Design Competency Map: 9-Level Career Framework for Design Leaders

Replace subjective title-based growth with a 9-level, 6-domain competency system built for design-forward studios. The Design Competency Map covers Craft & Execution, Design Systems, Interaction & Motion, Research Integration, Stakeholder Communication, and Leadership & Mentorship. Two rules make it precise: the floor rule (overall level = lowest domain score, never average) and a gating domain (Stakeholder Communication must reach Level 3 before advancing past Level 3 overall). Level advancement triggers a required compensation conversation. Ships with 54 competency definitions, bi-annual assessment tracking for your design team, and a Kanban pipeline to manage review outcomes. Built for design leaders who want clarity, not politics.