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Design Director Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Koto

Design Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$160K - $175K/yr

The Role You are equal parts designer and leader. If Creative Directors own the idea, you own how it looks, feels, and works. You set the standard for design craft at Koto LA, leading teams and ...

McAfee

Role Summary We are seeking a Design Director to lead the design vertical within Brand Creative ... You're equally comfortable pushing craft-forward brand work as you are designing against ...

Notary Loop

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Notary Loop is searching for a Design Director to lead our dynamic Creative department. This ... Lead and mentor a team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence.

Northern Impact

Design Director

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

The studios embrace hybrid work arrangements and prioritize the professional development and growth of their designers, architects, and managers. Position Description : The Director of Design ...

Menlo Ventures

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$242 - $335/hr

About the role Chime is looking for a Product Design Director to lead our Growth Design ... Lead, inspire, and grow a team of product designers focused on acquisition, onboarding, activation ...

Chime Financial, Inc

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About the role We're hiring a Design Director to lead Product Design across our Spending, Savings ... Lead, coach, and develop a team of product designers, helping them strengthen their craft, expand ...

Buck Mason

Design Director, Women's Wovens

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$135 - $165/hr

The Design Director will oversee the full woven assortment, including soft wovens, tailoring, and ... Strong vintage knowledge across both designer and traditional categories; ability to translate ...

Aetwork

Design Director (Culver City)

Culver City, CA · On-site

Design Directors at Blitz champion conceptually and technically strong architecture, shaping studio ... Experience leading a team of designers. * Experience with the management of Design Fees and ...

Buck Mason

Design Director, Women's Wovens

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$135K - $165K/yr

The Design Director will oversee the full woven assortment, including soft wovens, tailoring, and ... Strong vintage knowledge across both designer and traditional categories; ability to translate ...

Buck Mason

Design Director, Women's Wovens

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$135K - $165K/yr

The Design Director will oversee the full woven assortment, including soft wovens, tailoring, and ... Strong vintage knowledge across both designer and traditional categories; ability to translate ...

Buck Mason

Design Director, Women's Wovens

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$135K - $165K/yr

The Design Director will oversee the full woven assortment, including soft wovens, tailoring, and ... Strong vintage knowledge across both designer and traditional categories; ability to translate ...

Koto

Design Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

The Role You are equal parts designer and leader - a true tastemaker with strong creative judgment ... Department Design Role Design Director Locations Los Angeles Remote status Hybrid Yearly salary 165 ...

Nutanix

Visual Design Director

San Jose, CA · On-site

$243K - $486K/yr

As the Visual Design Director, you will hold a high-impact leadership role within the User ... Mentor and develop designers to succeed in enterprise environments, fostering both technical ...

Lever Demo 2

Design Director

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

Our team strives to set a new bar for enterprise software with modern, well-designed, real-time apps. We participated in Y Combinator in summer 2012, and since then have raised $73 million. As the ...

Complex

Freelance Design Director

Los Angeles, CA

Work with designers bringing concepts and campaign objectives to life * Collaborate: Working with design leaders, account managers, experiential and product to create a visual roadmap for a variety ...

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Design Director Designer information

What does a design director do?

A Design Director oversees the creative vision and direction for design projects within an organization. They lead design teams, set project goals, and ensure that all visual and creative work aligns with the company's brand and objectives. Design Directors collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and other departments to deliver high-quality design solutions. They are responsible for mentoring junior designers, managing timelines and budgets, and staying up-to-date with design trends to maintain a competitive edge.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design director?

To thrive as a Design Director Designer, you need advanced design skills, leadership experience, and a strong portfolio, often supported by a degree in graphic design or a related field. Mastery of design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, and proficiency in project management tools are commonly required. Exceptional communication, creative vision, and team leadership abilities help set top candidates apart. These skills are crucial for driving innovative design solutions, guiding teams, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

How does a design director collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

As a Design Director, you will frequently work alongside product managers, engineers, marketing professionals, and other stakeholders to ensure the design vision aligns with business goals and user needs. Effective collaboration involves leading design reviews, providing clear feedback, and facilitating open communication across teams. You’ll often translate complex requirements into actionable design strategies while advocating for user-centered solutions. This collaborative environment not only fosters innovation but also ensures cohesive and impactful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Design Director Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectDesign Director DesignerGraphic Designer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in design, art, or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's degree in graphic design or related field; portfolio required
Work EnvironmentLeads creative teams, oversees projects, strategic planningCreates visual content, works on specific design projects
Industry UsageUsed in agencies, corporate branding, large design firmsCommon in advertising, publishing, freelance work

The main difference is that a Design Director Designer oversees entire creative teams and projects, focusing on strategy and leadership, while a Graphic Designer primarily creates visual content for specific projects. The Design Director Designer role involves higher-level responsibilities and management, whereas the Graphic Designer focuses on executing design tasks.

What are popular job titles related to Design Director Designer jobs in California?

For Design Director Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Director Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Director Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Design Director Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Design Director Designer job openings:

Design Director Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Director Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Design Director

Koto

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$160K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

The Role
You are equal parts designer and leader. If Creative Directors own the idea, you own how it looks, feels, and works. You set the standard for design craft at Koto LA, leading teams and shaping exceptional brand work through equal parts creative direction and hands-on execution.
Your Responsibilities
  1. Own the craft and design execution across 4-5 projects, ensuring every piece of work meets Koto's standard for excellence.
  2. Spend your time leading and designing in equal measure, balancing hands-on craft with team leadership.
  3. Partner with Creative Directors to identify, refine, and realize exceptional creative ideas, and teach your team to do the same.
  4. Champion exceptional brand identities, making confident design decisions across typography, layout, systems, motion and visual expression.
  5. Lead photographers, illustrators, animators, and other creative collaborators to produce outstanding work.
  6. Act as the bridge between Creative Directors and Designers, creating clarity, momentum and alignment across projects.
  7. Mentor designers through thoughtful direction, actionable feedback and day-to-day coaching, helping raise the craft across the studio.
  8. Build compelling narratives, craft presentations, and lead workshops, becoming a trusted creative partner for clients throughout the engagement.
  9. Collaborate closely with Strategy from immersion through execution, ensuring design thinking informs the work from the very beginning.
  10. Demonstrate an exceptional understanding of branding and the creative disciplines that bring brands to life, delivering work for today's most impactful companies and tomorrow's defining founders.
  11. Champion design quality and consistency across projects, setting the benchmark for what "well-designed" means at Koto.
  12. Build and evolve design systems, templates and creative processes that strengthen the studio and improve how we work.
  13. Balance creative ambition with practical delivery by managing time, scope, and team resources to consistently deliver exceptional work.
  14. Embrace feedback with curiosity and provide thoughtful, actionable feedback that helps others grow.
  15. Work from our Culver City studio and travel as required.
  16. Be highly proficient in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite and Pitch.
Our Responsibilities
  1. We will ensure you have meaningful and regular access to your manager to support your personal development and career trajectory.
  2. We will actively reward performance with promotions, pay increases, and a discretionary annual bonus of up to 10% of salary to all employees.
  3. We ensure Koto is an equal environment for all its employees.
  4. We will support you in taking family leave and offer significant paid maternity and paternity leave.
  5. We will actively encourage you to take 25 vacation days per year, in addition to US bank holidays, and a studio closure between Christmas and New Year.
  6. We offer a 401(k) that you can contribute to, and Koto matches contributions up to 4%.
  7. We deploy a monthly 'employee wellness' benefits package of $100 via Juno.
  8. We offer access to YCN and fund relevant training opportunities to any employee looking to develop themselves and career.
  9. We reward five years of service with $5,000 and five days holiday. We reward ten years of service with $10,000 and four weeks holiday.
  10. We will give you the opportunity to work from any of the five Koto studios globally, with appropriate planning and application.
Our Culture
  • At Koto, we encourage our team to be 'rationally optimistic' about the potential of our work, our clients, their businesses, and the power of brand.
  • We pursue the best briefs, want to inspire meaningful work, and for those interested provide an opportunity to make the work of their lives. We are actively cultivating leadership, culture and spaces to encourage this.
  • We work in person, with an optional WFH day on Friday and an additional 2 weeks of remote work per year. We believe this produces the best work, mentoring opportunities, collective learning and culture.
  • We encourage autonomy in each member of our team, allowing them to manage their own time, hours and personal commitments appropriately to complete work.

Department Design Role Design Director Locations Los Angeles Remote status Hybrid Yearly salary $160,000 - $175,000 Employment type Full-time

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