Why demand for designers is on the rise

As AI has introduced-and demanded-new skills, workflows, and norms, many designers are wondering what these changes mean for landing their next role. In our most recent study, we surveyed design managers around the world to find out how hiring is shifting and what the job market looks like today.

Broadly, companies are investing in design-in fact, most leaders (82%) say their organization's need for designers has either increased or stayed steady, with nearly half saying it's increased. And of those who say demand has gone up, most say it's risen by at least 10%, while more than a quarter say it's increased by 25%+. Tech companies lead the way in design hiring, but demand extends across sectors. In fact, non-tech organizations in North America are some of the most likely to say they're hiring for design. As more people interact with companies through digital storefronts, businesses across industries-like retail, publishing, and aviation -are hiring designers to strengthen their online presence, create more compelling experiences, and deliver new value to customers.

The momentum is especially strong at high-growth organizations. Companies that are growing quickly are more likely to report an increase in design hiring compared to those growing at a more modest pace. What's driving the gap is how these organizations view design. For fast-growing companies, design isn't just about pixels or polish-it's a way to move faster, test ideas earlier, and translate strategy into products that stand out. As organizations push further to meet customer expectations, design is how companies differentiate and drive revenue.

Even so, the same hiring managers' perceptions of the job market haven't fully caught up to this momentum-only 20% believe the overall hiring landscape is improving. But leaders see continued upside. "Design hiring has picked up quite a bit in the last 12 months," says Daniel Wert, CEO of executive search firm Wert&Co. "2024 was a slower year with layoffs and belt-tightening, and it feels like many companies realized they overcorrected. In 2025, we [saw] a resurgence." Design-focused VC firm Designer Fund estimates that design job postings across its portfolio were up roughly 60% in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Looking ahead, expectations remain strong-40% of hiring managers plan to open more headcount in the next six months.

AI's influence on design is growing quickly: As the time between model drops compresses, capabilities are improving and new tools are rolling out faster than ever. The rapidly changing landscape means that companies need candidates who are experienced in AI tools and processes so they can dive into projects right away. And leaders are looking for designers who can not only build AI products, but also incorporate AI tooling into their workflows. "All [of our] new hiring is based on AI skills and knowledge," says an Australia-based respondent in the tech industry.

AI fluency is no longer a nice-to-have; many hiring managers now say it's a requirement. In fact, 73% see an increasing need for candidates to be proficient in AI tools, and 79% say the same of designing AI products. "We started to factor AI into positions and hiring about a year ago, and in the last six months it has completely changed the way we hire," says a UK-based tech hiring manager. "We fully [prioritize] positions that combine technical capacity, strategy, and out-of-the-box thinking-which includes the use of AI, human-in-the-loop, and human-augmented AI."

With teams under pressure to move quickly, hiring managers are prioritizing designers who have the skills, judgment, and experience to hit the ground running. More than half of hiring managers (56%) say there's increasing demand for senior design hires, compared to just 25% who are hiring for more junior roles. For many leaders, it's less of a hiring philosophy and more a matter of bringing on designers who can tackle the problems they're facing. Designing for AI introduces new complexities, and it can be helpful to have designers who have worked on similar challenges in the past.

But like with any design decision, hiring comes with trade-offs. While senior designers bring expertise, designers with less experience on the job can bring fresh perspectives and a hunger to learn. "It just boggles my mind how few internship programs there are these days. I think it seems shortsighted," Daniel says. "The best teams, the best organizations, have a lot of diversity…in terms of years of experience and where people are in their career. You want to have a nice cross-section of junior and mid-senior designers."

Daniel believes that the most impactful design teams are dynamic, made up of designers that represent a variety of levels and skillsets. "Hiring managers are looking for unicorns because they misunderstand how multidisciplinary design is," he continues. "They want [top-tier] design, but are only willing to hire one person. Great design teams [have] multiple people with complementary strengths-not a single superhero."

Whether teams are hiring experienced leaders or entry-level ICs, core design skills are more important than ever. In fact, 58% of hiring managers say visual polish is one of the five most important skills for designers today. More than 45% also point to collaboration, systems thinking, and product strategy-skills that rely on judgment and context, not automation-as critical. "I still hire for evergreen skills: qual/quant, usability, UX, and cross-functional facilitation," says one design manager.

And taste and intuition take an increasingly important role in hiring, particularly as more people participate in design. When anyone can make things, teams need designers who will raise the bar higher and push their craft further. Many leaders are looking for candidates who "can integrate AI into workflows while emphasizing human judgment, creativity, and collaboration," says a hiring manager in the financial services industry.

Even as teams experiment with new tools and ways of working, the need for core design skills and expertise hasn't changed. And for many leaders, these shifts have only underscored the importance of design. While the market will ebb and flow, teams will always need designers who can solve hard problems, meet user needs, and keep craft high.

Download the rest of the data to get more insight into design hiring trends.