salary of $102,115. Comparatively, graphic design managers tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $82,776.On average, associate art directors reach similar levels of education than graphic design managers. Associate art directors are 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Graphic design manager vs. Art director
An art director's duty will vary depending on the line of industry involved. However, most of the responsibilities will revolve in taking charge of the artistic direction and decisions in a project or campaign. Most of the time, it is an art director's call to conceptualize and bring a vision to completion and take the lead in coordinating with various artists and creative staff. Furthermore, an art director must oversee the progress of workflow and workforce, develop plans and strategies, and approve or provide suggestions in every creative output from staff.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that graphic design manager responsibilities requires skills like "project management," "customer service," "flyers," and "posters." But an art director might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "creative concepts," "sketch," "creative solutions," and "adobe indesign."
On average, art directors earn a higher salary than graphic design managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, art directors earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $114,664. Whereas graphic design managers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $82,776.In general, art directors achieve similar levels of education than graphic design managers. They're 2.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for graphic design managers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.
Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and Humanities, College of Central Florida
Graphic design manager vs. Designer/art director
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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, graphic design managers are more likely to have skills like "project management," "customer service," "product photography," and "flyers." But a designer/art director is more likely to have skills like "photography," "creative concepts," "sketch," and "product design."
Designer/art directors earn the best pay in the media industry, where they command an average salary of $100,319. Graphic design managers earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $82,776.When it comes to education, designer/art directors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to graphic design managers. In fact, they're 2.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Graphic design manager vs. Graphic artist
A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.
Types of graphic design manager
Updated January 8, 2025
