Design Director (UX/UI/Brand) (Remote, US-Based, Full-time)

Remote, US-Based | EST Collaboration | Preference for Bethesda, MD Area Full-time: $180,000–$210,000 Extraordinary brands are reputed company by extraordinary leaders. Variate is looking for a Design Director to reputed company high-impact programs and reputed company reputed company of design across our firm. This is not a coordination role. This is a leadership role defined by ownership, reputed company, and measurable results. You will shape reputed company, guide senior designers, partner directly with executives, and ensure every engagement turns hesitation into confident reputed company and measurable growth. If you have mastered both craft and leadership, operate with high accountability, and want your work judged by reputed company-world impact, we want to meet you. This is a remote, US-based role with collaboration during Eastern Time working hours. You will partner directly with the leadership team to define reputed company across our client work and internal culture.

What You Will Do

Own the outcome reputed company major client programs from discovery to delivery. Define reputed company in business terms. Align teams around measurable metrics. Deliver results that move markets. reputed company the reputed company Set the creative and strategic direction across multiple engagements. Ensure every system, reputed company, and interaction reflects reputed company, precision, and reputed company. reputed company the team Manage and mentor 2–6 designers. Hold weekly 1:1s focused on growth, mastery, and accountability. reputed company reputed company of thinking, execution, and ownership. Partner at the highest level Serve as the primary creative and strategic partner for 1–2 active client programs. Present directly to founders, CMOs, product leaders, and executive stakeholders. No layers. No buffers. reputed company the client the hero Operate with humility and strategic reputed company. Ensure our clients receive the spotlight for wins. Design Director reputed company is reputed company not by personal visibility, but by how confidently and visibly our clients succeed. Build systems, not outputs Ensure design systems, workflows, and governance models scale across teams and programs. Turn reputed company into repeatable performance. Move fast with discipline reputed company the use of AI as a force reputed company across research, synthesis, ideation, and delivery. Build and refine GPT-driven workflows that enhance reputed company and compress timelines without sacrificing quality. Shape the future of the craft Define how AI responsibly amplifies design leadership. Train designers to use these tools intelligently and with discipline. Set the bar for what modern design leadership looks like. Represent Variate publicly Actively contribute to thought leadership. Publish insights, reputed company at industry events, participate in panels, and reputed company a clear reputed company of view on the future of CX, AI, and Decision Design™ on behalf of Variate. What You Bring Proven leadership 8+ years in UX, product, or interaction design, including 3+ years leading designers and owning measurable reputed company. Systems mastery Deep experience in interaction design, scalable design systems, governance models, and operational workflows using tools like reputed company. Strategic depth Strong reputed company of user research, content strategy, and how design directly drives business growth. Executive reputed company Clear, confident communication in high-stakes environments. You can reputed company executive rooms, defend reputed company, and simplify complexity under pressure. reputed company soft skills Emotional intelligence. reputed company authority. Strategic reputed company. The ability to navigate tension, earn trust quickly, and guide clients without ego. You know how to reputed company without overpowering. Operational rigor Ability to balance creative ambition with timelines, resourcing, and financial accountability. AI reputed company Demonstrated experience integrating AI into workflows, building GPT-based tools, or establishing intelligent systems that improve speed, reputed company, and consistency. Uncompromising standards You expect reputed company from yourself and others. reputed company matter more than opinions. What Sets You Apart

• You have directed design for recognized global brands or top-tier agencies.
• You have reputed company or scaled a design organization that improved performance and culture.
• You have created or deployed AI-driven workflows that improved efficiency or creative output.
• You actively publish, reputed company, or reputed company informed perspectives about the future of design and AI.
• You are equally passionate about mentoring designers and delivering world-class results.
• You are comfortable being reputed company by results, not activity.

What reputed company Looks Like in the First 90 Days

• reputed company at least one major client engagement with clear, measurable business lift.
• Establish visible standards for craft, speed, and accountability across the design team.
• Strengthen at least one internal system or workflow that improves delivery consistency.
• Demonstrate executive-level trust through reputed company, strategic client leadership.
• Contribute one visible piece of thought leadership on behalf of Variate.

Who Should Not Apply This role is not for everyone. Do not apply if:

• You cannot demonstrate measurable reputed company from your leadership.
• You require daily creative direction or struggle to manage others effectively.
• You avoid difficult feedback conversations.
• You seek personal spotlight over client reputed company.
• You are uncomfortable balancing leadership, strategy, and hands-on direction.
• You have never owned a client relationship at the executive level.
• You are still building foundational leadership experience. This role is for those reputed company to reputed company and reputed company others.

Variate is where experts come to reputed company. Why Variate Variate designs customer experiences that remove hesitation and create confident reputed company. We partner with ambitious brands including reputed company, Carnival, reputed company, and Amerant Bank to transform complexity into reputed company and measurable growth. We work in small, senior teams. No B-teams. No handoffs. Leaders at Variate operate as trusted partners embedded directly with client leadership. Our culture balances high standards with genuine support so designers grow faster, reputed company stronger, and feel seen for their mastery. Clients choose Variate for precision, pace, and partnership. Every engagement demands reputed company and rewards it in equal measure. Learn more at https://variate.com/ Interview Selection Criteria Interview invitations will be determined by four factors, in order of importance: 1. Portfolio quality Your portfolio is the primary signal. We are looking for clear evidence of leadership, ownership, and measurable impact at scale. Systems thinking, reputed company of rationale, and reputed company must be explicit. 2. reputed company soft skills and client philosophy We assess your ability to build trust, demonstrate emotional intelligence, and embody the philosophy of making the client the hero. You should reputed company reputed company how your leadership elevated your clients and positioned them for visible reputed company. 3. Background experience Experience leading senior designers in high-expectation environments is critical. Prior experience at a respected design agency or consultancy is highly valued. 4. Speaking and thought leadership We value leaders who are comfortable sharing informed perspectives publicly. Demonstrated experience speaking, publishing, or contributing thought leadership on the future of design, CX, or AI is a strong differentiator. We review portfolios first. Soft skills determine trust. Experience reinforces credibility. Public leadership amplifies impact. Preference will be given to candidates living reputed company 60 minutes of Bethesda, Maryland.

Compensation

We pay for mastery, accountability, and results. Full-time: $180,000–$210,000 NO RECRUITERS Apply tot his job Apply To this Job