Art Directors

What does a professional in this career do?

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.

In this job you will...

• 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.
• Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.
• Conceptualize and help design interfaces for multimedia games, products, and devices.
• Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.
• Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.