My Design Director role has turned out to be entirely admin and people management, with very little actual design. I deeply miss contributing to crafting the work — in my previous DD role, I was much more involved.

Is it too late to reverse course and move back into a senior designer or design lead role (im fine with a slight pay cut)? Or should I hold out for a DD role that’s genuinely hands-on? Curious how others have navigated this.

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Welcome to my world. The money is good tho.

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Yeah! That's why I don't want to be more than a senior. I'd prefer to focus on the work. Someone described it to me as being the coach of the team. You're there to guide, not do.

Definitely you can course correct. Don't see why not. Just chalk it up to you tried it and it wasn't for you.

There are also DD roles that let you do the work as well. But I find that's more common at smaller agencies or companies where you have to wear more hats. At network shops you there mostly to deal with management, clients, staff, etc.

Best!

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Why not just shift to a more IC role?

Oh yeah my bad. I meant to ask if you were agency or in-house Yeah, agree, it’s unlikely at an agency

That’s pretty standard. As you move up, you step away from the actual work

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