Art director positions are available at various skill levels. Jobs as an art director can be found at magazines, books, and newspapers. Art director positions are available at advertising agencies and in corporate creative departments. Art directors assist in the creation of stage, television, and film sets. Art directors can work for their companies as regular salaried employees or as freelancers.
Art directors are in charge of overseeing the design and layout of a visual product, regardless of the industry they work in. The art director may work as a one-person show or supervise artists, graphic designers, layout personnel, and others. He or she is typically educated in the arts, such as graphic design or fine art.
Magazine and newspaper art directors are in charge of the design of their publications. They make sure that the look of the magazine is consistent from issue to issue. They choose photographs and layout the pages. Art directors plan and design book covers or oversee the cover design process at book publishers.
Art director jobs in advertising entail conceptualizing and managing the overall look of advertising campaigns. They could work with printed materials, television commercials, or the internet. Advertising art directors frequently collaborate with copywriters to create the complete ad package. Creative directors are frequently their bosses.
Art director jobs in corporations entail creating or overseeing the creation of company newsletters, brochures, websites, and other printed or online materials. In most cases, the art director works in the creative services department. In the corporate world, art directors frequently collaborate with graphic designers, illustrators, writers, editors, and others.
Art directors usually report to production designers on stage, television, and film sets. They are in charge of ensuring that the stage or set is designed according to the production designer’s vision. Art directors are in charge of many of the departments that contribute to the visual appearance of a stage or set. The art department, props, set construction, and other departments are among them. The assistant art director assists the art director with these responsibilities.
Many people who work as art directors progress through the ranks. They may begin their careers as graphic designers or as visual artists. Before becoming self-employed, many freelance art directors work as staff members at publications or agencies. At the same time, freelancers can work for multiple publications, agencies, or other employers.