# Design Career Planning

> Design career paths, skill development, specialization decisions, and career growth strategies.

- Skill: `dragoon0x/design-career-planning` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dragoon0x/design-career-planning`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dragoon0x/design-career-planning/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Marketing & Growth
- Author: dragoon0x (https://skillmd.com/u/dragoon0x)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dragoon0x/design-career-planning

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# Design Career Planning

## Career Paths
```
IC Track:              Management Track:
Junior Designer        Junior Designer
↓                      ↓
Mid Designer           Mid Designer
↓                      ↓
Senior Designer        Design Lead
↓                      ↓
Staff Designer         Design Manager
↓                      ↓
Principal Designer     Director of Design
↓                      ↓
Distinguished          VP of Design
```

## Specialization
| Specialty | Focus |
|-----------|-------|
| Product Design | End-to-end product experience |
| Visual/Brand | Visual identity and aesthetics |
| UX Research | User understanding and evidence |
| Interaction Design | Behavior and motion |
| Design Systems | Components and tooling |
| Content Design | Language and information |
| Design Engineering | Code and design intersection |

## Skill Development Strategy
1. **T-shaped:** Deep in one area, broad in adjacent areas
2. **Deliberate practice:** Work on weaknesses, not strengths
3. **Build in public:** Portfolio, writing, speaking develops your thinking
4. **Seek feedback:** From people better than you, not just peers
5. **Teach:** Mentoring juniors accelerates your own growth