Art Director
An art director is a creative professional responsible for overseeing the visual aspects of a project across various industries, including advertising, theater, film, video games, and publishing. Their primary role involves guiding the aesthetic direction from conception to completion, ensuring that all artistic elements align with the project's vision. Art directors collaborate closely with artists, writers, and other creative team members but typically do not produce the artwork themselves. In a fast-paced environment, they make pivotal decisions about design, layout, and overall visual strategy while managing a team to execute these ideas.
The position requires a strong foundation in arts-related education, often necessitating a bachelor's degree and several years of experience in a related field. Art directors are known for their problem-solving abilities, organizational skills, and effective communication, as they must articulate their vision clearly to achieve collaborative success. While they often work regular hours, meeting tight deadlines may require extended hours. As a vital part of the creative process, art directors hold significant influence over the final output, making their role crucial for delivering compelling visual narratives.
Art Director
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Arts, A/V Technology & Communications, Business, Management & Administration
Interests: Advertising trends, art, problem-solving, communicating with others
Earnings (Yearly Median): $106,500 per year $51.20 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 6% (Faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Related Work Experience 5 years or more
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Art directors work in a variety of industries, including advertising, theater, film, video games, and publishing. While these fields involve different media, the essential task of an art director is the same: overseeing the aesthetic direction of a project from its conception to completion. The art director typically does not play an active role in the creation of the various elements of a project, rather he or she work closely with artists and writers to reach a shared goal.
Work Environment. Depending on the industry and the size of the project, an art director can expect to work with varying numbers of artists and writers on a particular project. No matter what the industry, the art director has executive control of the work. All artistic decisions must be made with the art director’s consent and approval before being made public. In a large advertising firm, an art director may report to an executive creative director. Art directors usually work during standard business hours. Long hours may be required to meet deadlines.
Occupation Interest. Working as an art director appeals to individuals with creative vision who are able to articulate and carry out that vision in an effective manner. Those drawn to this occupation have a firm grasp of the history of their media, are aware of cultural trends, and have creative minds. They can imagine the final product, whether it’s an advertising campaign, a book, a magazine, or a film, and can coordinate the various tasks and elements involved in the creative process. Art directors have strong people skills and work with a team to realize an idea. Those with an undergraduate degree in advertising, art history, or graphic design, or previous experience as a visual artist, actor, or filmmaker would be well suited to the field. Successful art directors should be problem solvers, have strong communication skills, and must be well organized.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. An art director’s daily duties vary by industry. Art directors commonly work in the film, advertising, and publishing industries.
In large film productions, an art director meets with the prop master and costume and set designers to develop the overall “look” of a movie. He or she reports to the film’s production director. The art director is often responsible for scheduling and hiring individuals working in construction, sound, and special effects and ensuring that the set construction and location are ready for filming. The art director also often manages a portion of a film’s budget. Art directors for smaller productions may be required to take on more responsibilities and tasks.
In an advertising agency, an art director collaborates with one or more artists, such as graphic designers, illustrators, animators, and copywriters to develop the overall concept for a project. The art director organizes face-to-face or virtual meetings to discuss the relationship between the textual and visual components of an advertisement and any related promotional material. Suggestions may be made from one department to another, with copywriters and artists exchanging ideas about visual and textual aspects of the advertising campaign. During these conversations, the art director acts as facilitator and executive decision maker. Once aesthetic decisions have been made, the art director may supervise the work itself.
An art director working in publishing performs a similar job function to that of an advertising art director. He or she works closely with writers, editors, and designers to establish an aesthetic approach for the layout of a book or magazine. The art director typically has the final say on matters such as the typeface of a book, the visual details of the book interior, and the jacket design that best fits the work.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Art directors working in advertising or publishing usually work in an office setting. Those working in theater or film work predominately in offices, but also spend time on the set.
Human Environment. While art directors do not usually hold the top position in any industry, they have considerable control over their specific projects, acting in a guiding, executive role with the various artists, assistants, and writers they supervise.
Technological Environment. Art directors interact with clients and colleagues using email, phone, video conferencing, and face-to-face meetings. Computers play a large role in their daily activities. Art directors should have familiarity with graphic and photo-imaging software, as they may make adjustments to a project or need to demonstrate a compositional idea. (Art directors in the film industry may be familiar with even more sophisticated graphic technologies depending on their field.) Experience with web design and computer code can also be valuable as more companies move toward Internet marketing.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. Students aspiring to become an art director should pursue a rigorous college preparatory program, with an emphasis on coursework in the arts such as theater and visual art, media arts, computers, drafting, art history, and English. Students particularly interested in the financial and administrative aspects of art direction may also find advanced courses in economics helpful.
Interested students should research and apply to postsecondary schools that offer a relevant major. Some professional organizations provide career workshops for high school students, as well as scholarships for postsecondary studies in art direction.
Postsecondary. At the university level, students should consider a major in visual art, film studies, art history, English, theater, art administration, or advertising, depending on their industry of interest. An aspiring art director should major in art administration or pursue summer internships in an industry relevant to their interests.
Some schools are beginning to offer coursework in art direction within their art and/or business departments. Such coursework exposes students to the financial and administrative tasks of art direction. Alternatively, a growing number of institutions offer degrees in art administration.
Related Occupations
− Medical & Scientific Illustrator
− Motion Picture/Radio/TV Art Director
− Multimedia Artist & Animator
Bibliography
"Art Directors." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/art-directors.htm. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024. Flavin, Ben. "Creative Director vs. Art Director: Drawing the Line Between Commonly Confused Careers." Ramussen University, 6 May 2019, www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/design/blog/creative-director-versus-art-director/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.