Art Directors
Art directors formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. They direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
An art director's job description involves coordination and creative activities by discussing client requirements and presentation concepts with the creative, copywriting, or production department heads. They review art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members, work with creative directors to develop design solutions, create custom illustrations or other graphic elements, and present final layouts to clients for approval.
Art directors discuss the objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques with the client and review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
A bachelor’s degree or art director degree is required for this job with a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, and experience. The skills required for a creative director job description include time management, judgement and decision making, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, social perceptiveness, management of personnel resources and financial resources, negotiation, persuasion, operation analysis, service orientation and system analysis.
Art directors need knowledge of communication and media, sales and marketing, computers and electronics, design, fine art, administration and management and sociology and anthropology. They should possess sound knowledge of design software, desktop publishing software, web page creation, office suite, internet browsing and email software.
To succeed, an art director must be good at thinking creatively and working with computers. An art director salary can range from six to seven-figure salary.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- M.A. Mass Communication and Media
- B.A. Mass Communication and Media
Tasks
- Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing.
- Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
- Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.
Progression Routes
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