Art Directors are the ones who engaged in artwork and lay out design. They also formulate design concepts and presentation approaches. They are the ones behind job functions in films, television, publishing, video games, internet, and advertisements. Art Directors often have artistic and graphic design responsibilities and also managerial and coordination duties. Every supporting staff member in a project is chosen by the art director. They are the one who make decisions and the final result of the product heavily depends upon them.
Education and Training Requirements
The most important elements to become an Art Director are experience and skills. The skills matter more than any certificate or degree. However, an art director should possess a bachelor’s degree in art, design, and advertising and you can also consider fields such as Sales Marketing, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, and also Communications and Media. If you also have done any course in graphic design and multimedia, that will look good on your resume for an art director position.
Duties and Responsibilities
Art Director provides overall artistic leadership, direction, and vision. He is the one fully responsible for the output of the product. He reviews illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications. The Art Director prepares specific materials, presentations, sketches and designs, information, prints, sounds, video, graphics animation, budgets, and does the final selection for visual presentation. His presence is also important during photo shoots and printing sessions to make sure that the product needed is obtained.
An Art Director also recruits, trains, directs and instructs staff members who prepare art layouts for printing and who develop design concepts into art layouts. The Art Director approves and reviews copy materials and art materials developed by staff members. The Art Directors works with creative directors to develop or create design solutions. He also works with art, copywriting, and production department heads to discuss concepts, presentations, and client requirements and also coordinate creative activities. The Art Director is also the one presents the final layouts to clients for final approval.
Qualifications, Job Skills, and Specifications
In order to stay longer in this field an Art Director must have uniqueness or originality, outstanding visual judgment and opinions, and excellent writing and verbal communication skill. Art Director should be able to talk to others to convey instruction or information effectively. He or she should possess multiple skills and a deep understanding of many art forms. The Art Director must have capabilities that include leadership, creativity, and excellent judgement or decision making, and of course time management skills.
An Art Director must know how manage his time and the time of the staff in order to get the project done in a timely manner and without going over budget. The Art Director also needs knowledge and principles of providing personal and customer services somehow, for part of his job is to make sure that the final layout meets the quality standards and the client needs, to ensure that the client is satisfied with the service.
Art Director Progress and Salary
With a great talent and outstanding abilities, an Art Director may have tons of companies who will be able to employ him/her and give the desired salary and may have numerous and several of benefits ahead of him/her. But some Art Directors choose to be freelancers where they can choose projects and have their own time.*
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/
