Art Directors
Additional Information
Duties
Most art directors do this regularly:
- Choose the best visual depiction of a topic.
- Select photos and other design elements for your project.
- Create a newspaper, marketing campaign, or a stage, TV, or film set.
- Management of graphic designers, set designers, and display designers.
- To provide final clearance to other design team members' work.
- Talking to clients helps you develop a creative approach.
- Coordination with other artistic divisions.
- Make precise budgets and timetables.
- Get client clearance on drawings.
This profession supervises other designers and artists that develop images for many mediums. They influence how a message is visually conveyed to an audience. Each assignment's vision is communicated to artists. The artists create visuals such as drawings, graphics, photos, graphs and charts, or stage and movie sets using the art director's concept.
Art directors collaborate with designers at advertising agencies, PR firms, and publishers to create designs. Set designers work alongside producers and directors of theater, television, and cinema projects. A designer's employment requires them to understand a project's design elements, inspire other creative professionals, and keep projects within budget and timeline. They set deadlines and budgets on occasion.
Depending on the industry, an art director may be in charge of all or some of the following:
Advertising and public relations art directors ensure that their clients' messages and images are delivered to consumers. Art directors collaborate closely with graphic designers and other campaign creatives to ensure a campaign's visual aspects are consistent across all media.
Art directors commonly control catalog, newspaper, and magazine page design. They choose book and magazine covers. As a result, art directors regularly design and create websites that disseminate content.
Art directors and directors collaborate to determine what sets are required for a film and their look. The art director hires and supervises deputy art directors or set designers.
Education
Bachelor’s degrees in visual arts, design or a related profession like communications technology are often required for art directors.
In many cases, art directors begin their careers as painters or photographers. Work experience in art or design vocations helps an art director strengthen his or her ability to creatively and effectively visually communicate to a specific audience. A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is typically required for entry-level positions in the arts.
A master's degree in the fine arts (MFA) is sometimes pursued by art directors in order to demonstrate their administrative or creative abilities in addition to their previous professional experience.
Working Knowledge of a Related Field
Prior to becoming an art director, most art directors have worked in another field for at least five years. Artists, editors, photographers, and other creative professionals who work as art directors often began their careers in a variety of different fields such as graphic design, fine art, or photography.
Creating a portfolio—a collection of an artist's work that showcases his or her styles and abilities—is critical for many artists, especially art directors. Art portfolios are examined by managers, clients, and others before making hiring or contracting decisions.
Characteristics of Critical Importance
Skills in verbal and nonverbal communication. For ads, magazines, or movie sets, art directors need to be able to listen and talk with both personnel and clients to make sure they grasp each other's ideas and wishes.
Creativity. Advertising campaigns, set designs, and layout possibilities all require creative visions from art directors.
The ability to lead. Artists' managers must have the ability to lead and inspire their colleagues. As the project proceeds, they must be able to communicate their ideas to the artists and keep an eye on them.
Resourcefulness. Art directors must be able to keep up with the rapid evolution of the technologies they employ in their field while maintaining their most recent designs.
The ability to manage your time. Art directors must be able to prioritize several projects while meeting tight deadlines.
Pay
In May 2020, the average yearly salary for art directors was $97,270. There are two extremes of earnings in each given occupation: those earning more than the median and those earning less. Ten percent of the workforce earned less than $54,530 and more than $199,250, respectively, in 2013.
Job Projections
Art directors are expected to see an 11% increase in employment between 2020 and 2030, above the national average for all occupations.