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Design Strategist Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Tate

Design Engineer

Glasgow, KY · On-site

$85K/yr

... strategy, our focus is on having minimal climate impact. We are excited by potentially welcoming you as part of our team as we continue to grow on a worldwide scale. About the Role: The Design ...

Kingspan Group

Design Engineer

Glasgow, KY · On-site

$85K/yr

... strategy, our focus is on having minimal climate impact. We are excited by potentially welcoming you as part of our team as we continue to grow on a worldwide scale. About the Role: The Design ...

Tate Access Floors Inc

Design Engineer

Glasgow, KY

$70K - $110K/yr

Job Title: Design Engineer Job Type : Full-time, Exempt Duration of role : Permanent Location ... strategy. We are excited to potentially welcome you as part of our team. Together, let's shape the ...

Tate Access Floors Inc

Design Engineer

Glasgow, KY · On-site

$70K - $110K/yr

Job Title: Design Engineer Job Type : Full-time, Exempt Duration of role : Permanent Location ... strategy. We are excited to potentially welcome you as part of our team. Together, let's shape the ...

Varsity Tutors

Graphic Design Tutor

Louisville, KY · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching design concept development, software proficiency, and visual communication strategies. Guides students through typography selection, color palette creation, logo development ...

Varsity Tutors

Graphic Design Tutor

Lexington, KY · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching design concept development, software proficiency, and visual communication strategies. Guides students through typography selection, color palette creation, logo development ...

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Design Strategist information

See Kentucky salary details

$25.6K

$80K

$118.1K

How much do design strategist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for design strategist in Kentucky is $80,014.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,200.00 and $82,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do design strategists make in the US?

Design strategists in the US typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in user experience, branding, or research may command higher salaries.

What is a design strategist?

A Design Strategist blends design thinking, business strategy, and user research to create innovative solutions that align with an organization's goals. They analyze market trends, user needs, and business objectives to ensure that design decisions drive meaningful impact. By collaborating with cross-functional teams, they help shape products, services, and brand experiences. Their role is to bridge the gap between creativity and strategy, ensuring that design solutions are both user-centered and business-viable.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the design strategist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Strategist, you need expertise in design thinking, user research, and business strategy, often supported by a degree in design, business, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Miro, and project management platforms—as well as certifications such as Design Thinking or UX Strategy—are commonly valued. Exceptional communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills set outstanding candidates apart. These competencies ensure you can translate insights into actionable design solutions that meet both user needs and business objectives.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a design strategist?

On a typical day, a Design Strategist collaborates with cross-functional teams to conduct user research, analyze market trends, and translate findings into actionable design recommendations. They often lead workshops, create journey maps, and prototype solutions to align stakeholders around user-centered strategies. In addition to hands-on design work, they also present ideas to clients or leadership and ensure proposed solutions meet both business and user objectives. The role balances strategic planning and creative exploration, making adaptability and communication key aspects of daily work.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design Strategist jobs in Kentucky? The most popular types of Design Strategist jobs in Kentucky are:
What are popular job titles related to Design Strategist jobs in Kentucky? For Design Strategist jobs in Kentucky, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Strategist jobs in Kentucky look for? The top searched job categories for Design Strategist jobs in Kentucky are:
Design Strategist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Strategist job openings in Kentucky as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,014 per year, or $38.5 per hour.

Executive Director of Graphic Design

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

$95K - $162K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

University Of Kentucky rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

309th of 616 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Details
Job Title Executive Director of Graphic Design Requisition Number RE55354 Working Title Department Name 3R150:Marketing and Brand Strategy Work Location Lexington, KY Grade Level 51 Salary Range $95,826-162,947/year Type of Position Staff Position Time Status Full-Time Required Education
BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies Required Related Experience
8 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification
None
Physical Requirements
Sitting for long periods of time; Standard for office work
Shift
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, with flexibility for additional evening, weekend, holiday hours as needed
Job Summary
Shape the Visual Identity of One of Kentucky's Leading Institutions
The University of Kentucky is seeking an Executive Director of Graphic Design to lead enterprise-wide graphic design services within the Division of Marketing & Strategic Communication.
This leadership role guides the creative vision, operations, and delivery of graphic design services across the university. Working with teams embedded throughout colleges, administrative units, UK HealthCare, and Athletics, the Executive Director will ensure design work is strategically aligned, visually consistent, and reflective of the university's mission and brand.
What You'll Do
  •  Establish and lead the university's graphic design strategy and visual standards
  •  Serve as the senior authority for design quality, brand integrity, and creative execution
  •  Provide direction and final review for high-profile and strategically important projects
  •  Lead, mentor, and develop a distributed team of approximately 30 designers
  •  Oversee project intake, workflow management, prioritization, and resource allocation
  •  Manage design service operations, performance metrics, budgeting, and process improvements
  •  Partner with campus leaders to align creative initiatives with institutional priorities
  •  Promote enterprise-wide consistency through governance, standards, and best practices

What You'll Bring
  •  Extensive experience in graphic design leadership, brand management, and creative direction
  •  Strong leadership and talent development skills
  •  Experience managing creative teams and large-scale design operations
  •  Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution
  •  Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
  •  Experience implementing processes that improve efficiency, quality, and service delivery

Minimum Requirements
  •  Bachelor's degree
  •  8 years of related experience

What's In It for You
  •  Meaningful impact: Shape how the university presents itself to audiences across Kentucky and beyond
  •  Executive leadership opportunity: Influence brand strategy and creative direction at an enterprise level
  •  Creative influence: Lead high-visibility projects across academics, healthcare, athletics, and administration
  •  Collaborative environment: Partner with communicators, marketers, designers, and university leaders
  • UK's Exceptional Benefits

Why Now?
The university has recently brought together marketing and communications professionals under a more unified structure, creating an opportunity to strengthen creative consistency and maximize the impact of design resources across the institution.
This role will help establish a shared vision for graphic design services while building the systems, standards, and team culture needed to support a unified brand experience. Your leadership will influence how millions of people experience and understand the University of Kentucky every year.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Strong graphic design knowledge and visual communication skills
Ability to provide creative direction and evaluate design quality
Brand stewardship and visual identity management
Leadership, coaching, and development of creative professionals
Ability to review, critique and elevate the work of others
Strategic thinking and sound decision-making
Project prioritization and workflow management
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
Ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders and teams
Experience managing multiple priorities in a complex environment
Knowledge of accessibility, usability and contemporary design best practices
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes Preferred Education/Experience
Experience leading creative teams, design operations or major creative initiatives within a complex organization. Demonstrated ability to establish and uphold brand standards, provide creative direction, evaluate design quality and guide the work of other creative professionals. Experience managing multiple priorities, clients or stakeholder groups simultaneously. Experience in higher education, healthcare, athletics, nonprofit, agency, corporate, governmental, or similarly complex environments is preferred.
Deadline to Apply 08/18/2026 Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

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About University of Kentucky

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The University of Kentucky (UK), the state's flagship university, was founded in 1865 and its beautiful, sprawling campus, nestled in downtown Lexington, now covers over 900 acres and is home to more than 30,000 students and approximately 13,500 employees. The trees and beautifully manicured greenspaces are a source of pride for the university and combine to create an impressive oasis amidst the busy cityscape that surrounds it.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Lexington, KY, US

Year founded

1865

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