A role as a Designer could include working across a huge variety of media. Master the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign) and you could choose a huge number of design orientated pathways. Designers are in huge demand both within agencies and in-house teams.

The focus of the designer is to develop concepts into polished designs, this could be digital (web, social media, email), print (advertising, direct mail, packaging, marketing collateral, branding, events, point of sale), or integrated (multi-channel). Depending on the environment the designer will have varying levels of conceptual responsibility.

Often the Designer will take concepts created by the Creative Director, Art Director or Senior Designer; using their sketches, scamps and ideas, the Designer’s job is to develop these in the design software of their choice (often the Adobe Suite; Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) and flesh them out into high fidelity designs. Depending on team structure some Designers will artwork their designs too – this is more common in-house or as part of smaller creative teams, within agency, there is more likely to be Specialist Artworkers or Creative Artworkers.

Graphic Designer
Visual Designer
Junior Designer
Midweight Designer
Senior Designer
Conceptual Designer
Creative Designer
Brand Designer
Packaging Designer
Integrated Designer
Digital Designer

Design Lead
Art Director
Lead Designer
Graphic Design Lead
Design Manager
Head of Creative Design
Head of Creative
Creative Manager

We’ve outlined the latest salary benchmarks for Design roles in the guides below:

Design Salary Guide South West

You will need to be detail oriented and technical when it comes to design software and packages. You’ll need to have great communication skills and the ability to carry out in-depth research. Creativity and the ability to work to tight, strategic deadlines also play a big part in this sector.

You will usually need a foundation degree or diploma within a relevant subject. For example, these could include graphic design, graphic communication, illustration and fine art.

Salary:

£22k – £28k

What They Do:

Supports the design team by creating layouts, graphics, and other visual assets. Works on multiple projects across print and digital channels under senior guidance.

Skills Needed:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) proficiency
• Understanding of typography, colour, and composition
• Attention to detail and ability to follow brand guidelines
• Time management and ability to meet deadlines
• Willingness to learn and adapt

Salary:

£28k – £35k

What They Do:

Creates design solutions for marketing campaigns, websites, packaging, and branding. Works closely with copywriters, marketers, and other stakeholders.

Skills Needed:

• Multi-channel design (print, digital, motion preferred)
• Strong conceptual and problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of UX/UI design fundamentals
• Collaborative skills and communication with teams
• Ability to deliver consistent brand experiences

Salary:

£35k – £45k

What They Do:

Takes ownership of key design projects, mentors junior designers, and leads creative delivery across multiple platforms.

Skills Needed:

• Advanced conceptual and execution skills
• Brand development and visual identity creation
• Experience in user-centred design and prototyping
• Presentation and client-facing skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects at once

Salary:

£45k – £55k

What They Do:

Oversees the design team, ensuring creative work meets strategic goals. Balances hands-on design with project management and team leadership.

Skills Needed:

• Team management and mentoring
• Strong client and stakeholder engagement
• Ability to develop and evolve brand systems
• Knowledge of production processes (print, digital, packaging)
• Budget and resource planning

Salary:

£55k – £75k

What They Do:

Leads the design function, setting the visual direction and ensuring consistency across all creative outputs.

Skills Needed:

• Strategic design leadership
• Experience building and evolving brand identities
• Executive-level presentation and communication
• Ability to inspire creative excellence
• Broad knowledge across digital, print, and experiential design

Salary:

£75k – £100k+

What They Do:

Oversees the entire creative team and sets the vision for design and brand output. Works with board-level stakeholders and clients to drive creative success.

Skills Needed:

• Visionary leadership and innovation
• Proven record of delivering award-winning work
• Client and executive relationship management
• Commercial acumen and business alignment
• Building and leading multidisciplinary creative teams