3 answers
3 answers
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Hi Xiaolei! I really does depend on where you work and what how they are structured like Stephanie said. In a lot of places, Art Directors are working designers as well as overseeing and guiding the designs of more junior design staff so that adds to their workloads and ultimately impacts their hours. If they have to spend x-amount of time art directing and then have their own design projects with deadlines they have to hit, then I would expect they would work longer hours than an Art Director who solely does that design function as a leadership position. In a lot of corporate in-house design jobs, the positions are salaried and the expectation is that you will do whatever it takes to hit the deadline so you may work anywhere from 45-60 hours/week, maybe even more if it's a particularly busy time for that company. I have worked in environments where the designers were paid hourly + over-time and there is more incentive to keep the hours lower to keep costs down. If you are interviewing for Art Director roles and hours/schedule is a consideration for you, I recommend you have a list of questions to ask your potential employer about how they handle deadlines, work/life balance, and schedules to ensure you understand what you are committing to before taking the job.
Updated
Stephanie Stephen’s Answer
Depends on if you are salary or not. So presuming an Art Director is equal to a manager who is on salary, you could be required to work 80 hours a week. But really it depends on your employer, and what they require of you as an art director. But if you are on a 9 to 5 clock hour, then it might be as little as 40 hours. I would figure 60, hours as an average depending on your place of employment and if you are on a salary.
Updated
Susan’s Answer
Hi Xiaolie,
My hours vary from project to project and from company to company. I generally work from 8:30 to 5. I take lunch most days. But there are times when I need to put in overtime to meet deadlines, and I'm fine with that. Some evenings I will work late or work a few hours on weekends. I always try to keep a good work/life balance. I have my hobbies, friends and family that I need to save time for, also. It is important to take care of your health and eat right and workout and take mental breaks for your well being. If I get too many projects and my hours get too long, I let my manager know and ask if someone on the team can help. If your manager won't help and you've asked several times, you can always look for a job elsewhere. Best of luck to you in your endeavors.
My hours vary from project to project and from company to company. I generally work from 8:30 to 5. I take lunch most days. But there are times when I need to put in overtime to meet deadlines, and I'm fine with that. Some evenings I will work late or work a few hours on weekends. I always try to keep a good work/life balance. I have my hobbies, friends and family that I need to save time for, also. It is important to take care of your health and eat right and workout and take mental breaks for your well being. If I get too many projects and my hours get too long, I let my manager know and ask if someone on the team can help. If your manager won't help and you've asked several times, you can always look for a job elsewhere. Best of luck to you in your endeavors.