Artists generally fall into one of four categories. Art directors formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications. Craft artists create or reproduce handmade objects for sale or exhibition. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, create original artwork, using a variety of media and techniques. Multi-media artists and animators create special effects, animation, or other visual images on film, on video, or with computers or other electronic media
Related job titles are: Graphic Designer, Graphic Artist, Designer, Creative Director, Artist, Design Director, Composing Room Supervisor, Creative Manager, Desktop Publisher, or Graphic Designer/Production.
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The Art Institutes system of schools offers a range of master's, bachelor's, and associate's degree programs, as well as diploma and certificate programs specializing in the creative and applied arts. We also offer a variety of online, evening, and weekend learning options, so there's an education solution to fit your schedule.
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- About 60 percent of artists and related workers are self-employed.
- Keen competition is expected for both salaried jobs and freelance work; the number of qualified workers exceeds the number of available openings because the arts attract many talented people with creative ability.
- Artists usually develop their skills through a bachelor's degree program or other postsecondary training in art or design.
- Salary and pay for self-employed artists vary widely; some well-established artists earn more than salaried artists, while others find it difficult to rely solely on income make from selling art.
How much does an Art Director make in salary? || Art Director pay -Top of Page-
The median annual wage for art directors was $80,630 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,840, and the top 10 percent earned more than $163,430. In May 2010, the wages of art directors in the industries employing the most art directors were as follows:
Motion picture and video industries $108,860
Specialized design services 85,130
Advertising, public relations, and related services 82,770
Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers 67,630
What is an Art Director? || What does an Art Director do? || Job descriptions -Top of Page-
Art directors typically oversee the work of other designers and artists who produce images for television, film, live performances, advertisements, or video games. They determine the overall style or tone desired for each project and articulate their vision to artists who submit images, such as illustrations, graphics, photographs, charts and graphs, or stage and movie sets.
Art directors work with art and design staffs in advertising agencies, public relations firms, and book, magazine, or newspaper publishers to create designs and layouts. They also work with producers and directors of theater, television, or movie productions to oversee set designs. Their work requires them to understand the design elements of projects, inspire other creative workers, and keep projects on budget and on time. Sometimes, they are responsible for developing the budgets and timelines.
Art directors work in a variety of industries, and the type of work they do varies somewhat with the industry. However, almost all art directors set the overall artistic style and visual image to be created for each project, and oversee a staff of designers, artists, photographers, writers, or editors who are responsible for creating the individual works that collectively make up a completed product.
In publishing, art directors typically oversee the page layout of newspapers and magazines. They also choose the cover art for books and periodicals. Often, this work includes Web publications.
In advertising and public relations, art directors ensure that their clients’ desired message and image is conveyed to consumers. Art directors are responsible for the overall visual aspects of an advertising or media campaign and may coordinate the work of other artistic or design staff, such as graphic designers.
In movie production, art directors collaborate with directors to determine what sets will be needed for the film and what style or look the sets should have. They hire and supervise a staff of assistant art directors or set designers to complete designs.
Work environment for Art Director -Top of Page-
Art directors held about 73,900 jobs in May 2010. About 12 percent of art directors work for advertising and public relations firms. Others work for newspaper and magazine publishers, specialized design services firms, and the motion picture and video industries. The following table shows the industries that employed the most art directors in 2010:
Advertising, public relations, and related services 12%
Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers 6 Specialized design services 3
Motion picture and video industries 3
About 59 percent of art directors are self-employed.
How to become an Art Director || Art Director classes and degree programs -Top of Page-
Art directors need at least a bachelor’s degree in an art or design subject and previous work experience. Depending on the industry, they may have worked as graphic designers, illustrators, copyeditors, or photographers, or in another art or design occupation, before becoming art directors.
Many art directors start out as graphic, industrial, or set designers or in another art occupation, such as fine artists or photographers. They gain the appropriate education for that occupation, usually earning a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. For more information, see the profiles for graphic designers, craft and fine artists, or photographers.
To supplement their work experience in those occupations and show their ability to take on a more creative or a more managerial role, some complete a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Art directors often work for 3 to 5 years in another occupation before being selected for positions as art directors. Depending upon the industry, they may work as graphic designers, illustrators, copyeditors, photographers, or in another art or design occupation, before becoming art directors.
For many artists, including art directors, developing a portfolio—a collection of an artist’s work that demonstrates his or her styles and abilities—is essential. Managers, clients, and others look at an artist’s portfolio when they are deciding whether to hire the person or contract for his or her work.
Where are the Art Director jobs? -Top of Page-
The most new jobs are expected in the advertising, public relations, and related services and specialized design services industries. Advertising, public relations, and related services is expected to add 2,600 art director jobs from 2010 to 2020. Specialized design services is projected to add 700 art director jobs over the same period.
Art Director job opportunities and outlook -Top of Page-
Employment of art directors is expected to increase 9 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Art directors will continue to be needed to oversee the work of graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, and others engaged in artwork or layout design.
Employment of art directors is expected to experience little to no change in the publishing industry from 2010 to 2020. Although job opportunities may decline as traditional print publications lose ground to other media forms, new opportunities are expected to arise as the number of electronic magazines and Internet-based publications grows. Rather than focusing on the print layout of photographs and text, art directors for newspapers and magazines will design Web pages that incorporate a variety of photographs, illustrations, graphic designs, and text images.