How to become An Art Director

When words are insufficient to express a thought, concept or emotion, art steps in to complete the picture. It is an irreplaceable way of understanding and describing the world. Art Directors use their creativity and skills to add power to a message or experience, weaving them into a harmonious and tasteful visual setting that captivates the audience. Their work is valuable in publishing, product packaging, film, music & television production, graphic design, publicity, advertising, marketing, branding, web design, and video games.

• Art Supervisor

• Creative Director

• Design Director

• Advertising Art Director

What do Art Directors do?

An Art Director would typically need to:

• Design the look or style of publications, advertisements, sets for theatre, television or films, product packaging, video games and more to suit the client’s theme

• Work on the campaign from its initiation; manage diverse details relating to the client, product, audience, project objectives, and the message to deliver

• Consult with the creative director and account managers in preparation for discussions with clients

• Meet with clients to discuss and understand their needs and correlate the artistic plan with the business goals, message and target audience

• Collaborate with the copywriter to create ideas and concepts that match the client’s brief

• Pitch design ideas to the clients that satisfy their concerns and seek approval to move forward with the execution 

• Help clients understand concepts through visual representations, such as photographs, artwork or other design aspects, sketches or storyboards for television, and “roughs” or “scamps” for print 

• Generate project budgets and timelines and monitor them

• Visit and evaluate potential locations for photography or filming

• Brief the creative team; hire photographers, artists or film-makers to work on projects, typically on a commission basis

• Review and approve original designs, artwork, photography, and graphics contributed by design staff, including graphic designers and set & exhibit designers

• Coordinate activities within their own and other creative departments; guide and be accountable for the design team; manage new creatives and teams

• Attend meetings at production houses; confer with other directors

• Work in editing suites to finetune the finished product

• Stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the field

An Art Director’s work is primarily office-based, although the work environment varies depending on the project. Sometimes, the work may be away from the office, on location. 

Typically, Art Directors work independently. However, they may need to associate with designers, visual effects experts and marketing teams. The environment in an Art Director’s office is usually fast-paced. 

Freelance work is a feasible option for successful Art Directors. 

Travelling to meet clients or to locations in the country or overseas is likely.

Art Directors typically work from 9 am to 5 pm. However, they may occasionally work late nights or weekends to meet project deadlines or fulfil specific needs, such as being on location at a specific time.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Art Directors can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Art Directors are generally employed by:

• Advertising Firms

• Public Relations Companies

• Film & Television Industries

• Music & Video Industries

• Newspaper & Magazine Publishers

• Book Publishers

• Specialised Design Services

Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Art Directors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Creative burnout, which could be due to repetitive work or the lack or diverse creative outlets

• Not having complete control over creative decisions but having to adapt to the client’s vision, budget and other constraints

• Low job security due to high competition

• Working under pressure to meet deadlines

• Lack of balance of personal and professional life due to unsocial work hours

• Demotivation caused by the lack of appreciation of art and design on the part of clients; defending your work and decisions to non-creatives

• Dealing with fussy clients or those with unrealistic expectations

• Adapting to technological developments

Any academic program that a potential Art Director takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Most Art Directors begin their career as artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, advertising or editorial assistants, copy editors, or other art- and design-related occupations. Work experience through internships or entry-level creative roles enhances an Art Director’s skills in engaging select audiences through effective and innovative visual communication. It also helps them build a network. 

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in fine arts to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

The process of securing your first job may be slow. Start with gathering experience through various avenues. The next step is to build a robust and diverse portfolio or book to showcase your past work and demonstrate your style and abilities. Team up with copywriters to develop and present your portfolio. Potential employers prefer to view complete projects that include design and copy and demonstrate a healthy and creative partnership. You would then need to contact creative teams and work hard to find a slot for them to do a “book crit” or a feedback session on your work. Continue building experience by completing several placements at different agencies.

It is typically mandatory for aspiring Art Directors to hold a bachelor’s degree. While they may major in any subject, candidates with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in design or a related field earn a competitive edge in the job market. Related fields include communication technology, advertising & marketing, advertising design, graphic design, and illustration.

Employers usually do not mandate a master’s degree. However, you may pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) to support your work experience and build managerial skills. If you have an unrelated first degree, an MFA can give you insights into this career and help you build a network.

A license or certification are not mandatory to work as Art Director. However, voluntary certification demonstrates an Art Director’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. 

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

Art Directors typically begin their career by forming a junior creative team with a copywriter partner. They gain experience with smaller campaigns, dealing with diverse brands in preparation to rise up the ladder. You must also demonstrate tenacity, confidence and enthusiasm to become Art Director. 

With further experience, you could progress to a senior creative position, having demonstrated teamwork abilities paired with confidence and perseverance in idea generation. Successful campaigns and awards could lead you to become Creative Director, or if you work in a large global agency, you could rise to become Executive Creative Directors. 

Freelancing is a viable option once you have built a solid reputation and network. 

As a senior creative you could also launch your own enterprise or switch to directing advertisements, television shows and films.

Candidates with a master’s degree in fine arts or business administration, along with the necessary skills and experience, have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Art Director build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, 

formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

You will be expected to develop or strengthen your skills on the job. However, some in-house structured training programmes may also be available at large agencies. In creative fields, skills typically develop more through experience than training.

If your job requires you to have specific skills, you could undertake additional courses, such as website development, website design and HTML to work online or with digital media. 

You could also join external training courses. It is vital to stay abreast with the constantly evolving trends in the industry by attending exhibitions, participating in conferences and reading trade publications.

Newcomers to the industry will find it helpful to attend talks delivered by various organisations on advertising, working in the industry, art direction and copywriting skills.

Some organisations offer personalised coaching, mentoring sessions and workshops throughout the year to help creatives chart out their career. Some of these sessions may help you connect with a creative partner for your business.

Build your Portfolio - Sell Yourself

A collection exhibiting your best representative work from college to the time of your job application and then during your professional life, thereby also showcasing your evolving creative skills, style and potential, is called a portfolio or book. It serves as your most important asset, in addition to your cover letter and resume, when you seek a job as Art Director.

Personality Traits of an Art Director

Without a doubt, aspiring Art Directors must have an artistic and creative bent of mind that thrives on originality in self-expression paired with a keen sense of what the business requires and what is engaging for the audience. They must also be enterprising and natural leaders who can influence or persuade others through their work. 

Using artificial intelligence (AI), an Art Director can produce fake images that look genuine. These portraits could contend with the actual people seen in stock photos.

With a diverse and creative portfolio showcasing your original and feasible ideas, plenty of enthusiasm and a can-do attitude, and a network of contacts within the industry, you can become a successful Art Director. It is advisable to begin developing your design and managerial skills early on to pursue this career.

You cannot work in isolation as an Art Director. You must lead, inspire and guide the team to fulfil the creative vision for a project. You should have an eye for the talent around you and learn how to leverage it to help your organisation achieve its goals and your team members develop their skills with each assignment.