This design director is ready to quit. Here’s why.

Last week, I was catching up with a design director at a tech company we all know. Our chat took an unexpected turn.

They confided they’re thinking of quitting. What started as casual conversation became a raw, unfiltered look at the frustrations of high-level design roles.

They allowed me to share our exchange and it might make you rethink your career goals.

Here’s what went down:

Design Director: I’m thinking of leaving.

Me: Really? I thought things were going well. Your team’s been putting out great work.

Design Director: That’s just it. I’m not sure I want to be measured by my team’s output anymore.

Me: What do you mean? Isn’t that part of being in leadership?

Design Director: Is it? I became a designer to solve problems, not to manage Jira boards and attend endless stakeholder meetings.

Me: But you’re shaping the design direction for the entire company now, aren’t you?

Design Director: Am I? Sometimes it feels like I’m just a buffer between executives and designers, translating buzzwords into pixel-pushes.

Me: That sounds frustrating. What parts of your job do you actually enjoy?

Design Director: Honestly? The rare moments when I get to mentor someone or when I see a junior designer have a breakthrough. And when I can step back and see how our design decisions impact the overall user experience across products.

Me: Sounds like you’re looking for more strategic input.

Design Director: Maybe. But every time I try to engage at that level, I get pushback. “That’s not design’s role,” they say.

Me: Who’s pushing back?

Design Director: C-suite, mostly. Sometimes even the head of product.

Me: Have you considered that maybe they’re not pushing back because they don’t value design input?

Design Director: What do you mean?

Me: Well, strategic discussions are messy. They challenge fundamental assumptions. It’s uncomfortable.

Design Director: And?

Me: Maybe they need more of that discomfort. But you might need to frame it differently.

Design Director: How so?

Me: Instead of presenting design solutions, what if you presented business solutions through the lens of design?

Design Director: That’s a fine line.

Me: It is. But it could be the difference between being seen as a service provider and a strategic partner.

Design Director: Okay, but that still doesn’t solve my career dilemma.

Me: Doesn’t it? Sounds like you’re craving impact beyond your team’s output.

Design Director: I suppose.

Me: So, why not try to redefine your role? Push for a seat in strategy meetings. Come armed with data on how design decisions impact business metrics.

Design Director: That’s not traditionally part of a Design Director’s role.

Me: Exactly. Maybe it’s time to evolve that role.

Design Director: It’s risky. What if I push too hard and get sidelined?

Me: Then you’ll know it’s time to leave. But at least you’ll leave having tried to create the role you want, rather than feeling stifled by the role you have.

Design Director: That’s… actually helpful.

Me: Glad I could help. So, still thinking of leaving?

Design Director: Ask me again in three months.

Me: Deal. Keep me posted.

What would you do in this persons shoes? Does this resonate?

Hit reply and let me know. If you have a story to share and would like to do so anonymously, let me know.

Hi, I’m Mindaugas. I’m the founder of Coho.

Coho is the career support you’ve always wanted. We connect you with 5 peers for 12 weeks for mutual support and growth. And we’ve done this for over 2500 professionals from Google, Netflix, Amazon and many more companies.

For the last 10 years I’ve been helping professionals grow. First as a recruiter, then community builder at companies like InVision and On Deck and now as someone who creates deeply curated masterminds/peer groups.

I’m based in the Portuguese countryside with my two rescue dogs, Rina and Mya.

I sometimes host free layoff/career navigation support office hours. The format is small groups, max 5 people at a time to create a safe space for folks to help each other out and I share some learnings and tips from talking to a lot of professionals dealing with layoffs and extended job search periods. Book a spot here.

I recently created a guide on the 2-step method that turns your network into your personal headhunting team. Plus, the cold email template that makes hiring managers fight over you. You can check it out here, also free.