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Strategic Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

RIVIDIUM

Strategic Design and Experience Lead

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$117K - $153K/yr

RiVidium is seeking a Strategic Design and Experience Lead to serve as a primary design thought partner and customer experience strategist for MODES III. This role bridges outreach and engagement ...

Generate Design

Design Director

Raleigh, NC

We partner with organizations across a wide range of industries to create impactful brand experiences and strategic design solutions that help businesses grow. We are seeking an experienced and ...

Apply Early

Staffingine LLC

Design Director

Algona, WA · On-site

Coordinate and contribute to strategic creative briefs, defining a top-level creative vision and/or prompts which drive strategic design development, interpret and clarify stakeholder feedback ...

Apply Early

Highland

Lead Designer & Strategist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$84K - $97K/yr

Strategic design & product strategy * AI-enabled design & product leadership This client-facing role is for an experienced, highly consultative designer, who has a generalist mindset, has ...

Highland

Lead Designer & Strategist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$140K - $155K/yr

Strategic design & product strategy * AI-enabled design & product leadership This client-facing role is for an experienced, highly consultative designer, who has a generalist mindset, has ...

Vocon Design, Inc

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$125K - $155K/yr

This role embraces sound business strategy to ensure design solutions align with project goals and client value. Responsibilities Leadership Responsibilities * Define and champion the design ...

JF Retail Services

Sr. Director, Design

El Segundo, CA · Hybrid

$170K - $220K/yr

You will own the creative and strategic design agenda, managing and mentoring a high-performing team while collaborating with cross-functional executives to drive innovation, margin, and market share.

Vocon Design, Inc.

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

This role embraces sound business strategy to ensure design solutions align with project goals and client value. Responsibilities Leadership Responsibilities * Define and champion the design ...

Runyon Design

Sr. Director, Product Design

New York, NY

$169K - $208K/yr

Translate insights from qualitative research and strategic design into clear, engaging, and actionable product design - actively shaping user-centered concepts, systems, and interaction models that ...

Fabletics

Sr. Director, Design

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

You will own the creative and strategic design agenda, managing and mentoring a high-performing team while collaborating with cross-functional executives to drive innovation, margin, and market share.

Runyon Design

Sr. Director, Product Design

New York, NY · On-site

$203K - $265K/yr

Translate insights from qualitative research and strategic design into clear, engaging, and actionable product design - actively shaping user-centered concepts, systems, and interaction models that ...

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Strategic Design information

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$37K

$119K

$189K

How much do strategic design jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for strategic design in the United States is $119,028.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,000.00 and $149,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paying career in design?

In design, user experience (UX) directors and creative directors tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding six figures, especially in large organizations or tech companies. These roles require advanced skills in design strategy, leadership, and often experience with tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch, along with a strong portfolio and industry experience.

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

To thrive as a Strategic Designer, you need a strong foundation in design thinking, business strategy, and user research, often supported by a degree in design, business, or related fields. Proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Miro, and familiarity with frameworks such as Lean Startup or Agile is typical. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills help in aligning multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These skills ensure that innovative, user-centered solutions are developed and successfully integrated with organizational goals.

What is strategic design?

Strategic design is the practice of using design principles to solve complex business challenges and shape organizational strategy. It goes beyond traditional design by integrating research, creative thinking, and business objectives to create solutions that align with a company's long-term goals. Strategic designers work collaboratively across disciplines to innovate processes, products, services, and systems, helping companies adapt to change and remain competitive. This approach often involves user-centered research, prototyping, and testing to ensure that solutions are both practical and effective.

What is the difference between Strategic Design vs User Experience Designer?

AspectStrategic DesignUser Experience Designer
FocusHolistic business and brand strategy, aligning design with organizational goalsDesigning user interfaces and interactions to enhance user satisfaction
SkillsDesign thinking, business strategy, branding, researchWireframing, prototyping, user research, usability testing
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with marketing, branding, and product teamsWorks closely with developers, product managers, and users
CertificationsDesign thinking, strategic planning, UX certificationsUX certifications, UI design courses

While both roles involve design, Strategic Design focuses on aligning design with business strategy and brand goals, whereas User Experience Designers concentrate on creating intuitive and satisfying user interfaces. Understanding these differences helps organizations assign the right roles for their project needs.

What does a strategy designer do?

A strategy designer develops and plans long-term approaches to help organizations achieve their goals. They analyze market trends, identify opportunities, and create frameworks that guide decision-making, often using tools like data analysis and strategic frameworks. Strong problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills are essential in this role.

How does a Strategic Designer typically collaborate with stakeholders and cross-functional teams during a project?

Strategic Designers often work closely with a variety of stakeholders, including product managers, engineers, marketers, and executives, to align design solutions with business objectives. They facilitate workshops, lead design sprints, and use research-driven insights to ensure everyone has a shared understanding of project goals. Effective communication and the ability to synthesize diverse perspectives are crucial, as Strategic Designers act as a bridge between creative and business teams. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and ensures that proposed solutions are both user-centered and strategically viable.

Is AI replacing designers?

AI is transforming the field of strategic design by automating repetitive tasks and providing data-driven insights, but it does not replace the need for human creativity, critical thinking, and strategic planning. Designers who adapt by learning to work with AI tools can enhance their productivity and innovation. The role continues to require skills in visual communication, user experience, and problem-solving.

How to become a strategic designer?

To become a strategic designer, develop skills in design thinking, user experience, and business strategy, often through a combination of formal education such as a degree in design, marketing, or related fields, and practical experience. Building proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Figma and understanding industry trends can also enhance your qualifications. Gaining experience through internships or project work helps establish a portfolio demonstrating strategic problem-solving abilities.
More about Strategic Design jobs
What cities are hiring for Strategic Design jobs? Cities with the most Strategic Design job openings:
What states have the most Strategic Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Strategic Design jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Strategic Design jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Strategic Design jobs are:
Strategic Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Strategic Design job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,028 per year, or $57.2 per hour.
Strategic Design and Experience Lead

Strategic Design and Experience Lead

RIVIDIUM

Alexandria, VA • On-site

$117K - $153K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

RiVidium is seeking a Strategic Design and Experience Lead to serve as a primary design thought partner and customer experience strategist for MODES III. This role bridges outreach and engagement with technology delivery, shaping how information, services, and digital experiences are delivered to the military community. The right candidate will combine vision and execution through human-centered design, modern accessibility-forward experience strategy, brand and creative leadership, and the use of customer feedback and digital performance data to drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead strategic design and customer experience initiatives across websites, applications, mobile experiences, and digital services.
  • Translate user feedback, behavioral insights, and digital performance data into clear design and experience recommendations.
  • Guide user experience, accessibility, and usability strategy across iterative Agile delivery environments.
  • Provide design vision and innovation strategy to senior leadership, program managers, and product owners.
  • Support journey mapping, UX testing, experience optimization, and creative/brand alignment.
  • Help ensure digital experiences are modern, accessible, intuitive, and aligned to mission and audience needs.

Required Qualifications

  • Five or more years shaping and delivering strategic design, customer experience, or brand innovation initiatives for Government or large-scale enterprise systems.
  • Five or more years of experience with human-centered design, analysis of user feedback and behavioral data, and/or creative or brand strategy.
  • Three or more years providing design vision and innovation strategies to senior leadership, program managers, and product owners.
  • Three or more years applying modern design practices, Section 508/WCAG accessibility standards, and digital user experience principles in Agile website and application environments, including native mobile applications.
  • Favorably adjudicated Tier 3 investigation.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor?s degree in communications, marketing, human-centered design, business, or a related field.
  • Experience working with or interpreting user-centered data, digital performance measures, or customer feedback to inform strategic goals.
  • Certifications in usability or UX design, project/program leadership, human-centered design, or analytics/marketing.

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