Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Design Lead
A Design Lead is a professional who is responsible for leading and managing the design team in a company. They oversee the design process, plan and run user tests and other design research, and ensure that the team is meeting the design objectives and delivering high-quality design outputs. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Design Leads.
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Main Responsibilities of Design Lead
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Design Lead:
Adhere to
Adhere to style standards on fonts, colors and images.
Advocate
Advocate for users / consumers throughout the development process.
Articulate
Articulate business value of design to stakeholders.
Articulate, confident and assertive.
Articulate decisions around brand expression, content strategy, and customer needs.
Assist in
Assist the Web Designers with branding style, web component selection, and creation.
Assist with digital strategies and visions and ensure these are communicated effectively.
Assume
Assume a lead Design Management role in the development and execution of strategy for a team.
Attend
Attend, lead and present meetings during all project phases.
Champion
Champion process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean).
Coach
Coach the other teams on process improvement practices.
Collaborate
Collaborate directly every day with designers, developers, engagement managers, and clients.
Collaborate with art and programming disciplines to achieve project goals.
Collaborate with manager to plan for current ads, promotions, holidays and events.
Collaborate with partners across the business to influence on UX best practice and ways of working.
Collaborate with Product and Engineering Lead on defining a vision and outcome based roadmap.
Collaborate with the office facilities staff to address project space requirements.
Commit
Commit the plan on behalf of the design team to the Project / Programme Manager.
Communicate
Communicate design solutions to engineers and stakeholders.
Communicate effectively with team members, management, and clients.
Communicate Lean and other process improvement methodologies to the organization.
Conceive
Conceive a strategy and tactical plan to meet those goals.
Conduct
Conduct and lead user research.
Conduct extensive creative research based on user feedback, data, competitor analysis, and more.
Conduct in-market concept testing and experimentation.
Conduct secondary research as needed (e.g. research reviews, competitive research, etc.).
Conduct stakeholder and secondary research.
Confer
Confer with customers regarding specifications and preferences.
Create
Create arrangements based on customer preferences.
Create original graphic designs (e.g. images, sketches and tables).
Create prototypes / mockups of new web experiences to articulate ideas.
Create shared experiences that focus on co-operation and community in the blockchain ecosystem.
Create the vision for end-user engagement for a compelling user experience.
Create UX / UI consistency across platforms and products.
Debate
Debate and discuss with Marketing teams to ensure the most creative and effective work is created.
Define
Define and guide on best practice user research and experience design methodology.
Design
Design and develop digital and print assets.
Design and document joint operating model with clients.
Design and facilitate co-creation design workshops.
Design graphic user interface elements, like menus, tabs and widgets.
Design lead to manage all design activities across our brands.
Design system and templates for all process deliverables.
Design system for Storied brand / marketing / content.
Design trend research and presentations.
Develop
Develop / design / implement highly scalable system.
Develop design processes, standards & style guide for growth.
Develop design process, standards & style guide for growth.
Develop, implement and maintain project deliverables including.
Develop / Maintain full documentation of all product and test chip designs.
Develop, motivate and mentor junior and mid-level design professionals.
Develop UI mockups and prototypes that clearly illustrate how sites function and look like.
Develop user stories, personas, user flows, design mock-ups, prototypes, specs and production assets.
Drive
Drive contribution to knowledge sharing and community outreach.
Drive design and methodology improvements across teams to improve overall program execution.
Driven
Driven, competitive and someone who aspires to continually learn and build upon existing knowledge.
Drive
Drive quality and efficiency.
Empower
Empower teams to succeed with a shared vision.
Ensure
Ensure brand assets are aligned and current.
Ensure product selection and mix meet customer needs and merchandising standards.
Ensure sales and cost targets are met.
Ensure solutions are scalable and applicable to the business context.
Ensure that every project contributes to the overall profitability of the firm.
Ensure that protocols are being followed.
Ensure that the project meets or exceeds goals established in these plans.
Escalate
Escalate issues and risks to the Project / Programme Manager.
Establish
Establish and promote design guidelines, best practices, and standards.
Establish yourself as an expert and trusted advisor.
Evolve
Evolve processes, offerings, deliverable formats and when you see opportunities to make improvements.
Execute
Execute all visual design stages from concept to final hand-off to development.
Facilitate
Facilitate design workshops and lead conversations on design strategy.
Foster
Foster critical relationships with technical and non-technical staff, and technology suppliers.
Gather
Gather and evaluate user requirements in collaboration with product managers and engineers.
Generate
Generate detailed specifications and export engineering-ready assets of final designs.
Give
Give and receive feedback in a constructive manner.
Guide
Guide the team on the best practice in the visual communication and user experience.
Help
Help other teams (i.e. marketing, service) with UX-related needs.
Help to define and adhere to project scope for current and prospective work.
Help to define and ensure that experience design principles are common across all product teams.
Identify
Identify, remove and log products that do not meet quality standards according to company policy.
Identify and troubleshoot UX problems (e.g. responsiveness).
Illustrate
Illustrate design ideas using storyboards, process flows and sitemaps.
Implement
Implement design optimizations to maximize customer happiness and lifetime value.
Initiate
Initiate and drive user testing for these platforms, working with our user research lead.
Inspire
Inspire and motivate the team, through the application of fresh and inventive visual work.
Interface with
Interface with architecture, engineering, and quality assurance staff.
Investigate
Investigate and evaluate existing technology for application in a product.
Lead
Lead and build a culture of design excellence.
Lead and mentor a team of track designers locally and remotely to accomplish a design program.
Lead and provide day to day direction, coaching and guidance to team members.
Lead multiple teams and squads across a journey and / or within a line of business.
Lead technical advice for all aspects of 3D modeling and drawing issuance.
Lead the design and promotion of approved design patterns and standards.
Lead the design process including the design vision and its conceptualization for projects.
Leverage
Leverage opportunities for follow-on services.
Maintain
Maintain an ongoing client relationship, post occupancy.
Maintain equipment, informs store / department management of any problems.
Maintain good working relationships with internal stakeholders and clients.
Make
Make independent judgments related to operating procedures impacting assigned projects.
Manage
Manage and delegate tasks that we receive from multiple departments.
Manage and supervise vendors and agencies to ensure best quality output.
Manage changes in project scope, identify potential issues, and pivot when necessary.
Manage resources and report on project progress proactively.
Manage third party equipment design / integraters to deliver complete equipment to specification.
Measure
Measure, iterate and deliver delightful experiences.
Mentor
Mentor and nurture Designers to grow creative talent for career development.
Observe
Observe all company rules and policies.
Onboard
Onboard new designers, freelancers, and agencies, providing training of processes and best practices.
Operate
Operate strategically and tactically, to help deliver the next paradigm in customer experience.
Oversee
Oversee project implementation and execution through completion of construction.
Oversee department operations in the absence of the department manager.
Own
Own approvals on all environmental design deliverables prior to release or implementation.
Own the component design functional risk and issues.
Participate in
Participate in defining and implementing the design power-intent (power-gating / voltage islands).
Participate in project design development and provide guidance as needed to project teams.
Participate in selected marketing and business development opportunities.
Perform
Perform competitive audits and stay on top of approaches used by other large design teams.
Plan
Plan and run user tests and other design research to inform decision choices.
Plan product design by clarifying goals.
Prepare
Prepare and present rough drafts to internal teams and key stakeholders.
Prepare and supports those affected by change.
Prepare lot-specific drawings to be used by fabrication vendors and in-house fabricators.
Prepare master drawings based on measured models.
Prepare raw material requisitions.
Prepare visually compelling graphic presentations and develop creative technical solutions.
Present
Present and pitch designs to the internal team.
Produce
Produce highly technical and aesthetically pleasing designs, working with a high level of autonomy.
Provide
Provide a clear mission to your product design team.
Provide advice within the company in your field of expertise.
Provide depth and breadth of subject matter expertise and act as a trusted advisor.
Provide ‘reassuring' gravitas / experience to Clients' – being the Middle Office "Black belt”.
Record
Record appropriate component design evidence to aid milestone sign-off.
Review
Review applications and conduct assessments for design hiring and external resource evaluation.
Review drawings, mock ups, materials, and finish samples submitted by project contractors.
Seek
Seek opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience.
Stay on top of
Stay on top of current on trends and cultural mindsets.
Strategize
Strategize and plan compelling and effective design concepts.
Support
Support and mentor junior designers on UX design, user research, and prototyping.
Support and / or deliver technical and ‘expert witness' investigations and appraisals.
Synthesize
Synthesize and integrate research findings to tell the consumer story.
Taken
Taken games all the way from concept development to live operations.
Track
Track and analyze game data, and create reports with suggested design changes based on gameplay data.
Track and evaluate feedback from internal & external customers to constantly improve design approach.
Track record of delivering projects on time and to budget.
Train
Train and mentor junior designers and entry-level entrants in the future.
Understand
Understand digital, UX / UI and video asset creation and approval cycles.
Understand the importance of branding and know how to be creative within associated parameters.
Undertake
Undertake contract administration, construction management and design optimization.
User
User research and usability testing experience.
Use
Use the data to drive design iterations.
Utilize
Utilize various authoring tools to create interactive, effective and technically functional content.
Work with
Work closely with engineers to establish technical feasibility and delivery roll-out.
Work closely with IP and system architects to micro-architect cutting edge features.
Work collaboratively and diplomatically with other lead designers, IT leaders, and business partners.
Work within a Lean UX framework for continuous delivery.
Work with our leadership team to develop consistency across brand messaging.
Work with practice leads to become engaged with skills development of the design team.
Work with your Manager to define, track, and report on key performance metrics.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Design Lead:
Design
UX
Prototyping
Visual Design
Graphic Design
UI
Agile
HCI
Javascript
Product Design
Project Management
User Research
UI Design
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Design Lead:
Written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Analytical ability
Problem-solving attitude
Attention to detail
Presentation
Leadership
Flexible
Collaborative
Organizational capacity
Curious
Detail-oriented
Creative
Self-starter
Teamwork
Time-management
