ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Executive Design Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Smosh

Design Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $95K/yr

... the executive team to ensure the Smosh universe continues to look as good as it is funny. This ... Creative Concepts - Design and direct concepts for tentpole events, live shows, and channel ...

Smosh

Design Director

Los Angeles, CA

... the executive team to ensure the Smosh universe continues to look as good as it is funny. This ... Creative Concepts - Design and direct concepts for tentpole events, live shows, and channel ...

Smosh

Design Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... the executive team to ensure the Smosh universe continues to look as good as it is funny. This ... Creative Concepts Design and direct concepts for tentpole events, live shows, and channel rebrands ...

Kira Learning

Design Director

New York, NY · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

As our Director of Design, you'll own the vision, strategy, and execution of Kira's design ... You'll partner closely with our co-founders and executive leadership to define the design direction ...

Chris Vossler

Design Director

Glenbrook, NV · On-site

$192K - $225K/yr

... looking for a Design Director to lead the vision that makes that possible. This is a senior ... Collaborate with executive leadership to shape the long-term product and brand direction * Build ...

Kira

Design Director

New York, NY · Remote

$170K - $220K/yr

As our Director of Design, you'll own the vision, strategy, and execution of Kira's design ... You'll partner closely with our co-founders and executive leadership to define the design direction ...

Chris Vossler

Design Director

Glenbrook, NV · On-site

$192K - $225K/yr

... looking for a Design Director to lead the vision that makes that possible. This is a senior ... Collaborate with executive leadership to shape the long-term product and brand direction * Build ...

Jane App

Design Director

Glenbrook, NV

$192K - $225K/yr

... looking for a Design Director to lead the vision that makes that possible. This is a senior ... Collaborate with executive leadership to shape the long-term product and brand direction * Build ...

F. Schumacher & Co.

Design Director

New York, NY

Design Director- Schumacher Classics Role Overview The Design Director leads product development ... Present concepts and collection narratives to the executive team * Travel overseas to work onsite ...

F. Schumacher & Co.

Design Director

New York, NY · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Design Director- Schumacher Classics Role Overview The Design Director leads product development ... Present concepts and collection narratives to the executive team * Travel overseas to work onsite ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsExecutive Design Director Jobs

Executive Design Director information

See salary details

$37K

$135.8K

$243K

How much do executive design director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for executive design director in the United States is $135,763.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is an executive director a high position?

An executive design director is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing design strategies and teams within an organization. It is generally considered a high-level position that requires extensive experience, leadership skills, and often involves strategic decision-making. The role typically reports to top executives such as the CEO or chief creative officer.

Is VP of design higher than Design Director?

In most organizations, the Vice President (VP) of Design is a higher-level executive than a Design Director. The VP typically oversees multiple design teams and sets strategic direction, while the Design Director manages day-to-day design operations and team leadership. The hierarchy can vary depending on company size and structure, but generally, VP of Design holds a senior executive role above Design Director.

What is the difference between Executive Design Director vs Creative Director?

AspectExecutive Design DirectorCreative Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple design teams, sets strategic vision, manages large-scale projectsFocuses on the overall creative vision, concept development, and brand identity
CredentialsTypically requires extensive design experience, leadership skills, and often a degree in design or related fieldsSimilar credentials, emphasizing creative expertise and leadership in design
Work EnvironmentHigh-level management in corporate or agency settings, collaborating with executivesCreative teams, branding agencies, or in-house marketing departments

While both roles require strong design expertise and leadership, the Executive Design Director focuses on strategic oversight and managing multiple teams, whereas the Creative Director emphasizes developing the creative vision and brand concepts. The Executive Design Director often operates at a higher organizational level, aligning design strategies with business goals.

What is an executive Design Director?

An Executive Design Director is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the overall design strategy and creative vision of a company or project. They manage design teams, collaborate with other departments, and ensure that design work aligns with business goals, often requiring extensive experience in design, leadership, and industry-specific tools. This role typically involves high-level decision-making and strategic planning within creative organizations.

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

An Executive Design Director works closely with cross-functional teams—including product management, engineering, marketing, and user research—to ensure that design vision aligns with business objectives and user needs. They often facilitate workshops, provide strategic design direction, and mediate between stakeholder interests. This collaborative approach helps streamline decision-making, fosters innovation, and ensures that the final product delivers a cohesive user experience. Effective communication and leadership are crucial in balancing creative goals with practical constraints.

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

To thrive as an Executive Design Director, you need extensive experience in design leadership, creative direction, and a strong portfolio demonstrating innovative, user-centered solutions, often supported by a degree in design or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard design tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Sketch) and familiarity with project management platforms are typically required. Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire and manage multidisciplinary teams set top candidates apart. These skills ensure the delivery of visionary design strategies that align with business objectives and drive organizational success.

What is the highest paid design job?

The highest paid design jobs are often executive roles such as Chief Design Officer or Creative Director, with salaries reaching into the high six or seven figures for experienced professionals in large organizations. These roles typically require extensive leadership skills, a strong portfolio, and often advanced degrees or certifications in design or related fields.
More about Executive Design Director jobs
What cities are hiring for Executive Design Director jobs? Cities with the most Executive Design Director job openings:
What states have the most Executive Design Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Executive Design Director jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Executive Design Director jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Executive Design Director jobs are:
Executive Design Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Executive Design Director job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,763 per year, or $65.3 per hour.
Design Director

Design Director

Smosh

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$90K - $95K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Overview: Smosh is seeking a highly skilled, organized, and creatively fearless Design Director to lead the look, feel, and overall visual identity of the Smosh brand across all channels: Smosh, Smosh Pit, Smosh Games, Smosh Cast, and Smosh ALike. This role balances hands-on design work with creative direction and team management. You'll guide a small but mighty design team, oversee everything from thumbnail production to live show branding, and collaborate directly with the executive team to ensure the Smosh universe continues to look as good as it is funny.
This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Marketing.
Core Competencies
  • Creative Vision & Innovation - Set and maintain high visual, comedic and cohesive design choices that elevate the Smosh brand across platforms.
  • Strong Management & Team Development Skills - Empower a small graphic team through clear communication, collaboration and fostering growth and skill development.
  • Lead by Doing - Balance leadership with practical design work, stepping into Illustrator, Photoshop, or motion tools when necessary.
  • Collaborative Instinct - Works closely with producers, directors, social, marketing, and post-production teams to ensure visual consistency and impact across all platforms.
  • Strategic Vision - Develops creative direction for major events, channel rebrands, and long-term brand initiatives while aligning design output with business goals.
  • Cross Functional Leadership - Partners effectively with Production, Marketing, Social, Membership, Live Events, and Commercial teams to align creative output with audience and business goals.

Responsibilities
  • Lead & Own Design Creation
    • Branded Materials - Lead creation of pitch decks, marketing assets, and internal presentations that reflect Smosh's unique identity.
    • Merch Design Initiatives - Support the merchandise designer
      on product design for smosh.com merchandise by overseeing workload and development, and stepping in to execute design work when necessary.
    • Creative Concepts - Design and direct concepts for tentpole events, live shows, and channel rebrands, including Smosh Games, Smosh Pit, and SmoshCast.
  • Maintain and Evolve Visual Identity - Ensure consistent brand representation across YouTube channels, live shows, merch, and social content.
  • Participate in Production Planning - Attend production kickoff and pre-production meetings to proactively identify graphic, branding, thumbnail, and social asset needs before production begins.
  • Present and Pitch Creative- Provide clear rationale for design decisions to executives while remaining open to collaboration and comedy-driven input
  • Direct & Support the Design Department
    • Manage Senior Graphic Designer, Graphic Designer, and Senior Motion Graphics Designer, ensuring alignment with team goals and brand vision.
    • Conduct performance reviews, provide mentorship, and encourage ongoing skill development.
    • Manage Projects and Workflow. Prioritize, delegate, and oversee all incoming graphic requests while maintaining project timelines.
    • Step in to complete design tasks when workload or deadlines demand hands-on support.
  • Develop Design Systems & Workflows - Create scalable templates, toolkits and workflows that improves consistency, efficiency and collaboration across cross functional teams
  • Oversee Motion Graphics and VFX - Partner with post-production to fulfill motion graphic requests or delegate to the motion team.
  • Collaborate Across Teams - Partner with producers, directors, social, and marketing teams to maintain visual consistency and meet project objectives.
  • Oversee and Approve Thumbnails - Lead thumbnail strategy across all channels, partnering with Social and Marketing to optimize packaging, audience engagement, creative testing, and performance.
  • Maintain Graphics Library - Ensure all assets are organized and accessible across departments.

Apply