As a design director, articulating the breadth of your creative leadership and project management skills in a concise resume can be a formidable challenge. Our guide offers step-by-step instructions to help you strategically showcase your portfolio of work and leadership achievements, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.
- Which sections do you need to include in your resume to meet recruiters' requirements;
- How to write your design director resume experience section - even if you have don't have little to no work experience;
- Real-life professional examples to guide you how to write the most important design director resume sections;
- Adding even more sections so your design director resume stands out with professionalism and your personality.
We've also selected some of the best (and most relevant) resume guides for the design director role you're applying for:
- Lighting Designer Resume Example
- Art Director Resume Example
- Creative Services Manager Resume Example
- Packaging Designer Resume Example
- Instructional Designer Resume Example
- Design Manager Resume Example
- Associate Creative Director Resume Example
- Footwear Designer Resume Example
- Brand Designer Resume Example
- Creative Director Resume Example
The importance of format and layout in your design director resume
Consider you're an HR professional at company X, evaluating two design director candidate resumes. John Smith presents a simple, traditional, and easy-to-read resume. Edward Price, however, uses a non-conventional, often illegible format. Whose resume would you spend more time on to understand their experience? This scenario underscores the importance of your design director resume’s design. It should be simply formatted and clearly communicate why you are the ideal candidate for the role.
Achieve this balance by:
- Listing your experience, beginning with the most recent and relevant, in reverse chronological order;
- Ensuring your header contains essential information, such as contact details, a headline, and a portfolio link. Include a professional photo in the design director resume header if you have one;
- Including only the most important and relevant resume sections to showcase your expertise and stand out from other candidates;
- Editing your design director resume to be no longer than two pages if you have extensive relevant experience. Use your limited resume space judiciously.
Also, remember that your design director resume might initially be scanned by an Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
When it comes to ATS:
- Opt for simple and legible fonts like Raleway, Rubik, Lato, etc., making your experience easy for the ATS to scan;
- Use serif and sans-serif fonts, both of which are ATS-friendly;
- Avoid overused options like Arial and Times New Roman, which, while suitable, may lack personality.
Contrary to a common myth, our recent study shows that the ATS can effectively process both one-column and two-column resumes. Learn more about this in the ATS myths guide.
Finally, when submitting your design director resume, always export it as a PDF to ensure all information remains intact, making the document easier to print, read, and scan.
Keep in mind the market you’re applying to – a Canadian resume, for instance, might have a unique layout.
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PRO TIP
List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
Traditional sections, appreciated by recruiters, for your design director resume:
- Clear and concise header with relevant links and contact details
- Summary or objective with precise snapshot of our career highlights and why you're a suitable candidate for the design director role
- Experience that goes into the nuts and bolts of your professional qualifications and success
- Skills section(-s) for more in-depth talent-alignment between job keywords and your own profile
- Education and certifications sections to further show your commitment for growth in the specific niche
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven experience in leading design teams and managing creative processes for major projects or brands.
- Strong portfolio showcasing excellent aesthetic judgment, mastery of design principles, and successful project outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, marketing, and executives.
- Experience with user-centered design methodologies and a track record of creating intuitive, engaging user experiences.
- Advanced knowledge of design software, tools, and best practices, including both traditional and agile work-flow methodologies.
Experts' advice on writing your design director resume experience
While the excitement and motivation for writing your design director resume was present in the first hour (or so), you now find yourself staring at the blank page.
The resume experience section is the one that allows you to make a memorable impression by matching job requirement with your past jobs and accomplishments.
To help you write this resume section, here are four mistakes you need to avoid:
- Listing every job you have had so far, including the irrelevant ones. Before that, consider each of your past roles based on relevancy to the role. It may be the case that the job you had 15 years ago may have taught you invaluable skills that are appropriate for the role;
- Including irrelevant work experience items. Those are past jobs that aren't linked with the role you're applying for (or so they seem). Consider how your past jobs will serve your professional presentation: will they be filling in a gap in your work history, or just taking up space?
- Focusing on responsibilities instead of accomplishments. Your design director resume shouldn't just be telling recruiters what you did in the past - as it's most often the case that candidates have had similar responsibilities. But, rather, the experience section should showcase the success you've attained in each past role, thanks to your unique skill set;
- Consider listing just your professional experience. Any role you've had in the past - e.g. volunteering, internships, etc. - can make it into your design director resume experience section. Make sure to include it alongside numbers and results.
Two more things you need to remember about your resume experience section.
The first are keywords. Or those specific job requirements that are crucial for the role . Ensure you've integrated them across your experience section to get sorted closer to the ideal candidate profile by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
The second are action verbs. Each of your experience bullets should start with a strong action verb, followed by your specific skill and your on the job achievements. Follow this formula to hint to recruiters what your unique value as a professional is.
Still with us? In the next section, we will show you how industry-leading professionals have avoided the four most common mistakes, while integrating keywords and action verbs in their experience section.
- Led the design team in launching a comprehensive rebranding initiative for a global tech brand, leading to a 25% increase in customer engagement.
- Implemented a user-centered design approach for a major product revamp, which saw user satisfaction rates rise by 30% within the first six months post-release.
- Spearheaded the development and launch of an immersive AR experience that drove a 40% increase in app downloads and a 35% rise in in-app purchases.
- Developed and led a UX/UI refresh for a suite of financial services applications, resulting in a 15% increase in customer retention.
- Championed a cross-functional initiative to integrate responsive design principles across all digital platforms, making the apps accessible to a wider audience.
- Managed the creative process from concept to launch for a new mobile banking app, which secured 500,000 downloads within the first three months.
- Collaborated with product management to redefine product development lifecycle, slashing production time by 20% without compromising on design quality.
- Orchestrated the visual strategy for an international marketing campaign, contributing to a 50% increase in global brand recognition.
- Oversaw the redesign of a flagship e-commerce website, enhancing user experience and contributing to a 45% increase in online sales.
- Implemented a design thinking framework across the company, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that resulted in the launch of three industry-disrupting products.
- Drove the digital transformation of traditional media platforms, enabling 60% of the content to be consumed on mobile devices.
- Managed a team of 50 designers, successfully launching over 20 products that became market leaders within their first year.
- Directed the redesign of a series of wearable devices, which saw a 150% increase in user adoption rate.
- Launched a prototype development program that shortened the feedback loop with consumers and accelerated product iteration cycles by 30%.
- Increased the team's efficiency by implementing agile methodologies, directly resulting in a 25% reduction in time-to-market for new products.
- Aligned the company’s product design with emerging trends, resulting in a line of smart home products that dominated the market with a 45% market share.
- Cultivated partnerships with external agencies to diversify design perspectives, leading to more innovative product solutions and a 20% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Orchestrated the internal design awards program, elevating the company’s design profile and attracting top-tier design talent.
- Pioneered a new approach to user engagement by integrating behavioral psychology into the design process, which significantly improved conversion rates by 36%.
- Managed the end-to-end design and launch of a cutting-edge enterprise software platform that increased business efficiency metrics by 40%.
- Cultivated a design-centric philosophy within the company, resulting in a prestigious Red Dot Design Award for the team's innovative work.
- Devised and implemented a strategic design roadmap in alignment with the company's international expansion goals, leading to a 50% growth in overseas markets.
- Drove interdisciplinary collaborations that resulted in a patented design innovation, enhancing product functionality and boosting market competitiveness.
- Revamped the user experience for a legacy software suite, which revitalized the product line and increased enterprise sales by 30%.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for design director professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Design Director:
- Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
- Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
- Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
- Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
- Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
- Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
- Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
- Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
- Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Highlight the percentage by which you reduced overhead costs through effective project management strategies.
- Document the revenue increase that resulted from the successful marketing campaigns you directed.
- Specify the number of design projects you led that resulted in award recognition or industry accolades.
- Mention the growth in team productivity under your leadership, quantified by project completion rates.
- Detail the budget size that you have managed, showcasing your fiscal responsibility.
- Enumerate the size of the teams you have built or managed, demonstrating your leadership scale.
- Quantify the improvements in customer satisfaction scores due to the design changes you implemented.
- Illustrate the time saved on design project timelines due to your innovative processes or tools.
Action verbs for your design director resume
Remember these four tips when writing your design director resume with no experience
You've done the work - auditing the job requirements for keywords and have a pretty good idea of the skill set the ideal candidate must possess.
Yet, your professional experience amounts to a summer internship .
Even if you have limited or no professional expertise that matches the role you're applying for, you can use the resume experience section to:
- List extracurricular activities that are relevant to the job requirements. Let's say you were editor-in-chief of your college newspaper or part of the engineering society. Both activities have taught you invaluable, transferrable skills (e.g. communication or leadership) that can be crucial for the job;
- Substitute jobs with volunteer experience. Participating in charity projects has probably helped you develop an array of soft skills (e.g. meeting deadlines and interpersonal communications). On the other hand, volunteering shows potential employers more about you: who you are and what are the causes you care about;
- Align job applications with your projects. Even your final-year thesis work could be seen as relevant experience, if it's in the same industry as the job you're applying for. Ensure you've listed the key skills your project has taught you, alongside tangible outcomes or your project success;
- Shift the focus to your transferrable skills. We've said it before, but recruiters will assess your profile upon both job requirements and the skills you possess. Consider what your current experience - both academic and life - has taught you and how you've been able to develop your talents.
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PRO TIP
If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.
Defining your unique design director skill set with hard skills and soft skills
In any job advertisement, a blend of specific technologies and interpersonal communication skills is typically sought after. Hard skills represent your technical expertise and indicate your job performance capacity. Soft skills, on the other hand, demonstrate how well you would integrate within the company culture.
Incorporating a balanced mix of both skill types in your design director resume is crucial. Here's how you can do it:
- In your resume summary or objective, incorporate up to three hard and/or soft skills. Make sure to quantify these skills with relevant or impressive achievements; less
- The skills section should list your technical know-how.
- The strengths section is an ideal place to quantify your competencies by focusing on the achievements facilitated by these skills.
Top skills for your design director resume:
Adobe Creative Suite
Sketch
Figma
InVision
3D Modeling Software
Prototyping Tools
HTML/CSS
Motion Graphics Software
UX/UI Design Principles
Design Systems
Leadership
Communication
Creativity
Team Collaboration
Problem Solving
Time Management
Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Mentoring
Strategic Thinking
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for design director professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Design Director’s resume:
- C
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- Blackboard software
- Microsoft SQL Server
- C#
- Objective C
PRO TIP
Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.
The importance of your certifications and education on your design director resume
Pay attention to the resume education section . It can offer clues about your skills and experiences that align with the job.
- List only tertiary education details, including the institution and dates.
- Mention your expected graduation date if you're currently studying.
- Exclude degrees unrelated to the job or field.
- Describe your education if it allows you to highlight your achievements further.
Your professional qualifications: certificates and education play a crucial role in your design director application. They showcase your dedication to gaining the best expertise and know-how in the field. Include any diplomas and certificates that are:
- Listed within the job requirements or could make your application stand out
- Niche to your industry and require plenty of effort to obtain
- Helping you prepare for professional growth with forward-facing know-how
- Relevant to the design director job - make sure to include the name of the certificate, institution you've obtained it at, and dates
Both your certificates and education section need to add further value to your application. That's why we've dedicated this next list just for you - check out some of the most popular design director certificates to include on your resume:
The top 5 certifications for your design director resume:
- Certified design director (CDD) - Design Management Institute (DMI)
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) - Adobe
- Master Certified Coach (MCC) - International Coach Federation (ICF)
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) - U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for design director professionals.
Top US associations for a Design Director professional
- Academy of the Interactive Arts and Sciences
- Association for Computing Machinery
- Computing Research Association
- Higher Education Video Game Alliance
- IEEE Computer Society
PRO TIP
If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.
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Your design director resume top one third: choosing between a resume summary or an objective
The top third of your resume is crucial, as recruiters might focus only on this section rather than reading the entire document. Therefore, it's important to carefully decide whether to include a resume summary or an objective.
- The resume summary encapsulates your most significant experiences, key achievements, and skills in the field. Ideal for candidates with substantial relevant experience, the summary previews what recruiters will find in the rest of your resume.
- The resume objective outlines your professional aspirations. It describes your career goals for the coming years and how you envision your role evolving in the prospective company. The resume objective is suitable if you have less professional experience and wish to emphasize various soft skills such as motivation, vision, and planning.
Explore some of the best examples of resume summaries and objectives from real-life professional resumes in the industry.
Resume summaries for a design director job
- Seasoned design director with over 15 years of experience melding creativity with technology in the fast-paced fashion industry. Renowned for driving brand vision to life through innovative design strategies that elevated revenue by 35%. Expert in Adobe Creative Suite, UX/UI design principles, and cross-functional team leadership.
- Former Creative Marketing Manager now excelling as a design director, leveraging a decade of experience in multimedia advertising to inspire unique design solutions. Instrumental in growing startup brand visibility by 50% through data-driven designs and collaboration with high-profile clients. Proficient in 3D design software and project management.
- Accomplished Architect with 20 years crafting transformative spaces, now pivoting to design director to sculpt brand experiences. Award-winning portfolio of sustainable projects, with proven aptitude for blending form and function. Keen to apply spatial reasoning and innovative material use to the world of product design.
- Dynamic Software Engineer transitioning to a design director role with a passion for user-centric design. Brings 8 years of developing engaging user interfaces and simplifying complex processes into intuitive experiences. Aiming to merge technical expertise with creative design to produce groundbreaking digital products.
- Eager to adapt a rich academic background in Visual Arts to a practical application as a design director, with a focus on crafting cohesive visual narratives for compelling brand storytelling. Committed to developing a deep understanding of design trends and user experience principles to contribute effectively to creative projects.
- As a recent graduate with a Master's Degree in Design Strategy, I seek to integrate my academic insights and fresh perspective into the world of commercial design. Driven to learn swiftly, contribute innovatively, and exceed expectations by applying design thinking methodologies to solve complex challenges in a practical design leadership context.
Average salary info by state in the US for design director professionals
Local salary info for Design Director.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $98,540 |
| California (CA) | $127,760 |
| Texas (TX) | $105,760 |
| Florida (FL) | $80,150 |
| New York (NY) | $117,090 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $78,920 |
| Illinois (IL) | $69,750 |
| Ohio (OH) | $80,100 |
| Georgia (GA) | $97,820 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $83,040 |
| Michigan (MI) | $73,180 |
Extra design director resume sections and elements
Creating a winning design director resume isn't about following a rigid formula. The key is to tailor it to the job requirements while maintaining your unique personality.
Consider including these additional resume sections to enhance your profile:
- Awards - Highlight industry-specific awards as well as any personal accolades to demonstrate recognition of your expertise and achievements;
- Hobbies and interests - Share your interests outside of work. This can provide insights into your personality and indicate whether you'd be a good cultural fit for the organization;
- Projects - Detail significant projects you've been involved in, focusing on your contributions and the outcomes;
- Publications - If you've authored or co-authored academic papers or other publications, include them to establish your credibility and in-depth knowledge of the field.
These sections can give a more comprehensive view of your capabilities and character, complementing the standard resume content.
Key takeaways
Writing your design director resume can be a structured and simple experience, once you better understand the organization's requirements for the role you're applying to. To sum up, we'd like to remind you to:
- Always select which experiences, skills, and achievements to feature on your resume based on relevancy to the role;
- In your resume summary, ensure you've cherry-picked your top achievements and matched them with the job ad's skills;
- Submit your design director resume as a one or two-page long document at the most, in a PDF format;
- Select industry leading certifications and list your higher education to highlight you have the basis for technical know-how;
- Quantify your people's skills through various resume sections (e.g. Strengths, Hobbies and interests, etc.) to show recruiters how your profile aligns with the organizational culture.
