An art director’s job is basically to formulate design concepts and presentation approaches, and direct teammates who are doing layout design, and copy writing for visual communications media. This might include magazines, books, newspapers, packaging and the Internet. Many are self-employed, though art directors also work at advertising agencies or at publishing houses. Art directors in advertising agencies are responsible for the “look” of an ad. They are part of the creative team responsible for developing the ad concepts.

An art director typically works with a copywriter in developing the ideas for an ad campaign. They then must develop the specifics for layout, design or production, as well as oversee illustrators, artists and photographers who are used for production.

Art directors usually oversee the artistic design of advertisements and print materials, and they can also be in charge of the filming of television commercials. Print ad layouts show where the copy will go, which fonts and colors will be used, and what the picture will look like. They are responsible for the quality of the finished product.

Entry Level Salary:

$25,000 – $30,000

Average Salaries:

The industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation include advertising, public relations agencies or positions with an average mean salary for an art director at around $92,500; publishing at $76,170; specialized design at $99,700; while printing and related services pays about $60,630.

Top Salaries:

Top paying industries for an art director is from about $101,780 for motion picture and video industries to apparel manufacturers at $155,150.

Average Hours (per week):

Deadlines often require art directors to work well into the night and on weekends. They must also travel often to oversee the commercial shoots.
Union:

No.
Certifications:

An art director’s portfolio is enough, though other art professions have certifications. Their portfolio should include their best work. Training can begin in high school, but students can also take courses in art, drafting, mechanical or photography. Post-secondary education may include a two-year college which could offer basic courses in layout and paste-up, a four-year college offering a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, or a special art A number of art schools across the country offer training in graphic design, typography, design, layout, and photography.

Training Period:

Art directors need the education and training of a bachelors or even a master’s degree program.

Some agencies start their art directors in “the bullpen,” doing illustration or making storyboards or comp ads. Art directors, though, should be prepared to create a print ad on their first day. Learning all of the various pre-production, production, and post-production details of a television shoot is done on the job.
Strongest Market(s):

There are large advertising agencies in all the big cities, though most of them are in New York and Chicago, with L.A. and San Francisco a distant third and fourth. Smaller ad agencies, though, are everywhere, and a good place to start.
Job Growth Forecast:

Nine percent growth in this job is projected although the competition for these jobs is expected to be even tougher.

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