3 answers
Christopher
Student
Harvey, Illinois
4
Questions
Asked
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Is becoming an Art Director a difficult task, where do I start, and where can it lead to?
I understand this quite the layered question, but I am greatly interested in the field of Art Direction. I would love some examples and clarity on how and where this career can take me. I do appreciate art in all forms and I believe it can come in a multitude of forms, given the subjective nature and I believe it would be very interesting to interpret my vision or the vision of another.
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3 answers
Ellen Rosenthal
Retired Art Teacher
239
Answers
Woodbridge, Virginia
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
Hi Christopher!
You already have some excellent responses. I would add some advice on what you can do NOW as a student to realize your goal.
I think the gist of the other responders is that being an Art Director is rarely, if ever, an entry level position. Being an art director means being a manager of people (other artists and designers) and overseeing the creative processes on a project. It's an important job, and you will need lots of experience and knowledge in your chosen art field to become an art director, as well as a good work ethic. You will need to prove to others (your bosses) that you can not only do the job well, but manage others to do their jobs well. It all starts with your art/design interests.
You might take an inventory of your art interests....do you see yourself as a graphic designer, who works with words and images in a multitude of fields: publishing, website design, advertising, businesses, sports organizations, and so on. Do you see yourself as being interested in fashion, yes they have art directors or creative directors too. Maybe you would like to work in interior design, or maybe you like the idea of designing everyday items such as shampoo bottles, cell phones, furniture, or even cars, which industrial or product designers do. Yes there are project directors, or art directors, or creative directors in all these fields too, and more. But in all these fields, the starting point in an entry level position.
Becoming an art director, creative director, or project director anywhere, starts with an entry level job in your chosen art field.
So to get your entry level job in your chosen area of interest, you will usually need an art degree from an art school or college or university, plus an excellent portfolio. If you are now in high school, take art classes, both studio and computer graphics. Keep a portfolio of your best work, and update it as you get better and more realized pieces. Talk to your art teachers about your art interests, and listen to their suggestions. As I mentioned above, try to narrow down your art interests and focus on them; do some research on art careers by going online, or even better talking to your school librarian or guidance counselor. Most high schools have at least one person on staff who is a career counselor, and most libraries have sections on career counseling. You might also begin looking at art schools with programs in your art area of interest. Once you get to your art school or university or college, look into internships; these are really key to getting that entry level job. Entry level jobs can be very competitive, so be prepared to work hard on your portfolio, and be flexible and patient in your job search.
The other side of being an art director is managing people and time. So, get some work experience during the summer or afterschool. It does no business any good to have a super talented artist/designer as the art director, if they can't get along and work well with others. Although being a waiter or a camp counselor or a retail worker might seem a long ways away from being an art director, it really isn't. It's about showing up at a job reliably on time, doing the work to the best of your ability, taking direction, getting along with others, and getting a good reference. These experiences and art skills will be invaluable to you in your entry level job search.
I hope this has helped! Best wishes!
You already have some excellent responses. I would add some advice on what you can do NOW as a student to realize your goal.
I think the gist of the other responders is that being an Art Director is rarely, if ever, an entry level position. Being an art director means being a manager of people (other artists and designers) and overseeing the creative processes on a project. It's an important job, and you will need lots of experience and knowledge in your chosen art field to become an art director, as well as a good work ethic. You will need to prove to others (your bosses) that you can not only do the job well, but manage others to do their jobs well. It all starts with your art/design interests.
You might take an inventory of your art interests....do you see yourself as a graphic designer, who works with words and images in a multitude of fields: publishing, website design, advertising, businesses, sports organizations, and so on. Do you see yourself as being interested in fashion, yes they have art directors or creative directors too. Maybe you would like to work in interior design, or maybe you like the idea of designing everyday items such as shampoo bottles, cell phones, furniture, or even cars, which industrial or product designers do. Yes there are project directors, or art directors, or creative directors in all these fields too, and more. But in all these fields, the starting point in an entry level position.
Becoming an art director, creative director, or project director anywhere, starts with an entry level job in your chosen art field.
So to get your entry level job in your chosen area of interest, you will usually need an art degree from an art school or college or university, plus an excellent portfolio. If you are now in high school, take art classes, both studio and computer graphics. Keep a portfolio of your best work, and update it as you get better and more realized pieces. Talk to your art teachers about your art interests, and listen to their suggestions. As I mentioned above, try to narrow down your art interests and focus on them; do some research on art careers by going online, or even better talking to your school librarian or guidance counselor. Most high schools have at least one person on staff who is a career counselor, and most libraries have sections on career counseling. You might also begin looking at art schools with programs in your art area of interest. Once you get to your art school or university or college, look into internships; these are really key to getting that entry level job. Entry level jobs can be very competitive, so be prepared to work hard on your portfolio, and be flexible and patient in your job search.
The other side of being an art director is managing people and time. So, get some work experience during the summer or afterschool. It does no business any good to have a super talented artist/designer as the art director, if they can't get along and work well with others. Although being a waiter or a camp counselor or a retail worker might seem a long ways away from being an art director, it really isn't. It's about showing up at a job reliably on time, doing the work to the best of your ability, taking direction, getting along with others, and getting a good reference. These experiences and art skills will be invaluable to you in your entry level job search.
I hope this has helped! Best wishes!
Thank you for the advice, Ellen.
Christopher
Shantel Maule
Student, Freelancer
11
Answers
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Updated
Shantel’s Answer
The short answer is yes, becoming an Art Director is a difficult task. There is no one specific path to take in order to become an Art Director, but there are a few things that will help you on the way. Firstly, it is important to get a good education in the field of design, art, or communication. This will give you the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the role. Secondly, it is helpful to gain experience in the industry by working in various roles such as graphic designers, web designers, or advertising agencies. This will give you a better understanding of the industry and the workings of an Art Director. Finally, it is important to network and build relationships with people in the industry. This will give you the opportunity to learn from others and potentially get your foot in the door of an Art Director position.
Where can an Art Director position lead to?
The sky is the limit when it comes to where an Art Director position can lead. Many Art Directors start out in entry-level or junior positions and work their way up the ladder. With experience, an Art Director can move into senior positions within an agency, or even start their own design studio. The opportunities are endless for those with the drive and ambition to succeed in this field.
Where can an Art Director position lead to?
The sky is the limit when it comes to where an Art Director position can lead. Many Art Directors start out in entry-level or junior positions and work their way up the ladder. With experience, an Art Director can move into senior positions within an agency, or even start their own design studio. The opportunities are endless for those with the drive and ambition to succeed in this field.
Thank you for the insight. I appreciate you taking out time to answer.
Christopher
No Problem, glad to help.
Shantel Maule
Ares Sakamoto
UX - User Experience Design
3
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Ares’s Answer
Hi Christopher!
First, so glad you are interested in the Art field, and you hit the nail on the head on this being a layered question so please allow me to do my best!
To begin with, lets talk about the title "Art Director". This has a few different equally valid uses that can cause some confusion. The most common use is that of an individual who oversees the general creative direction for project(s) to insure that they remain creatively consistent throughout the process. Often this is a Designer who has the *responsibility* of overseeing consistency of vision. This is different than an individual who serves as a *manager* of other creatives (whom can have the responsibility of art directing their own projects).
The first is usually an "IC" or Individual Contributor (Someone who is NOT a manager) the second is a Managerial Role (who manages ICs).
Confusing I know : )
You also hit it head on the nail with Art being subjective. And indeed it is, but Design fortunately is not. Design is all about influencing Humans to first feel something and then act in the manner you desire them to (often to buy something). The best Art Directors (both types) have a strong understanding of Human Psychology and can predict how different inputs (visual, audio, touch, etc) will evoke different emotions which is used to prime Humans to re/act in certain ways. This is to say, Art Directors are responsible not just for the Design itself but the *Outcome* of the Design as well. Did Human re/act in the expected manner? Did the respond in the desired manner? Did the Design achieve the business objectives it was intended to?
It is this Financial outcome that makes exceptional Art Directors so desired and coveted. One client once described an amazing Art Director as as Nostradamus - The ability to look at a Design and see it's future, success or failure with high accuracy.
Where can this take you? Honestly, where do you want to go? The ability to be able to understand how Humans will emotionally respond to various individual and combinations of stimuli and predict their reactions is a truly universal skill applicable to numerous careers. Every Design related job (Graphic Design, UX Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, etc) but also advantageous to say Project Management, Sales Pitches, Retail Sales and any relationships including Family and Friends.
When you think "Design" (Whish is what most Art Directors direct), think "Money". Understanding Human Psychology along with a solid understanding of Business Goals and Objectives is what will allow you to exceed in this particular field!
First, so glad you are interested in the Art field, and you hit the nail on the head on this being a layered question so please allow me to do my best!
To begin with, lets talk about the title "Art Director". This has a few different equally valid uses that can cause some confusion. The most common use is that of an individual who oversees the general creative direction for project(s) to insure that they remain creatively consistent throughout the process. Often this is a Designer who has the *responsibility* of overseeing consistency of vision. This is different than an individual who serves as a *manager* of other creatives (whom can have the responsibility of art directing their own projects).
The first is usually an "IC" or Individual Contributor (Someone who is NOT a manager) the second is a Managerial Role (who manages ICs).
Confusing I know : )
You also hit it head on the nail with Art being subjective. And indeed it is, but Design fortunately is not. Design is all about influencing Humans to first feel something and then act in the manner you desire them to (often to buy something). The best Art Directors (both types) have a strong understanding of Human Psychology and can predict how different inputs (visual, audio, touch, etc) will evoke different emotions which is used to prime Humans to re/act in certain ways. This is to say, Art Directors are responsible not just for the Design itself but the *Outcome* of the Design as well. Did Human re/act in the expected manner? Did the respond in the desired manner? Did the Design achieve the business objectives it was intended to?
It is this Financial outcome that makes exceptional Art Directors so desired and coveted. One client once described an amazing Art Director as as Nostradamus - The ability to look at a Design and see it's future, success or failure with high accuracy.
Where can this take you? Honestly, where do you want to go? The ability to be able to understand how Humans will emotionally respond to various individual and combinations of stimuli and predict their reactions is a truly universal skill applicable to numerous careers. Every Design related job (Graphic Design, UX Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, etc) but also advantageous to say Project Management, Sales Pitches, Retail Sales and any relationships including Family and Friends.
When you think "Design" (Whish is what most Art Directors direct), think "Money". Understanding Human Psychology along with a solid understanding of Business Goals and Objectives is what will allow you to exceed in this particular field!
Thank you so much, Ares!
Christopher