Design leadership compensation reflects the growing strategic importance of design thinking. According to [IT Jobs Watch](https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/head%20of%20design.do) (February 2026), the median Head of Design salary is **£70,000** with a range of **£58,750 to £76,649**.

[PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Chief_Creative_Officer/Salary) reports Chief Creative Officer salaries averaging **£92,271**. Chief Design Officer roles typically command **£90,000 to £140,000** at the C-suite level.

Notably, Head of Design salaries increased **12% year-on-year** according to IT Jobs Watch, reflecting growing demand for design leadership.

The CDO role typically encompasses:

**Product Design:** - Digital product experience - Service design - Design systems and components

**Brand Design:** - Visual identity - Brand experience - Design language

**Design Operations:** - Design team leadership - Design process and tools - Design quality and standards

**Strategic Design:** - Design thinking workshops - Innovation and R&D - Customer research

Fractional CDO arrangements offer compelling economics:

**Cost comparison (1 day per week)**: - Fractional CDO: £700-£1,000/day × 52 weeks = **£36,400-£52,000/year** - Full-time CDO: £100,000 salary + 30% benefits = **£130,000/year** - **Savings: £78,000+ annually**

Fractional CDOs deliver design strategy, design system governance, team mentorship, design process improvement, and design-led culture development without full-time overhead.