A lead graphic designer is responsible for creating, designing, and updating the company's visual aspects. The lead graphic designer works closely with the branding department alongside the advertising and marketing team. It is essential for the lead graphic designer must be creative, willing to think outside the box, and brave to dare novel ideas. The lead graphic designer is also responsible for leading the creative department in accomplishing assigned tasks from management.

Lead Graphic Designer Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real lead graphic designer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • Manage website redesign including copywriting and updating all website content.
  • Web projects (website design, HTML web updates and email marketing design and code).
  • Create all PowerPoint, marketing and print materials; including but not limit to trade-show booth, and give-a-ways.
  • Design and supervise production of all artwork for print apparel.
  • Create all social media presence including twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Blogspot.
  • Format HTML graphics for e-blasts, web banners, e-marketing tools, web publishing platforms.
  • Utilize social media networking tools like blogs, facebook, twitter, and e-mail blasts, etc.
  • Increase client capture by increasing effectiveness of presentations using flash base presentations and advance PowerPoint features.
  • Receive recognition from senior management for contributing to accelerate revenue growth as a result of developing and implementing comprehensive design strategy.
  • Play key role in rebranding out-date literature and web sites to align with modern design and technology trends.
  • Work closely with customers to answer their inquiries concerning good PC health.
  • Utilize rebranding strategies to modernize and revamp the company's look and feel, while maintaining and attracting new clientele.
  • Research and recommend solutions for creation of company intranet.
  • Secure preliminary design approvals and convert artwork to PDF format.

Lead Graphic Designer Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 7% of Lead Graphic Designers are proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Graphic Design, and Design Concepts. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Lead Graphic Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Adobe Photoshop, 7%

    Delivered requested professional visual assets using Adobe Photoshop.

  • Graphic Design, 7%

    Lead graphic designer focusing on logo development, marketing materials, advertisements and marketing campaigns for micro-businesses in the local market.

  • Design Concepts, 7%

    Hired, trained and directed staff members who developed design concepts into art layouts or who prepared layouts for printing.

  • Adobe Illustrator, 5%

    Developed more than 5,000 technical drawings in Adobe Illustrator for US Navy projects including US Army Watercraft & DRSKO instruction manuals.

  • Adobe Creative Suite, 5%

    Create video advertisements utilizing Adobe Creative Suite.

  • Project Management, 5%

    Expanded responsibilities to include additional project management and support functions to provide additional value to client.

"adobe photoshop," "graphic design," and "design concepts" aren't the only skills we found lead graphic designers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of lead graphic designer responsibilities that we found, including:

  • The most important skills for a lead graphic designer to have in this position are analytical skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a lead graphic designer resume, you'll understand why: "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." According to resumes we found, analytical skills can be used by a lead graphic designer in order to "created dynamic employment advertisements, using adobe creative suite and proprietary database, for major newspapers and trade journals worldwide. "
  • While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many lead graphic designer duties rely on artistic ability. This example from a lead graphic designer explains why: "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." This resume example is just one of many ways lead graphic designers are able to utilize artistic ability: "utilized adobe photoshop and illustrator to achieve various artistic and graphic designs. "
  • Another skill that is quite popular among lead graphic designers is communication skills. This skill is very critical to fulfilling every day responsibilities as is shown in this example from a lead graphic designer resume: "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "served as lead graphic designer for the corporate communications arm of a not-for-profit utility serving over 400,000 customers. "
  • In order for certain lead graphic designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "computer skills." According to a lead graphic designer resume, "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "developed computer skills to be promoted to lead graphic design with in first seven months. "
  • As part of the lead graphic designer description, you might find that one of the skills that might be helpful to the job is "creativity." A lead graphic designer resume included this snippet: "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers" This skill could be useful in this scenario: "demonstrated outstanding versatility and creativity to maintain network integrity and availability while simultaneously contributing graphic design concepts to production team. "
  • Lastly, this career requires you to be skillful in "time-management skills." According to lead graphic designer resumes, "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." This resume example highlights how lead graphic designer responsibilities rely on this skill: "worked collaboratively to complete multiple web/graphic design projects with overlapping tasks and deadlines to achieve web-based interactive solutions. "
  • See the full list of lead graphic designer skills.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Lead Graphic Designer Resume templates

    Build a professional Lead Graphic Designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Lead Graphic Designer resume.

    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume
    Lead Graphic Designer Resume

    resume document icon

    Don't Have A Professional Resume?

    What Graphic Artists Do

    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.

    In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take graphic artist for example. On average, the graphic artists annual salary is $21,109 lower than what lead graphic designers make on average every year.

    Even though lead graphic designers and graphic artists have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require adobe photoshop, graphic design, and design concepts in the day-to-day roles.

    These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A lead graphic designer responsibility is more likely to require skills like "project management," "product photography," "print collateral," and "email campaigns." Whereas a graphic artist requires skills like "photography," "posters," "sample layouts," and "web design." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

    Graphic artists tend to make the most money in the non profits industry by averaging a salary of $68,382. In contrast, lead graphic designers make the biggest average salary of $85,443 in the technology industry.

    On average, graphic artists reach similar levels of education than lead graphic designers. Graphic artists are 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

    What Are The Duties Of a Designer?

    A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.

    The next role we're going to look at is the designer profession. Typically, this position earns a lower pay. In fact, they earn a $9,662 lower salary than lead graphic designers per year.

    Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Lead graphic designers and designers both include similar skills like "adobe photoshop," "graphic design," and "design concepts" on their resumes.

    But both careers also use different skills, according to real lead graphic designer resumes. While lead graphic designer responsibilities can utilize skills like "motion graphics," "brochures," "product photography," and "print collateral," some designers use skills like "customer service," "html css," "revit," and "aided design."

    It's been discovered that designers earn lower salaries compared to lead graphic designers, but we wanted to find out where designers earned the most pay. The answer? The technology industry. The average salary in the industry is $87,754. Additionally, lead graphic designers earn the highest paychecks in the technology with an average salary of $85,443.

    On the topic of education, designers earn similar levels of education than lead graphic designers. In general, they're 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    How a Visual Designer Compares

    A visual designer is someone who creates designs for a variety of platforms such as Internet and intranet sites, games, and wearables. The duties of visual designers depend on the specific project or industry in which they are working. Duties include creating user-centered interaction models, working with information technology and business teams to resolve complex issues, and designing logos, icons, and infographics. The qualifications to become a visual designer include possessing strong problem-solving, communication, and negotiation skills and obtaining a bachelor's degree in design.

    The visual designer profession generally makes a higher amount of money when compared to the average salary of lead graphic designers. The difference in salaries is visual designers making $10,486 higher than lead graphic designers.

    While looking through the resumes of several lead graphic designers and visual designers we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "adobe photoshop," "graphic design," and "design concepts," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

    Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from lead graphic designer resumes include skills like "brochures," "product photography," "mac," and "print production," whereas a visual designer might be skilled in "visual design," "ui," "user experience," and "visualization. "

    Visual designers make a very good living in the start-up industry with an average annual salary of $121,675. Whereas lead graphic designers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry with the average being $85,443.

    Visual designers are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to lead graphic designers. Additionally, they're 4.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    Description Of a Junior Designer

    A junior designer is an entry-level professional who is responsible for creating high-quality designs according to the requirements of clients. Under the supervision of senior designers, junior designers must understand project requirements and projects and use various techniques to create drafts, models, and prototypes. They collaborate with team members to pitch in creative ideas and produce final design solutions that can include banners or logos. Junior designers must also take on specially design tasks and use feedback from other designers to improve.

    Junior designers tend to earn a lower pay than lead graphic designers by about $22,660 per year.

    According to resumes from both lead graphic designers and junior designers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "adobe photoshop," "graphic design," and "design concepts. "

    While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "project management," "motion graphics," "brochures," and "product photography" are skills that have shown up on lead graphic designers resumes. Additionally, junior designer uses skills like revit, design projects, construction drawings, and auto cad on their resumes.

    Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. The technology industry tends to pay more for junior designers with an average of $55,726. While the highest lead graphic designer annual salary comes from the technology industry.

    In general, junior designers reach similar levels of education when compared to lead graphic designers resumes. Junior designers are 1.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.