Creative news collection

How to Become an Art Director Blog

Jun 2, 2022

Find Online Courses in Creative & Art Direction

Graphic design, photography, filmmaking and even more.    

It could be the packaging of a shiny new product that you've just bought or the front cover of the book that you're reading, or the amazing background of your favourite film, you've likely witnessed the work of art directors countless times before. What is the process to be an art director? In this article we'll offer brief information on the requirements for an art director's job. needs are across diverse creative industries, with information on the steps to becoming an artist director for yourself.

What does an Art Director Do?

The art director must translate moods, messages, and concepts into imagery that will appeal to the intended audience, regardless of the medium in which it is. They'll work with the creative team to brainstorm various ways that they can do this, help to bring together disparate strategies or thoughts when required in the end, and finally determine the most effective way to translate the client's wants and desires onto page, screen or stage.

Job Duties

When looking through art director job descriptions You're likely to see a lot of these tasks:

  • Work with clients directly to learn about their objectives and requirements
  • Find out the overall vibe and style of the project
  • Develop budgets and timelines in consultation with your clients
  • Decide which photographs, art or visual elements you will make use of
  • Assist other creative employees in supervision
  • Review and approve design, graphics or any other visuals
  • Present clients with ideas to be approved or revised

The art director will be the meticulous supervisor. When an artistic director is laid out the overall concept The art director will divide it in terms of an aesthetic style or design and work with the creative team in order to realize it.

Where the creative director is often the big picture thinker on the team, the art director takes an active responsibility in overseeing each of the aspects of the project during the stages of production and editing in order to ensure everything is well-integrated to the satisfaction of the client.

How do you become an Art Director

There are a variety of paths you could take if you're thinking about how to become an art director. There is a possibility of earning a certificate in art. It is also possible to work your way up the professional creative ladder without formal instruction and build a standout portfolio to build your profession.

Degree

Advertising, fine arts and graphic design are all excellent focus areas for budding art directors and will give you a good base to build the essential skills required in this field. Arts management degrees could also be helpful if you're interested in business aspects of the creative sector. This kind of education can be beneficial later on when you begin your career in art direction when you're tasked with managing schedules and budgets.

The Experience

While you might notice a strong emphasis on formal art director education specifications in a variety of jobs, having a bachelor's master's degree in art isn't the only way to find the job of an art director. Most creatives find that actually doing the job and working in the field is the best method to get valuable knowledge that isn't available through an art-related degree.

   Take Ideas From Concept to Reality!

   The Creative Process of Brand Building: Connecting Consumers & Companies Through Stories

Art Director Salary

The average art director salary for art directors in the US is $79,416 However, the salary can be more than $150,000 based on your location as well as the type of industry that you work in.

For art directors who are freelance The earning possibilities are unlimited and could go into the six figures if you have an impressive resume and portfolio to back you up. This is particularly true for industries that typically work with one or more freelancers and independent contractors, like entertainment and advertising.

Artists looking for jobs

Art directing is a creative discipline, and there is no shortage of directions you could take when you pursue your career. We'll look at a few of the industries where art directors are employed in.

Online

Today, remote creative positions can be just as lucrative opportunities as traditional in-person positions and make the ideal choice for those who aren't looking to live in big cities, face long commutes, or just want to work in the privacy at house.

Print media remains an incredibly important part of the world. For artists, magazines and newspapers make a great choice when it comes to creative industries to work in. When working in a print environment, the art director will be in charge of the overall design of the newspaper or magazine.

The art director will decide the way that graphics and photographs be integrated into the text. They will collaborate with the design and the copywriting teams. They're usually the ones responsible for choosing the design of the cover or photo, in collaboration and with the director of creative.

Television

In the case of studio television programs, the director of art collaborates with the producer in bringing the idea from concept to actual. They typically create sketches or models of sets and supervise the building of the set from start until its completion. For on-location shoots, they'll work together with the director and producer to design what they can.

Once the set is prepared for shooting the art director will ensure that the set is dressed appropriately and has the correct props. They'll stay in the studio throughout the shoot for any adjustments needed to sets or props, either by their expertise working alongside the production design team or from any adjustments the director decides to make.

Art Directors in Movies and Production Design

Like in TV the film and film directors are paired with a production designer in order to create sets. During pre-production the art director acts as an intermediary between the production team and the construction crew, making sure that the general ideas are properly executed. Once principal photography begins and the art director is the coordinator between all the visual departments from costumes to places.

The AD is often in close contact with the production designer for the effects and special effects that can be influenced by the set or will need to be accounted for when shooting, for example faux weather or pyrotechnics.

Product Packaging

A product packaging art director is a key player in ensuring that a brand's visual identity is present on every item that is placed on the shelves. They usually collaborate with the company's marketing and branding department to make sure the visual components including fonts, colors and even the color and more, is consistent across all current and new packaging styles.

In addition, the packaging must be recognized as belonging to that brand but it must also appeal to customers so that they pick it up on the shelf and purchase the product. These days, art directors in this industry must also be experts in safe and cost-effective packaging, as well as environmentally-friendly or sustainable options that work for both the company and the consumer.

Get Started on Your Path to becoming an Art Director

Once you've got an idea of how the work environment is, you can make better choices about if it is the right career choice that is right for you.

   Develop the ability to work in an Imaginative Team Environment!

   Collaboration for Creatives: Make Your Project Better