Art Director

Art Director Overview

Art directors are artists who are employed by advertising agencies and publishers of newspapers, books, periodicals, or electronic media. Art directors may be in charge of the design, layout, graphics, color choice, and other visual content for an ad, poster, book cover, publication, or even a television commercial. It is the art director’s job to assemble a team of photographers, models, illustrators, and props necessary for an ad or publication.

Art Director Training & Education

Art directors usually have obtained a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a college or university, or a degree or certificate from an accredited institution specializing in art education. Most art directs have a background in art, mechanical drawing or drafting, and photography. It would also give prospective students a leg up if they are familiar with the graphic design software.

Finally, all art directors must have an outstanding portfolio. This will be the first thing potential employers look at, so make sure you are presenting your best work in a clear and aesthetically pleasing manner.

Art Director Career & Salary Outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006 art directors held approximately 78,000 jobs in the U.S. Employment opportunities for art directors are expected to increase by nine percent by the year 2016. Still, competition for these jobs is anticipated to remain intense as more and more qualified candidates continue to pursue opportunities in the field.

The median annual salary for art directors in 2006 was $68,100, according to the BLS. Salaries for art directors ranged from approximately $37,920 to $135,090 in 2006.

Art director jobs can be found throughout the country, but are likely to be found in greater numbers in the major cities where ad agencies and publishing companies are located, such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Art Director Fields & Specializations

An art director may work in conjunction with copywriters, layout artists, designers, and production specialists in order to conceive and implement the ideas and visual content of an ad or publication. He or she is usually responsible for visual concept development, in addition to coming up with unique approaches and ensuring the right message is being conveyed to the intended audience.

In the field of advertising, the art director may have to work directly with clients to discuss and present concepts and gain the client’s approval; this may require the presentation and re-working of concepts several times.

Those wishing to become art directors may begin their careers in entry-level positions such as layout, advertising, or publishing assistant. Art director positions may require up to ten years of design experience and some years of management experience, depending on the size of the company and the scope of the job. Titles for art directors may vary slightly to include roles as creative art director or art and layout director.

Article Resources:

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Art Directors' Club
US Department of Education: Accreditation Database