Design Lead Jobs in Georgia
Design Lead jobs in Georgia are in strong demand, with the most active hiring concentrated in digital product, UX/UI, and brand identity work at companies ranging from associate-level contributors through senior creative directors. Atlanta is the clear center of gravity, alongside Savannah's growing design and tech scene and the manufacturing-adjacent design work coming out of the Augusta corridor, where employers like Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and NCR Voyix maintain significant design functions. The most sought-after specializations in Georgia listings are product design leadership, design systems architecture, and experience design for fintech and retail platforms. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Design Lead JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 13+ Design Lead jobs
INTRODUCTION
At AKQA (part of WPP) we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients. Design Leads at AKQA bring artistry, craft, and creative vision to complex digital challenges. They inspire and guide designers, champion design systems, and ensure creative excellence across all deliverables. Hands-on and deeply thoughtful, they shape the look, feel, and coherence of digital experiences from early concept through final delivery, elevating both the work and the people around them. We are seeking an experienced Design Lead to support one of the world's most recognized travel brands, a globally admired company whose digital products and services reach millions of customers every day. In this role you will guide and inspire designers, lead the evolution of complex design systems, and ensure creative excellence across a flagship digital product experience. This is a high-visibility engagement where strong design leadership and systems-level thinking have a direct and meaningful impact on the people using these products every time they travel.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS
- Provide hands-on leadership and creative direction, guiding a team of designers to produce world-class digital product experiences
- Oversee the creation, maintenance, and evolution of complex design systems, ensuring scalability, consistency, and craft at every level
- Shape the creative vision for digital platforms and products, aligning with client goals and the needs of a diverse, global user base
- Collaborate closely with UX, strategy, and development teams to deliver cohesive, high-quality solutions
- Present creative concepts and design solutions to clients with clarity, confidence, and strategic insight
- Actively mentor and support junior and mid-level designers, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth
- Contribute to a culture of creative excellence, pushing for the most distinctive and effective solutions at every stage of the work
QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
- 5+ years of experience in UI design, art direction, or a related field, with a strong portfolio showcasing digital platforms and products
- Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, with a track record of mentoring and elevating designers
- Deep expertise in creating and evolving design systems, with a focus on scalability, consistency, and innovation
- Strong working knowledge of user interface, application, mobile, and responsive design principles
- Expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced component and library management
- Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to present and defend creative work to clients and stakeholders
- Experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, including UX and development, to deliver integrated solutions
- A proactive mindset and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of technology and design
- A strong point of view and the ability to promote and encourage conceptual thinking across the team
LOCATION
This role requires being onsite twice a week with our Atlanta-based client. Candidates must be based in Atlanta or open to relocation, which we support.
Explore our extensive range of benefits here. We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
ABOUT WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
INTRODUCTION
At AKQA (part of WPP) we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients. Design Leads at AKQA bring artistry, craft, and creative vision to complex digital challenges. They inspire and guide designers, champion design systems, and ensure creative excellence across all deliverables. Hands-on and deeply thoughtful, they shape the look, feel, and coherence of digital experiences from early concept through final delivery, elevating both the work and the people around them. We are seeking an experienced Design Lead to support one of the world's most recognized travel brands, a globally admired company whose digital products and services reach millions of customers every day. In this role you will guide and inspire designers, lead the evolution of complex design systems, and ensure creative excellence across a flagship digital product experience. This is a high-visibility engagement where strong design leadership and systems-level thinking have a direct and meaningful impact on the people using these products every time they travel.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS
- Provide hands-on leadership and creative direction, guiding a team of designers to produce world-class digital product experiences
- Oversee the creation, maintenance, and evolution of complex design systems, ensuring scalability, consistency, and craft at every level
- Shape the creative vision for digital platforms and products, aligning with client goals and the needs of a diverse, global user base
- Collaborate closely with UX, strategy, and development teams to deliver cohesive, high-quality solutions
- Present creative concepts and design solutions to clients with clarity, confidence, and strategic insight
- Actively mentor and support junior and mid-level designers, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth
- Contribute to a culture of creative excellence, pushing for the most distinctive and effective solutions at every stage of the work
QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
- 5+ years of experience in UI design, art direction, or a related field, with a strong portfolio showcasing digital platforms and products
- Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, with a track record of mentoring and elevating designers
- Deep expertise in creating and evolving design systems, with a focus on scalability, consistency, and innovation
- Strong working knowledge of user interface, application, mobile, and responsive design principles
- Expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced component and library management
- Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to present and defend creative work to clients and stakeholders
- Experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, including UX and development, to deliver integrated solutions
- A proactive mindset and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of technology and design
- A strong point of view and the ability to promote and encourage conceptual thinking across the team
LOCATION
This role requires being onsite twice a week with our Atlanta-based client. Candidates must be based in Atlanta or open to relocation, which we support.
Explore our extensive range of benefits here. We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
ABOUT WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
See All 13 Design Lead Jobs in Georgia
Find roles in Georgia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Lead JobsDesign Lead Jobs by City in Georgia
Where Georgia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Lead Job Market in Georgia
A snapshot from current Georgia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Marketing & Advertising
- Construction & Real Estate
What Georgia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design lead jobs across Georgia.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, UX design, product design, or a related visual discipline
- Five or more years of progressive design experience with at least two years leading a team
- Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end ownership of shipped digital or brand design projects
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and collaborative design system tools
- Experience conducting user research, stakeholder alignment, and cross-functional design reviews
- Familiarity with agile product development cycles and working alongside engineering teams
Design Lead Jobs in Georgia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design lead in Georgia?
Design lead roles in Georgia do not require a state-issued license, so the path runs through education and demonstrated experience. Most Georgia employers expect a bachelor's degree in graphic design, UX, or a related field from a program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, followed by several years of individual contributor design work. Building a strong portfolio of shipped work and moving into informal mentorship or team-lead responsibilities within a Georgia company is the most common route to a formal design lead title.
How much do design leads make in Georgia?
Design leads in Georgia earn a median of about $110,430 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $49,990 for the lowest 10% to over $198,360 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design leads in Georgia?
Employers hiring design leads in Georgia right now include Hrc, AKQA, and AECOM, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Georgia's concentration of major retail, fintech, and enterprise technology headquarters in the Atlanta metro means design lead openings appear consistently year-round rather than in seasonal waves.
Which Georgia cities have the most design lead jobs?
Atlanta, Albany, and Norcross have the most design lead openings in Georgia. Atlanta dominates the list because it is home to the corporate headquarters of major retail, media, and financial technology companies that run large in-house design organizations, while Savannah's growth reflects its expanding digital agency scene and the influence of the Savannah College of Art and Design on local creative hiring.
Are there remote design lead jobs in Georgia?
Yes, and more than most fields, since design lead work is largely screen-based and well-suited to distributed teams. About 83% of design lead openings tied to Georgia are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the broader shift in creative and product roles. The parts of the job most commonly done remotely are design reviews, stakeholder presentations, and async critique, while on-site presence is more common for teams embedded in manufacturing or retail operations.
How can I get hired as a design lead in Georgia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a junior or mid-level UX or graphic design role at a Georgia-based company and moving toward informal leadership from there. Large Atlanta employers in retail technology and financial services, including companies headquartered along the Peachtree corridor, regularly hire associate product designers and UX designers who grow into lead roles over two to three years. Adjacent roles like design program coordinator, design operations specialist, or senior individual contributor are common stepping stones, and a polished case-study portfolio that shows process and decision-making carries more weight than a lead title alone.
Where can I find and apply to design lead jobs in Georgia?
You can find and apply to design lead jobs in Georgia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Georgia openings across Atlanta, Savannah, and other hiring markets in the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 13 Design Lead Jobs in Georgia
Find roles in Georgia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Lead Jobs