Art Director Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an art director. Feel free to use our art director job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an art director.
Who is an Art Director?
Are you a skilled designer with a flair for managing innovative talent and strong organizational skills? An Art Director position is a creative, rewarding role that could be right for you.
Art directors are responsible for creating the visual language and style for advertising campaigns, magazines, and product packaging.
Art Directors are responsible for creating the brand identity and marketing strategy of a company. They also manage a team that includes artists and designers who create daily assets that bring that vision to reality.
A truly great art director must think critically and creatively to find the best way to present concepts visually. A great art director must be able to communicate with clients and present his work to them. They also have responsibility for other members of the design team. The art director oversees all aspects of design projects, from one ad or item to multi-faceted advertising campaigns. They also maintain uniform branding. The art director oversees projects that are visible to the public.
Art directors can be found in almost every industry, digital, and print. They work for companies as diverse as Fortune 500s from theatre companies to marketing agencies.
Although the role of an art director can look very different depending on their industry, it will give you an overview of what an art director should do in every industry. Art directors are usually in leadership positions, overseeing a team that includes artists and designers who create graphics content for television, the internet, and other media.
The day-to-day responsibilities of art directors can vary depending on the industry they work in. Art directors can be found in almost every industry. They work for marketing agencies, television stations, film and theatre companies as well as tech companies and firms.
Although the role of an art director can look very different depending on their industry, it will give you an overview of what it should be. Art directors are usually in leadership positions, overseeing a team that includes artists and designers who create graphics content for television, the internet, and other media.
Many industries have art director jobs. These professionals tend to choose a specific area of expertise and then focus their careers on that particular aspect. You could be a book publisher and oversee the cover illustrations for children’s books. These publications are rich in art. You could work in media such as television and web-based design.
Art Director Job Description
Below are the art director job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an art director job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Designing the overall style or look of a publication, advertising campaign, theatre, television, or film set
- Assisting graphic designers, and other design staff.
- Reviewing and approving other staff members’ artwork, photography, or graphics
- Discussing your ideas with clients to create an artistic approach.
- Coordinating activities and other creative departments
- Creating detailed budgets and timelines
- Presenting different designs for clients’ approval
- Choosing which photos, art, and other elements you want to use
- Communicating with the team and developing a style.
- Supervising and managing different designers
- Designing approvals and reviews
- Communicating with clients to create an artistic approach/style
- Coordinating all artistic departments
- Establishing timelines and budgets to complete the project.
- Collaborating with other art department members to assess client needs
- Talking to the client or company to discuss the goals, give updates, get feedback and present the final campaign.
- Performing research to understand the brand’s objectives, target markets, as well as industry trends.
- Hiring, training, and supervising new design staff
- Creating an effective and cohesive campaign by coordinating resources with other departments.
- Setting budgets and time frames and delivering campaigns within these parameters is key.
- Troubleshooting design, process, and staff problems as they occur.
- Ensuring that every aspect of the campaign is in line with the company’s needs.
- Collaborating with other art department members to assess client needs and develop project strategies.
- Talking to the client or company to discuss the company’s goals.
- Giving updates, getting feedback, and presenting the final campaign.
- Developing and determining the visual style for advertising campaigns, publications, or other visual elements.
- Managing and collaborating with the company’s design staff
- Creating detailed budgets and timelines
- Designing staff members’ artwork, photography, or graphic designs must be reviewed and approved.
- Laying out different elements including artwork, photography, and designs.
- Coordinating multiple projects simultaneously to produce high-quality content and meet deadlines for clients
- Presenting clients with creative ideas and completed projects for their review
Qualifications
Art directors are talented and naturally creative individuals. However, to be successful they will often need a college education and specialized skills.
Education
A four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is required for art directors. To enhance their leadership and creative skills, some art directors may pursue a master’s degree in this field. However, most art director jobs do not require advanced degrees.
Training
Art directors are often skilled through experience, rather than formal training because they work in creative fields. They may also take courses to improve their skills in specific areas such as website design or development. If they work with digital media or remote companies, art directors may take HTML and website design classes.
Certification
A license or certification is not usually required to be an art director. You can earn a certificate in graphic design through an online or physical college if you don’t have an art degree. You can also do this if you wish to improve your skills in that area.
Essential Skills
- Design skills
Although many art directors have a background in graphics design, they are required to be skilled in more than just design. These days, marketing messaging spans multiple platforms. Although the art director might not possess all the necessary skills, they should be able to communicate and work with other designers. An art director who wants to be successful in this field must have the ability to communicate well.
- Leadership and Brand Understanding
A successful art director can also be an amateur psychologist, according to some sources. The person responsible for a company’s advertisement campaign must be familiar with the brand, the psychology behind it, and the company. The art director must be able to communicate the brand message effectively to his or her staff. Leadership and communication skills are two of the most important qualities a creative director could possess.
- Conceptual Abilities
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, to take a campaign from concept to product, it is necessary to be able to conceptualize. The process involves the creation of mockups of storyboards or conceptual art, as well as creating and advertising copies of other creative elements. These tools are used to communicate the vision of the art director to his/her creative team.
- Communication skills
Communication is a key part of the job of an art director. They must be able to transmit information to one person or a group. This responsibility requires the ability to communicate clearly both verbally as well as in writing.
- Listening skills
Listening intently to others is key to avoiding misunderstandings, whether you are receiving instructions from clients or executive staff, or listening to employees’ concerns and pitches.
- Open-mindedness
An art director needs to be open to hearing the opinions of other members of the team. In the art field, everyone has the potential to come up with the best ideas to execute a project. To get the best results for their projects, an art director should value the idea more than their pride in the inventor.
- Charisma
An art director must be charismatic. This is when they meet with clients to present their company’s vision. Charisma is a better way to win over others and get the support needed to move the team forward.
- Flexibility
Sometimes, the team of the art director might be required to change a plan during production. A good art director must be able to adapt to these changes and ensure that his team is on track.
- Technical skills
An art director can be drawn from many art fields, so it is not necessary to have a specific skill set. However, technical skills are essential. You will also benefit from general knowledge of the creative fields involved in the project, in addition to your specific area of expertise.
- Knowledge of your industry
It is very useful to have a solid understanding of the history of your creative field to create campaigns. You can use the framework of previous work to inspire your designs, whether you are paying homage to someone or just taking a general idea.
How to Become an Art Director
- Choose a career path
There are many paths to your goals if you pursue a career in the art direction. After years of experience as an art director, it is not uncommon for them to be promoted. You have many options to choose from, including photography, marketing, and art. This will allow you to start your journey towards an art director position.
- Start your education
Although you can start working in an entry-level job without a degree, it is more advisable to have one in a certain field. An art degree that relates to your artistic passion will set you up for success in the future. This will help you find a job and eventually become an art director.
- Gain relevant experience
An art director must work in an entry- or mid-level position in a team before he can become an experienced art director. This is not only a great way to build a resume but it also gives professionals the chance to learn from their managers and coworkers. An art director must be able to comprehend the work of the entire team. This is why it is important to pay attention to the roles of everyone involved in the creative process.
- You can build a network
It is important to have a wide range of professional contacts in all industries. This is especially true for art professionals. You can expand your opportunities to work on diverse projects by making friends and associates within the industry. It is more likely that someone will remember you when looking for an art director. This gives you an advantage when applying for a job. It is easier to get references from potential employers when you apply for a job.
- Create a portfolio
A portfolio is essential for art directors who are looking to find new opportunities. Your potential employer may want to see your portfolio when you submit your resume. A portfolio should include your best work, as well as any awards. While physical portfolios used to be the norm, online portfolios are becoming more common. Online portfolios can be shared easily. With this, more employers will be attracted to you.
- Find a mentor
Finding a mentor is a great way to grow as a creative professional. Working closely with an experienced professional not only provides you with valuable networking opportunities but also allows you to expand your skills. You can learn from more experienced professionals to improve your skills.
- Prepare your resume
Although a portfolio can make it more difficult to apply in creative fields, it’s still an essential part of any resume. Your resume should highlight the skills you have that are most relevant to an art director job, such as leadership and artistic skills. For each job, you should save a copy of your resume and edit it to match the job description. This will allow you to pay more attention to the skills or duties that are listed in the job description.
- Apply for jobs
You should consider both your current company and opportunities online when looking for art director opportunities. If you are a proven leader and have exceeded expectations in the past, interior promotions may be a benefit. Your managers will likely have noticed your strengths. Your portfolio and resume are critical for demonstrating your skills and artistic vision when applying for work outside of the workplace.
Where to Work
Many art directors are independent contractors. This means they can work from home and set their work hours. You might find them working closely with clients such as web designers and marketing agencies. A full-time employer may employ an art director. Directors who work for publishers, advertising agencies, public relations companies, or other design firms are likely to be in a fast-paced environment and will collaborate with other departments. Because art directors often have deadlines to meet, their hours may vary.
Art Director Salary Scale
Art directors’ salaries can vary depending on their experience level and company size. For example, art directors who work for large corporations can easily make up to six figures per year.
In the United States, the average salary for an art director is $63,209 annually.
