How to write a design strategist job description

Hiring an effective design strategist can help guarantee the success of your company's design initiatives. This person helps ensure your design ideas match up with what your business wants to achieve. However, crafting a job description for design strategists that attracts the right candidates can be tough – particularly since the position can mean different things to different people.

Getting your job description is important. If you get it wrong, you could end up with someone who doesn't fully understand how to merge creative design with your business goals. This mismatch can lead to projects that don't align with your vision, squandered time and money, and a frustrated team. 

In this article, we guide you through the process of creating a compelling design strategist job description that helps you find the perfect candidate. We also provide a job description template you can use to get started.

What is a design strategist?

A design strategist is a professional who combines design thinking, user research, and business strategy to create innovative solutions that align with an organization's goals. They bridge the gap between design and business, ensuring that design initiatives deliver measurable value. Design strategists analyze market trends, user needs, and competitive landscapes to make design decisions and guide the development of products, services, and experiences that resonate with target audiences.

Key skills to look for in a design strategist

When hiring a design strategist, look for a combination of hard and soft skills that enable them to excel in their role. Here’s a peek at some skills they need.

Hard skills

• Proficiency in design thinking methodologies and their application in solving complex problems

• Expertise in user research techniques, such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, and data analysis

• Strong understanding of UX/UI design principles and best practices for web, mobile, and other digital platforms

• Knowledge of branding, visual design, and design systems to ensure consistency across touchpoints

• Familiarity with project management frameworks, such as Agile or Scrum, to plan and execute design initiatives effectively

• Ability to use design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe Creative Suite to create wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs

Soft skills

• Exceptional communication skills to articulate design strategies, present ideas, and collaborate with other teams

• Strong leadership abilities to guide and mentor design teams, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze complex challenges and develop effective solutions

• Adaptability and flexibility to navigate ambiguity, changing priorities, and evolving business needs

• Empathy and emotional intelligence to understand user needs and team dynamics

• Curiosity and a continuous learning mindset to stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices

How to write an effective design strategist job description

Follow these best practices to write a solid design strategist job description.

Emphasize the strategic nature of the role

Highlight how the design strategist will contribute to the company's overall business strategy. Mention their involvement in setting design direction, defining success metrics, and aligning design initiatives with organizational goals. This will attract candidates who are eager to make a strategic impact.

Here’s an example: "As our design strategist, you’ll play a crucial role in defining our design strategy and ensuring that our design efforts align with our business objectives. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions that drive growth and enhance our competitive edge."

Showcase the collaborative aspect of the position

Design strategists often work closely with various teams, such as product, engineering, and marketing teams. Emphasize the importance of collaboration and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. This appeals to candidates who thrive in cross-functional environments.

Here’s what this could look like: "In this role, you’ll partner with our product, engineering, and marketing teams to develop cohesive design strategies. Your strong communication and collaboration skills will be essential in fostering alignment and driving shared success."

Highlight the opportunity for impact and growth

Demonstrate how the design strategist will impact the company's products, services, and user experiences. Mention the potential for professional growth and development within the organization. This will attract ambitious candidates who are seeking a challenging and rewarding role.

For instance, you might say, "As our design strategist, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of our products and make a lasting impact on our users' lives. We’re committed to supporting your professional growth through mentorship, training, and exposure to cutting-edge projects."

Design strategist job description template

Below is our design strategist job description template you can customize to fit your role.

Company introduction

Provide an engaging overview of your company, highlighting its mission, values, and unique selling points. Mention notable achievements, awards, or industry recognition to attract top design strategist candidates. Emphasize your company's commitment to design excellence and innovation.

Benefits of working with [your company]

Showcase the benefits and perks that set your company apart from competitors. Include a mix of traditional benefits (like health insurance and retirement plans) and unique offerings that will appeal to design strategists. These might include flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and design-focused events and workshops.

Design strategist job brief

[Company name]

Job title: [Design Strategist]

Reports to: [E.g., Chief Design Officer]

Position type: [For example, full-time or part-time]

Location: [Remote, hybrid, on-site, etc. (include address if relevant)]

[Salary and benefits details]

Responsibilities and duties

• Develop and execute design strategies that align with business goals and user needs

• Conduct user research, market analysis, and competitive benchmarking to inform design decisions

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define design requirements and success metrics

• Facilitate design thinking workshops and brainstorming sessions to generate innovative ideas

• Create and maintain design systems, style guides, and brand standards

• Mentor and guide junior designers, providing feedback and support for their growth

• Stay current with industry trends and share insights with the team

Skills and qualifications

Required skills and experience

• Proven experience in design strategy, user experience design, and visual design

• Strong portfolio showcasing strategic design thinking and problem-solving abilities

• Expertise in user research, usability testing, and data-driven design

• Proficiency in design tools such as Sketch, Figma, and Adobe Creative Suite

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Ability to tackle complex problems by challenging established norms and exploring creative solutions

• Degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related field – or equivalent training or experience

Preferred skills and experience

• Experience using agile development processes and collaborating with cross-functional teams

• Knowledge of web and mobile design principles, responsive design, and accessibility best practices

• Familiarity with prototyping tools like InVision or Axure

• Certification in design thinking or user experience design

• Experience managing design operations and teams

4 things to avoid when writing a job description for a design strategist

To write great job descriptions, you must steer clear of common pitfalls to avoid attracting the wrong candidates or driving away qualified candidates. Here are four things to avoid when crafting a design strategist job description.

1. Overemphasizing visual design skills 

While visual design is important, a design strategist's role goes beyond aesthetics. Avoid focusing too heavily on visual design tools and skills, as this may attract candidates who are more interested in hands-on design work than strategic thinking.

2. Neglecting to mention the business impact 

Every design strategist wants to connect design with the broader business landscape, making an impact that resonates far beyond aesthetics. If your job description doesn't showcase the role's potential to shape business outcomes and contribute to the company's success, you're likely to miss out on candidates who thrive on making a meaningful difference. 

Using jargon or vague terminology

Design strategy involves various disciplines and methodologies, but using excessive jargon or vague terms like "design thinking" in your job description without context can confuse candidates. Be specific about the skills and experiences you're seeking, and explain any industry-specific terms.

Overlooking the importance of soft skills

Design strategists need exceptional communication, collaboration, and leadership skills to be effective in their roles. They also need creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Don't focus solely on technical skills and overlook the importance of these soft skills, as this might lure in candidates who can’t succeed in the position.

As Stefanie Norvaisas, former EVP of Strategy for Delve, puts it, "Design strategy requires exploring alternatives, challenging the status quo, and tackling issues that seem unfixable. Wicked problems require that we challenge long held values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors to uncover what is possible."

Next steps: Attract and assess design strategist candidates

Once you've crafted a compelling design strategist job description, it's time to share it on relevant job boards and social media platforms to attract qualified candidates. As applications start coming in, you'll need a reliable method to assess the skills and qualifications of your applicants.

Talent assessments are the most effective way to evaluate candidates objectively, as they provide a comprehensive view of each applicant's abilities and potential fit for the role. TestGorilla is a talent assessment platform that offers a wide range of tests that can help you identify the best design strategist candidates. 

Some of the most relevant tests for assessing design strategists include:

• UX/UI Design test: Evaluates a candidate's understanding of user experience and user interface design principles, best practices, and tools

• Design Thinking test: Assesses a candidate's ability to apply design thinking methodologies to solve problems and innovate

• Communication Skills test: Measures a candidate's communication skills, including their ability to articulate ideas, listen actively, and collaborate with others

• Critical Thinking test: Evaluates a candidate's ability to analyze information, draw conclusions, and make sound decisions

In addition to these role-specific skills tests, TestGorilla offers various personality and behavioral assessments. For example, the Culture Add test assesses a candidate's ability to fit in with and enhance your company culture, while the 16 Types test provides insights into their personality traits and working style.

With TestGorilla, you can merge up to five of these tests into a single talent assessment. Plus, you can add your own custom questions.

By combining these tests with your interview process, you can make data-driven hiring decisions and identify the design strategist candidates most likely to succeed in your organization.

FAQs

What's the difference between a design strategist and a UX designer?

A design strategist focuses on the big picture, aligning design initiatives with business goals. Meanwhile, a UX designer is more focused on creating user-centered designs for specific products or features. Design strategists often guide and collaborate with UX designers to ensure their work aligns with the overall strategy.

What should I look for in a design strategist's portfolio?

When reviewing a design strategist's portfolio, look for examples that demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to align design solutions with business objectives. Case studies that showcase the candidate's process – from research and ideation to implementation and results – can provide valuable insights into their approach and impact.

Find and test the best design strategists with TestGorilla

Crafting an effective design strategist job description is the first step to attracting top talent to your organization. By clearly defining the role's responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications, you'll be better positioned to find candidates who can drive your company's design strategy forward.

Once you've received applications, TestGorilla can help you efficiently assess your candidates' skills and fit for the role. Our extensive test library includes various design-specific, cognitive ability, and personality tests that provide valuable insights into each applicant's abilities and potential.

Sign up for a free account or schedule a demo to discover how TestGorilla can streamline your hiring process and help you find the perfect design strategist for your team.