What Is a Lead Designer and How to Become One

A lead designer is in charge of the creative aspects of a project. As a lead designer, you may work with a creative director to oversee design of a video game, a multimedia project, or website. Your job duties in this career include meeting with clients to assess their needs, creating a framework for the project, and working with an art team to execute the plan according to specifications. Qualifications vary, depending on the employer, but lead designers typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of industry experience.

A lead designer needs job experience and creative skills. The qualifications that you need to launch a career as a lead designer vary from employer to employer. As a lead designer, you usually interact with clients, so you need communication skills. You also need leadership abilities because your job involves overseeing design activities and delegating tasks to other creative or design team members. Most employers prefer lead designers with several years of job experience and an associate or bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. If you work on visual designs, for example, you would need a degree in graphic design.