UX Design Career Levels

I’m often asked how I measure success or develop career growth for designers. I’ve made this map to help guide. Use this to know if you are in the right title and what a promotion entails. Also use this in recruiting to put someone at the right level when they join. I hope its helpful.

Level 1: Shadowing

• Can learn by watching, Won’t embarrass us

Level 2: Intern

• Everything in Shadowing AND
• Can follow instructions and collaborate with relevant employees
• Has a good work ethic and attitude
• Gets along well with others
• Can be assigned small tasks

Level 3: Intern II

• Everything in Level 2 AND
• Has 1 season of Intern
• Has some basic domain skills

Level 4: Associate Product Designer

• Everything in Level 3 AND
• Recognized as a junior/entry member of the team
• Personally contributes towards concrete goals and deliverables
• Very little or no work experience in domain

Level 5: Product Designer

• Everything in Level 4 AND 
• Has 1-3 years of professional domain experience
• Has intermediate skills (4+) in a few (30%) facets of domain
• Can lead small (1-2 week) projects with oversight

Level 6: Product Designer II

• Everything in Level 5 AND
• Has 2-4 years of professional domain experience
• Has intermediate skills (4+) in many (60%) facets of domain
• Can lead small projects (1-2 weeks) on their own
• Can lead medium projects (2-4 weeks) with oversight

Level 7: Product Designer III

• Everything in Level 6 AND
• Demonstrates team leadership
• Has 3-6 years of professional domain experience
• Has intermediate domain skills (4+) in most (90%) facets
• Influences others outside his/her own project
• Can lead medium-sized projects (2-4 weeks) on their own
• Can be part of an interview panel

Level 8: Sr. Product Designer

• Everything in Level 7 AND 
• Actively seeks to be a resource outside of immediate project/team/local scope
• People will come and ask them for input
• Advanced domain skills (8+) in a few (30%) facets
• Has 4-8 years of professional domain experience
• Can lead large projects (1-2 months) with oversight
• Mentor 1-2 junior members of the team

Level 9: Sr. Product Designer II

• Everything in Level 8 AND
• Advanced domain skills in many facets
• Has 5-8 years of professional domain experience

Level 10: Sr. Product Designer III

• Everything in Level 9 AND
• Advanced domain skills (8+) in most (90+) individual contribution facets
• Can lead large projects (1-2 months) on their own

Level 11: Director of Product Design

• Everything in Level 10 AND
• Can do detailed critiques/reviews as well as mentor/manage lower levels on a daily basis. 
• Executes on mid-range plans
• Able to identify, plan, and execute career development for employees
• Able to teach team on their own initiative
• Influences architecture/process beyond their own project
• Looks across the organization
• Mastery of craft
• Can lead Gionormous projects (1-4 quarters) with oversight
• Has 6+ years of professional domain experience
• Is part of the recruiting process on an active basis

Level 12: Sr. Director of Product Design

• Everything in Level 11 AND
• Can fill in for the VP if needed
• Has strong knowledge of the complete ecosystem
• Recognized as an influential leader
• Manages performance on a daily basis
• Executes on long-range plans
• Works effectively to hire and retain talent
• Effectively manages employee performance
• Influences architecture/process beyond their own project
• Looks across the organization

Level 13: VP, Product Design

• Everything in Level 12 AND
• Is recognized as the leader in the company
• Works consistently with other leaders in the organization
• Builds effective process and standards

Legend