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Design Director Designer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Guide and mentor designers (junior through senior), offering hands-on feedback, direction, and ... Support the Creative Director by owning the day-to-day design quality, enabling more focus on ...

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

Guide and mentor designers (junior through senior), offering hands-on feedback, direction, and ... Support the Creative Director by owning the day-to-day design quality, enabling more focus on ...

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

Guide and mentor designers (junior through senior), offering hands-on feedback, direction, and ... Support the Creative Director by owning the day-to-day design quality, enabling more focus on ...

Aristotle is looking for a Digital Design Director who can lead the creation of professional ... Experience designing websites, landing pages, and digital user experiences. * Ability to work ...

Digital Design Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Aristotle is looking for a Digital Design Director who can lead the creation of professional ... Experience designing websites, landing pages, and digital user experiences. * Ability to work ...

Digital Design Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Aristotle is looking for a Digital Design Director who can lead the creation of professional ... Experience designing websites, landing pages, and digital user experiences. * Ability to work ...

Architectural Designer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Working closely with the Design Director, this role transforms client aspirations, site ... Extensive experience designing luxury custom residential projects. * Strong conceptual design ...

Director, Product Design

Herndon, VA

$159K - $195K/yr

This includes coordinating designers across product pillars to align the broader company product ... specifically as a Design Director or Manager a plus. * Experience at a high-growth SaaS/tech ...

Director, Product Design

Herndon, VA · On-site

$159K - $195K/yr

This includes coordinating designers across product pillars to align the broader company product ... specifically as a Design Director or Manager a plus. * Experience at a high-growth SaaS/tech ...

Director, Product Design

Herndon, VA · On-site

$159K - $195K/yr

This includes coordinating designers across product pillars to align the broader company product ... specifically as a Design Director or Manager a plus. * Experience at a high-growth SaaS/tech ...

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Design Director Designer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$38.5K

$141.2K

$252.8K

How much do design director designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for design director designer in Reston, VA is $141,242.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,900.00 and $169,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 Designer, and why are they important?

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 are popular job titles related to Design Director Designer jobs in Reston, VA? For Design Director Designer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Director Designer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Design Director Designer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Design Director Designer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Design Director Designer job openings:
Associate Design Director

Associate Design Director

Stand Together

Arlington, VA

$125K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago


Job description

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, thought leadership, a network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society. 

We’re looking for a highly skilled, detail-oriented Associate Design Director to elevate the quality, consistency, and impact of our creative work across the Stand Together brand and its network of partners.

This role is ideal for a design leader who combines exceptional visual craft with a passion for mentoring others. You will play a critical role in shaping and refining creative work-bringing a sharp design eye, strong executional ability, and the ability to guide teams towards best-in-class outcomes.

Working closely with the Creative Director, you will focus on raising the bar of design across all touchpoints, ensuring that every piece of work is strategically sound, visually compelling, and executed at the highest level. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a culturally significant impact while strengthening the capabilities of our creative team. 
What You Will Do
  • Serve as the design lead across projects, partnering with the Creative Director to ensure work is visually exceptional, strategically aligned, and cohesive across channels.  
  • Act as the primary design authority, providing a critical, detail-oriented eye to refine and elevate creative work at every stage. 
  • Guide and mentor designers (junior through senior), offering hands-on feedback, direction, and coaching to strengthen craft, execution, and conceptual thinking.  
  • Spend dedicated time in the work, reviewing layouts, typography, systems, and visual storytelling to ensure the highest level of polish and consistency.  
  • Establish and uphold design standards, systems, and best practices across brand, campaigns, and partnerships.  
  • Collaborate closely with art directors, copywriters, strategists, and producers to bring integrated ideas to life across digital, social, video, print, and experiential.  
  • Translate strategic concepts into compelling visual systems and executions that resonate culturally and emotionally.  
  • Lead design critiques, foster a culture of constructive feedback, and create an environment where designers can grow and do their best work.  
  • Ensure design work scales effectively across platforms while maintaining integrity and quality.  
  • Support the Creative Director by owning the day-to-day design quality, enabling more focus on higher-level strategy and vision.  
What You Will Bring
  • 7+ years of experience in design, with a strong track record in brand, campaign, and multi-channel execution (agency or in-house). 
  • A portfolio that demonstrates exceptional design craft across digital, social, print, video, and brand systems.  
  • Experience managing, leading, mentoring, and developing designers, with a passion for elevating team performance.  
  • A refined design sensibility with a “laser eye” for detail, typography, layout, and visual systems.  
  • Strong understanding of how design supports storytelling, strategy, and audience engagement.  
  • Experience working within complex, multi-stakeholder environments while maintaining high creative standards.  
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively.  
  • A highly collaborative mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement—for both the work and the team.  
  • Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.
Standout Candidates Will Bring
  • Experience building and scaling brand systems across multiple channels and partners.  
  • Experience mentoring and leveling up design teams in fast-paced environments.  
  • Background in culturally driven or behavior change campaigns.  
  • Ability to balance hands-on design involvement with leadership responsibilities. 
What We Offer
  • Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace. 
  • A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges. 
  • Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop and apply their unique talents. 
  • Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive. 

For this role, the anticipated base salary range is $125,000–$160,000 per year. This role may also be eligible for additional bonus compensation designed to align total compensation with an employee’s overall contribution to the organization. 

Our Principles-Based Management™ (PBM) compensation philosophy is grounded in an individualized approach that rewards the long-term value each person creates for the organization. Compensation decisions are informed by a variety of factors, including relevant experience, capabilities, demonstrated skills, role responsibilities, and expected contribution. Consistent with this approach, base salary may vary within or outside of the anticipated range based on these considerations. 

Our Values: Working for an organization within the Stand Together philanthropic community is different from many other places. The culture is deeply rooted in Principle Based Management® (PBM®), a framework guided by the principles that drive human progress, such as dignity, openness, and bottom-up empowerment. PBM® empowers employees to be entrepreneurial, to innovate, and to continually drive transformation.   
 
We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success.  That is why we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, and respect.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.