Art directors work in various industries, overseeing the design and layout of visual products. They can be salaried employees or freelancers, and may supervise artists and designers. They work in publishing, advertising, corporate, and entertainment industries. Many start in graphic design or visual arts positions.
There are art director jobs available at various skill levels. Art director jobs can be found at magazine, book and newspaper publishers. There are art director jobs in advertising agencies and in creative departments in companies. Art directors help with the development of sets for theatre, television and film. Art directors can be regular salaried employees of their organizations or they can be freelancers.
Whatever industry they work in, art directors are usually responsible for overseeing the design and layout of a visual product. The art director may supervise artists, graphic designers, layout personnel, and others, or may work as a one-man show. He or she is usually trained in an artistic field such as graphic design or as a fine artist.
Magazine and newspaper art directors set the design for their publications. They ensure that the appearance is consistent throughout publication and from issue to issue. They select photographs and determine the page layout. In publishing, art directors plan and design book covers or manage the cover design process.
In the world of advertising, art director roles involve conceptualizing and managing the overall look and feel of advertising campaigns. They may work with print material, television advertisements or online. Art directors in advertising often work closely with copywriters to develop the total ad package. They often report to creative directors.
In companies, art director positions involve designing or overseeing the design of company newsletters, brochures, websites, and other print or online materials. The art director usually works in the creative services department. Art directors in the corporate world often work in a team environment with graphic designers, illustrators, writers, editors, and others.
On stage, television, and on movie sets, art directors often report to production designers. They are responsible for ensuring the design of the stage or set as envisioned by the production designer. Art directors are tasked with managing the many departments that create the visual appearance of a stage or set. These departments include the art department, props, set building, and others. The assistant art director assists the art director in performing these tasks.
Many people who become art directors advance through the ranks. They can start out in graphic design positions or as visual artists. Freelance art directors often work on staff at publications or agencies before taking the plunge to become self-employed. Freelancers can work for multiple publications, agencies or other employers at the same time.
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