How to Become a Design Director?

Are you thinking of becoming a Design Director or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Design Director, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Design Director job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.

Design Director Career Path

Director of Design

Alias: Head Design Manager
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17% advanced to
8+Years of Experience
€58K - €103K /yrAvg. Annual Salary
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17% advanced to

Senior Director of Design

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10% advanced to
8+Years of Experience
Not Enough Salary Reports
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10% advanced to

Vice President of Design

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8+Years of Experience
Not Enough Salary Reports
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Salary Trajectory

Design Director Career Path

Associate Design Manager
Senior Design Manager
Team Lead Design Manager
Principal Design Manager
Associate Director of Design
Director of Design
Senior Director of Design
Vice President of Design
Chief Design Manager
€0
€28K
€56K
€84K
€140K

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Important Skill Sets for the Design Director Career Path

Adobe Creative Suite
Indesign
Keynote
MAC Os

Related careers in the Arts & Design Industry

Interested in other Arts & Design careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Design Director skills. Discover some of the most common Design Director career transitions, along with skills overlap.

Creative Director
13% skills overlap
48% transitioned to Creative Director