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Art Directors
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.
Other titles employers use
Art Director · Art Supervisor · Creative Director (CD Director) · Creative Manager · Creative Services Director · Creative Services Manager · Design Director · Graphic Design and Art Production Manager
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, persuading and organizing work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Design
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Fine Arts
- Communications and Media
Useful strengths
- Fluency of Ideas
- Originality
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.6 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.8 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.8 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 68%
- A master's degree 11%
- High school or less 10%
- A certificate or some college 6%
- A two-year degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web platform development software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Video creation and editing software
- Presentation software
- Desktop publishing software
- Document management software
- Operating system software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 28,900
- Job openings each year
- 2,770
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 5.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 28,900 | 2,770 | 5.1% |
| New York | 13,100 | 60 | 5.0% |
| Texas | 10,080 | 1,030 | 18.6% |
| Illinois | 8,670 | 820 | 3.1% |
| Florida | 5,450 | 550 | 15.0% |
| New Jersey | 5,100 | 490 | 4.3% |
| Georgia | 4,220 | 420 | 12.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,730 | 360 | 6.3% |
| Washington | 3,440 | 400 | 17.0% |
| Missouri | 2,780 | 270 | 7.3% |
| Michigan | 2,740 | 260 | 4.2% |
| Minnesota | 2,640 | 250 | 4.3% |
| Arizona | 2,450 | 240 | 12.9% |
| Ohio | 2,380 | 230 | 3.5% |
| Oregon | 2,290 | 240 | 21.8% |
| Colorado | 2,260 | 230 | 16.5% |
| Tennessee | 2,250 | 230 | 23.0% |
| Connecticut | 2,210 | 220 | 11.6% |
| North Carolina | 2,040 | 210 | 14.0% |
| Virginia | 1,800 | 180 | 7.1% |
| Indiana | 1,630 | 160 | 6.5% |
| Wisconsin | 1,380 | 140 | 12.2% |
| Utah | 1,300 | 130 | 20.4% |
| Alabama | 1,190 | 120 | 7.2% |
| Maryland | 1,120 | 110 | 9.8% |
| Massachusetts | 980 | 90 | 6.5% |
| District of Columbia | 940 | 90 | 5.6% |
| South Carolina | 850 | 90 | 14.9% |
| Iowa | 650 | 60 | 8.3% |
| Kansas | 590 | 60 | 5.4% |
| Kentucky | 560 | 50 | 1.8% |
| Puerto Rico | 550 | 60 | 19.6% |
| Maine | 530 | 50 | 3.9% |
| Arkansas | 500 | 50 | 13.6% |
| Nevada | 460 | 50 | 21.1% |
| Louisiana | 410 | 40 | 2.5% |
| New Mexico | 360 | 40 | 24.1% |
| New Hampshire | 320 | 30 | 6.7% |
| Nebraska | 300 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Oklahoma | 290 | 30 | 7.4% |
| Mississippi | 270 | 30 | 8.0% |
| Idaho | 240 | 20 | 14.3% |
| West Virginia | 160 | 20 | 6.7% |
| North Dakota | 150 | 20 | 7.1% |
| Rhode Island | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Vermont | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Delaware | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| South Dakota | 70 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Degrees each year
- 859
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Fashion Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 675
- Admit rate
- 58%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 662
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 587
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $47,000
The New School
- Degrees each year
- 568
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $56,000
California State University-Long Beach
- Degrees each year
- 564
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 563
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Pratt Institute-Main
- Degrees each year
- 466
- Admit rate
- 53%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Compare every college offering visual and performing arts, general