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Design Director Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Stand Together

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA

$125K - $160K/yr

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 ...

Stand Together

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

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 ...

Stand Together

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA

$125K - $160K/yr

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 ...

Aristotle

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, audience-focused design across websites, digital campaigns, presentations, advertising, email, and ...

Aristotle

Digital Design Director

Washington, DC

$90K - $135K/yr

Aristotle is looking for a Digital Design Director who can lead the creation of professional, audience-focused design across websites, digital campaigns, presentations, advertising, email, and ...

Aristotle

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, audience-focused design across websites, digital campaigns, presentations, advertising, email, and ...

FranConnect, LLC

Director, Product Design

Herndon, VA

$159K - $195K/yr

About the Role As the Director of Product Design, you will be responsible for the future of franchise management, driving new initiatives, and setting a high standard for excellence across the design ...

FranConnect, LLC

Director, Product Design

Herndon, VA · On-site

$159K - $195K/yr

About the Role As the Director of Product Design, you will be responsible for the future of franchise management, driving new initiatives, and setting a high standard for excellence across the design ...

FranConnect, LLC

Director, Product Design

Herndon, VA · On-site

$159K - $195K/yr

About the Role As the Director of Product Design, you will be responsible for the future of franchise management, driving new initiatives, and setting a high standard for excellence across the design ...

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All JobsDesign JobsDesign Director JobsDesign Director Jobs in Washington

Design Director information

See Washington salary details

$41.9K

$153.8K

$275.2K

How much do design director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for design director in Washington is $153,765.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $124,000.00 and $184,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Design Director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

As a Design Director, you will regularly work with product managers, engineers, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that design solutions align with business goals and user needs. This role often involves leading design reviews, facilitating brainstorming sessions, and providing clear feedback to your team. Effective communication and the ability to advocate for design principles are essential, as you'll need to balance creative vision with practical constraints. Being proactive in building relationships across departments helps streamline workflows and fosters a collaborative environment that leads to successful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Design Director vs Art Director?

AspectDesign DirectorArt Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees overall design strategy, manages multiple projects, and leads design teamsFocuses on visual style, aesthetics, and execution of specific projects or campaigns
Required SkillsLeadership, strategic planning, broad design expertiseVisual creativity, technical skills, attention to detail
Work EnvironmentTypically in corporate, agency, or large studio settingsOften in advertising, media, or entertainment industries
Common UsageUsed when referring to senior design leadership rolesUsed for roles focused on visual and artistic direction

The main difference between a Design Director and an Art Director lies in scope and focus. A Design Director oversees overall design strategy and manages teams across multiple projects, while an Art Director concentrates on the visual style and execution of specific projects. Both roles require strong design skills, but the Design Director's responsibilities are broader and more strategic.

What does a Design Director do?

A Design Director leads and oversees the creative vision and direction of design projects within an organization. They manage design teams, collaborate with stakeholders, and ensure that all visual outputs align with the company's brand and objectives. Design Directors are responsible for setting design standards, mentoring team members, and ensuring the quality and consistency of creative work across various platforms. Their role often includes strategic planning, project management, and communication with clients or upper management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Design Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Director, you need deep expertise in design principles, visual communication, and leadership, often supported by a degree in design or a related field and significant industry experience. Mastery of design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management tools is essential, along with experience in overseeing brand and creative strategy. Exceptional communication, creative vision, and team leadership skills distinguish top performers in this role. These capabilities are crucial for delivering cohesive design solutions, inspiring creative teams, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.
What are the most commonly searched types of Design jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Design jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Design Director jobs in Washington? For Design Director jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Director jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Design Director jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Design Director jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Design Director job openings:
Design Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Director job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $153,765 per year, or $73.9 per hour.
Associate Design Director

Associate Design Director

Stand Together

Arlington, VA

$125K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 4 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. 
$125,000 - $160,000 a year

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.
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