Art Director

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Art Director; Art Supervisor; Creative Director (CD Director); Creative Manager; Creative Services Director; Creative Services Manager; Design Director; Graphic Design and Art Production Manager; Group Art Supervisor; Presentation Director

Tasks

• Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
• Present final layouts to clients for approval.
• 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.
• Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
• Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
• Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
• Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
• Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.
• Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
• Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing.
• Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends.

Knowledge

• Design
• Computers and Electronics
• English Language
• Fine Arts
• Communications and Media
• Sales and Marketing
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Near Vision
• Visualization
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Deductive Reasoning
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Written Expression
• Far Vision
• Flexibility of Closure