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Creative Design Manager Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

sgsco

Account Coordinator (Creative Design)

Cincinnati, OH · Hybrid

$19.50 - $25.25/hr

POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking an Account Coordinator (Creative Design) to support our Account ... Ability to work with and influence peers and senior management * Self-motivated with critical ...

sgsco

Account Coordinator (Creative Design)

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$19.50 - $25.25/hr

POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking an Account Coordinator (Creative Design) to support our Account ... Ability to work with and influence peers and senior management * Self-motivated with critical ...

SGS & Co

Account Coordinator (Creative Design)

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$19.50 - $25.25/hr

POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking an Account Coordinator (Creative Design) to support our Account ... Ability to work with and influence peers and senior management * Self-motivated with critical ...

Oliver Inc.

Packaging Design Manager

Twinsburg, OH

We value respect and focus on servicing our customers' needs by providing them with creative ... What You'll Do As our Packaging Design Manager , you will Leadership & Team Development * Lead ...

Oliver Inc.

Packaging Design Manager

Twinsburg, OH · On-site

We value respect and focus on servicing our customers' needs by providing them with creative ... What You'll Do As our Packaging Design Manager , you will Leadership & Team Development * Lead ...

Oliver Inc.

Packaging Design Manager

Twinsburg, OH · On-site

We value respect and focus on servicing our customers' needs by providing them with creative ... What You'll Do As our Packaging Design Manager , you will Leadership & Team Development * Lead ...

PNC Bank

Content Design Manager Senior

Cleveland, OH · On-site +1

Lead creative and holistic thinking across diverse product releases, platforms, and devices ... with design, product management, & technology leaders. PNC Employees take pride in our reputation ...

PNC Bank

Content Design Manager Senior

Columbus, OH · On-site +1

Lead creative and holistic thinking across diverse product releases, platforms, and devices ... with design, product management, & technology leaders. PNC Employees take pride in our reputation ...

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All JobsCreative Design JobsCreative Design Manager JobsCreative Design Manager Jobs in Ohio

Creative Design Manager information

See Ohio salary details

$39.9K

$108.8K

$191.6K

How much do creative design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative design manager in Ohio is $108,846.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,400.00 and $136,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a creative design manager do?

A creative design manager oversees the development and execution of visual concepts for projects such as branding, advertising, and product design. They lead a team of designers, coordinate with clients or other departments, and ensure that creative work aligns with brand standards and project goals, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills are essential in this role.

Is a creative design manager a stressful job?

A creative design manager often faces stress related to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects, and balancing client or stakeholder expectations. The role requires strong organizational skills, leadership, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations, which can contribute to job stress.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a creative design manager?

To thrive as a Creative Design Manager, you need strong visual design expertise, leadership experience, and a relevant degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and project management tools is typically required. Excellent communication, team collaboration, and creative problem-solving are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the delivery of innovative, high-quality design solutions while effectively leading and motivating creative teams.

What is the difference between Creative Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative Design ManagerGraphic Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees creative projects, manages design teams, develops concepts, and ensures brand consistency.Creates visual content, designs layouts, and produces graphics based on project briefs.
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced design skills, and strategic thinking.Proficiency in design software, creativity, and technical skills.
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, client meetings, and project planning.Design studios, freelance work, or in-house departments.
Common CertificationsDesign degrees, Adobe certifications, leadership training.

The main difference is that a Creative Design Manager leads and oversees creative projects and teams, focusing on strategy and management, while a Graphic Designer primarily executes visual designs and creates graphics. Both roles require strong design skills, but the manager role involves more leadership and project coordination.

How does a creative design manager balance creative vision with client or stakeholder requirements?

As a Creative Design Manager, you'll often navigate the challenge of aligning your team's innovative ideas with client or stakeholder expectations. This involves active listening, clear communication, and presenting creative solutions that address both aesthetic goals and practical needs. You'll facilitate brainstorming sessions, provide constructive feedback, and ensure that the design output meets brand guidelines, project timelines, and business objectives. Strong collaboration with marketing, product, and leadership teams is key to achieving successful outcomes while maintaining creative integrity.

What is a creative design manager?

Creative Design Managers are professionals responsible for leading and overseeing creative projects within organizations, such as advertising campaigns, branding, and visual content creation. They manage teams of designers, ensuring creative output aligns with company goals and brand identity. Their role involves project management, creative direction, collaboration with other departments, and maintaining high standards of design quality. Creative Design Managers also stay up-to-date with design trends and often mentor junior staff.
What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Design jobs in Ohio? The most popular types of Creative Design jobs in Ohio are:
What are popular job titles related to Creative Design Manager jobs in Ohio? For Creative Design Manager jobs in Ohio, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Creative Design Manager jobs in Ohio look for? The top searched job categories for Creative Design Manager jobs in Ohio are:
What cities in Ohio are hiring for Creative Design Manager jobs? Cities in Ohio with the most Creative Design Manager job openings:
Creative Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Design Manager job openings in Ohio as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,846 per year, or $52.3 per hour.

Design Manager - Kraemer Design + Production

PlayCore

Cincinnati, OH • On-site

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

PlayCore rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Kraemer Design + Production (KD+P) is seeking a Design Manager to lead and coordinate the creative development of family-focused, hands-on interactive exhibit experiences. KD+P specializes in interactive experiential exhibit design and production, guiding projects from concept design through installation for museums, children's museums, nature centers, visitor centers, entertainment experiences, and other community-based attractions. The Design Manager will oversee the design process across all active projects, ensuring that each experience is imaginative, educationally accurate, visitor-centered, buildable, on schedule, and aligned with each client's content, goals, budget, and audience.
This role is ideal for a creative leader who can manage multidisciplinary teams, translate client content into engaging physical and digital experiences, and balance big-picture storytelling with practical execution. The Design Manager will work closely with project managers, designers, graphic designers, writers, fabricators, vendors, consultants, and clients to deliver memorable exhibit environments that invite exploration, learning, play, and repeat engagement for visitors of all ages.
Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the day-to-day design management of all assigned exhibit, attraction, and visitor experience projects from discovery and concept development through design documentation, fabrication coordination, and installation support.
  • Guide multidisciplinary design teams in developing engaging, hands-on experiences that translate client content into clear stories, intuitive visitor flow, age-appropriate interactions, and memorable family learning moments.
  • Establish and maintain project design standards, creative goals, deliverable expectations, and review processes across concept, schematic design, design development, final design, bid documentation, and production support phases.
  • Collaborate with project teams to align design scope, schedule, staffing, fees, budgets, milestones, client reviews, and production requirements.
  • Serve as a secondary point of contact for clients, facilitating design meetings, presenting concepts, documenting decisions, gathering feedback, and helping clients understand how design choices support their goals.
  • Review drawings, graphic packages, exhibit descriptions, interactive concepts, material selections, finish palettes, lighting and audio-visual approaches, and fabrication details for clarity, consistency, feasibility, accessibility, durability, and visitor impact.
  • Mentor designers and design support staff by providing constructive feedback, prioritizing workloads, encouraging professional growth, and helping team members strengthen their exhibit design, storytelling, documentation, and presentation skills.
  • Coordinate with fabricators, vendors, consultants, architects, engineers, media producers, educators, evaluators, and internal team members to ensure creative intent is preserved through production and installation.
  • Help identify design risks, scope gaps, budget pressures, schedule conflicts, accessibility concerns, safety considerations, and fabrication challenges early in the project process.
  • Support prototyping, mockups, user testing, and iterative refinement of interactive experiences, particularly for children, families, school groups, and multigenerational audiences.
  • Promote design solutions that are inclusive, accessible, safe, durable, maintainable, educationally meaningful, and appropriate for high-use public environments.
  • Contribute to proposals, interviews, pre-design planning, client workshops, and internal process improvements as needed.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in exhibit design, industrial design, interior design, architecture, experiential design, environmental graphic design, museum studies, theater design, or a related field; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
  • 10+ years of professional design experience, preferably in museums, children's museums, science centers, nature centers, themed entertainment, visitor attractions, experiential environments, or custom public-facing installations.
  • 3+ years of experience leading designers, managing design teams, or directing multidisciplinary creative work across multiple concurrent projects.
  • Strong understanding of exhibit design process, interpretive planning, spatial storytelling, interactive development, visitor flow, material selection, fabrication coordination, and design documentation.
  • Demonstrated ability to turn client content, educational objectives, and audience needs into engaging hands-on experiences for families and children.
  • Experience managing design schedules, budgets, deliverables, review cycles, and consultant or vendor coordination.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain design intent clearly to clients, internal teams, fabricators, and non-design stakeholders.
  • Strong visual, written, and verbal storytelling skills, including the ability to guide concept narratives, exhibit descriptions, design presentations, and client-facing materials.
  • Working knowledge of accessibility, safety, durability, child development, inclusive design, and public environment requirements as they relate to interactive exhibits and family experiences.
  • Proficiency with common design and production tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Rhino, AutoCAD, Vectorworks, SolidWorks, or similar platforms is preferred.
  • Ability to manage competing priorities, make decisions with incomplete information, maintain creative momentum, and support teams through deadline-driven project phases.

Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal Design Manager is equal parts, project collaborator, mentor, and problem solver. They are energized by designing experiences that families can touch, test, explore, and remember. They understand that great exhibit design must be imaginative and practical: compelling for visitors, meaningful for clients, achievable for fabricators, maintainable for operators, and responsible to budgets and schedules. They bring calm leadership, clear communication, curiosity, organization, and a strong respect for the client's content and community.
What Success Looks Like
  • Design projects are well organized, clearly documented, and creatively aligned from kickoff through installation.
  • Clients feel heard, guided, and confident in the design process.
  • Designers receive timely direction, useful feedback, and support in prioritizing their work.
  • Interactive exhibits are engaging, intuitive, durable, accessible, and appropriate for family audiences.
  • Project teams identify and resolve design, budget, fabrication, and schedule issues before they become major problems.
  • KD+P continues to deliver distinctive, educational, memorable visitor experiences that reflect each client's unique story and goals.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume, portfolio or work samples, and a brief cover letter describing their experience leading design teams and creating interactive visitor experiences. Portfolio examples should demonstrate design thinking, storytelling, spatial or exhibit design, hands-on interactive development, documentation quality, and completed project outcomes where available.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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