What Does A Creative Director Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Collaborate with Others to Explore Visual Effects

The Creative Director typically works under the Visual Effects Producer, Post-Production Supervisor, and Production Designer. The Creative Director collaborates with these individuals to understand the visual effects required for each scene. On small projects with limited visual effects, the Production Designer may act as the Creative Director.

The Creative Director may create a list of visual effects required for the project. They then begin exploring how to incorporate those effects in a way that fits the tone and budget of the film or TV show. The Creative Director may also rely on artwork from the Concept Artist to get a better sense of the style of the project.

Delegate Tasks to Other Visual Effects Artists

After determining the needs for the project, the Creative Director typically delegates tasks to various visual effects artists, including Painters, Animators, Riggers, Digital Artists, Rotoscope Artists, and Compositors.

A large project may employ a separate Visual Effects Supervisor to directly supervise the daily work of the visual effects team. In this case, the Creative Director oversees the creative direction of the work completed by the other artists while the Supervisor monitors their progress to stay within the set budget and deadline.

Set the Overall Creative Vision for a Project

Depending on the project, the Creative Director may be required to develop the overall creative vision for the project. This is more common in the video game industry, where the Creative Director has more control over the final look of the project.

When working in the film and TV industries, a Creative Director may be required to carry out the vision set by the Director, Producer, and Cinematographer. They need to ensure that any visual effects, including matte painting or computer-generated images, match the initial vision for the project.

Develop Original Advertising Strategies and Promotions

Creative Directors employed in the advertising industry are typically in charge of advertising strategies and promotions. They may create taglines and phrases to help market a product or write original content for an advertising campaign.

The Creative Director may also develop the theme for an advertising campaign while other advertising staff writes original copy. In an advertising setting, the Creative Director is responsible for ensuring that the creative output of the project matches the needs of the client.

Perform Market Research to Understand Consumers

Creative Directors often need a good sense of what people want from a product. When working on video games, movies, TV shows, or advertisements, the Creative Director may perform market research to learn more about the interests of consumers.

Creative Directors may obtain data from focus groups and online resources. They use the input obtained from consumers to determine what types of visual elements or creative decisions they like and dislike.

Step 1: Take Art and Photography Classes in High School

Aspiring Creative Directors should take art and photography classes in high school to develop their artistic skills.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Animation or Graphic Design

Most Creative Directors have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Common majors include Graphic Design, Animation, and Film Production. You may also look for classes or programs that teach the skills needed for special effects.

Step 3: Look for Internships or Entry-Level Work

Either during college or after you graduate, look for internship opportunities or entry-level work in your industry. For example, if you want to be a VFX Creative Director, you may need to start as an Animator or Painter.

Step 4: Build a Portfolio

As you gain new work and complete projects, build a portfolio to showcase your skills and creativity. Use your portfolio to continually seek more work and higher positions, slowly working your way up to Creative Director.