Design directors are responsible for delivering world-class products and experiences, whether digital or physical. Where creative directors are charged with casting artistic vision, design directors are more output-focused. To that end, they oversee design teams and ensure that all efforts lead to creative outcomes that are high-quality and on-brand. As design leaders, design directors have a wide base of technical knowledge and guide staff through an array of complicated design problems.
Trusted by leading brands and startups
The design director is a senior role for leaders with a proven track record of effective communication, innovation, and high-level design problem-solving. Design directors ensure that all products and experiences are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of quality. In addition to communicating a company’s creative vision to design teams and stakeholders, a design director supervises the entire design process and all-important technical decisions.
A design director may also be tasked with tracking timelines, managing budgets, and maintaining client relationships. As expert communicators, they keep in touch with all team members and make sure that everyone has the resources and knowledge needed to succeed.
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We are looking for a design director who is able to quickly interpret business needs and client briefs and turn them into compelling creative solutions. Often working under tight deadlines while overseeing multiple projects, the design director must be a skilled manager of creative teams (including but not limited to: art directors, copywriters, content strategists, graphic artists, and designers). The design director must be an effective communicator, especially when it comes to relaying creative concepts to design teams and company stakeholders. {{Add any specific experience here.}}
Toptal is a marketplace for top design directors. Each Toptal design director is thoroughly vetted and trusted by top companies for their most critical design projects.
See Their ProfilesDirector Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, UI Design, Web UI, Visual Design, Web Design, Icon Design, Digital Design,
Young is a systematic thinker and a problem solver. He focuses on user-centric design, but is always looking to push the boundaries and try something new. He has experience working in both small digital agencies and top global digital advertising agencies like Razorfish Global, working with brands like Honda/Acura and Google. His work with PBS as art director recently won a 2016 Revere Award from the Association of American Publishers.
Show MoreDirector Designer, UX Design, UI Design, Product Design, Creative Direction, Brand Design,
Bruno is an award-winning design-oriented product strategist, with a passion for digital transformation challenges. Over the past 20 years, he has gained experience in the following industries: Fintech, Travel, Automotive, FMCG, and Fashion.
Show MoreDirector Designer, Adobe Photoshop, UI Design, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Responsive Web Design (RWD), iOS, Branding, Wireframing, Android, Brand Guidelines, Product Design, Pitch Decks,
Alex has worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet, including Nike, Converse, Heineken, Vogue, and CoStar Group. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, and Communications Arts. With a hefty number of awards, 15 years of experience, and the philosophy of practicing what he preaches, Alex is known for his minimal and timeless designs. He thrives when working with bold brands and has a deep appreciation and understanding regarding the impact that great design can have.
Show MoreDirector Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, UX Design, UI Design, Web Design, Web App Design, Adobe Creative Suite, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Branding, Art Direction, iOS UI Design,
Simon has more than 11 years experience in the creative industry. He became an integral part of agencies such as MC Saatchi, VML, and Ogilvy—where he led various creative teams. He has worked with the world's largest brands and transformed emerging brands into competitive entities. His focus is interactive and experience design. He is constantly pursuing meaningful storytelling through design that makes a difference in people's lives.
Show MoreDirector Designer, Sketch, User Experience (UX), Adobe, Illustration, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web UX, Web UI, Adobe Experience Design (XD),
Rafael is a design leader with over 15 years of experience working in New York for firms like Pentagram, Droga5, BBDO, and Dentsu. His design practice is often informed by the most relevant art, media, and tech innovations; his aesthetic is referred to as minimalist, engaging, and playful. Rafael has designed for Fortune 500 brands such as Aesop, Chobani, Diet Coke, J&J, Oral-B, and Under Armour, and he has degrees from leading institutions in Europe and the United States.
Show MoreDirector Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Figma, UX Design, UI Design, Wireframing, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Digital Product Design, Portal Design, Web App Design, Mobile Design,
Tom is a British web and mobile designer, specializing in crafting clean user interfaces and engaging user experiences. His background lies in product design, giving him a solid foundation in turning user and business requirements into elegant functional solutions.
Show MoreDirector Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, iOS, Android, UX Research, Product Design, Usability Testing, Art Direction, Creative Direction, Web UX, Web UI,
Sergey designs interfaces for websites, cars, and mobile and augmented reality apps. He has had the opportunity to work for clients such as UBS, Raiffeisen, Home Credit, Barclay's startup accelerator, Honeywell, Volkswagen Group, and more.
Show MoreDirector Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch 3, User Interface (UI), UI Design, iOS UI Design, Web Design, Mobile App Design, User Experience (UX), Visual Design, Responsive, Mobile Design, Logo Design,
Tom is a multidisciplinary designer focused on UX/UI. He communicates exceptionally well and is very passionate about his work. Before going independent, he was the head of the digital department's design at Mullen LOWE Warsaw. His work has been featured on Behance, Abduzeedo, and CreativeBloq, among others. He also taught UI/UX design at Envato and enjoyed giving few lectures at the Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology in Warsaw.
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