Art Director

The job of art director exists in a number of creative fields, including graphic design, advertising, marketing, publishing, film and TV, web design and video games. 

It generally involves managing a team of designers working on a creative project, but the degree of responsibility and autonomy can vary.

Becoming an art director involves more than just having the right design portfolio and creative resume. To get the lowdown, first we asked a pair of leading art directors to share their thoughts and experiences on what art directors do and what makes a good art director. Following that you'll find five pro tips for becoming an art director (skip to the tips here).

What is an art director and what do they do?

James Fenton, founder of Blimp Creative, tells us: "To begin to understand what is expected of an art director, it's first worth considering the term as both a role within a team, as well as a creative discipline in itself.

"As an art director you must be a leader; someone who inspires and guides the vision of the design team. However, someone who sees themselves as the design top dog will inevitably be heading for a embarrassing fall. You have to be able to recognise the talent in those around you and learn how best to get the best from you. An art director who sees themselves in a position of hierarchical authority is simply a glorified manager.