What Do Art Directors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Art Directors formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising. Direct workers engaged in art work or layout design. They also formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.

Other tasks include:

• Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
• Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
• Present final layouts to clients for approval.
• Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.
• Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
• Conceptualize and help design interfaces for multimedia games, products, and devices.

We asked Art Directors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 35% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Art Directors review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members. They work with creative directors to develop design solutions.

A typical day for an Art Director will also include:

• Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
• Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
• Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.
• Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
• Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.

We asked some Art Directors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	72% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	84% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	37% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	27% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	59% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Art Directors also present final layouts to clients for approval. They may also mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Art Directors Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends. They might also Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.

In addition, they Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.

To some Art Directors, it is also their responsibility to Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Art Director, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/arts-and-design/art-directors.htm

http://www.adcglobal.org/

http://www.adg.org/