The design director develops, implements and manages a company’s design strategy, with ultimate responsibility for the company’s product design output. They may work for a design firm, often as its head, or as the head of the design department within a big manufacturing company.
Average Salary:

$120,000.
Average Hours (per week):

40 plus hours per week are the norm for the design director, who has multiple responsibilities.
Union:

No
Certifications:

No certifications are needed that relate directly to director level, though certification in project management would be needed along the way, as well as any engineering certification related to design specialties.
Training Period:

At least ten years of direct experience and a master’s degree are required. An understanding of business administration, people management, engineering, and government regulations related to the areas of design, and best practices are also necessary.
Strongest Market(s):

Some design directors work with start-ups, helping to perfect the products of an entrepreneur. They would want to live in California, where most of the innovators live. Others would be where the prestigious design firms are, or would have worked their way up inside a manufacturing company, which are most anywhere.
Entry Level Salary:

$60,000. This is the low end of a Director’s salary, or a typical senior manager’s pay.
Top Salary:

$180,000.
Job Growth Forecast:
The ten-year Design Director forecast is 7 percent growth, along the lines with growth in high-tech and the need for senior management in all areas of product design and manufacturing.

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