Art Directors job and career information

Career:
Art Director

Job Description: Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising. Direct workers engaged in art work or layout design.

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What Art Directors do:

Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.

Present final layouts to clients for approval.

Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.

Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.

Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.

Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing.

Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.

Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.

Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.

Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.

Conceptualize and help design interfaces for multimedia games, products, and devices.

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What work activities does an Art Director do?

Importance		Activities
		Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

		Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		Provide Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
		Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.