Art Director vs. Creative Director
As you search through resources for freelance art director jobs, you will notice jobs posted for art directors and creative directors. What's the difference, you ask? There is none.
At the upper levels of the field, both positions require creative conceptualization. Each must assess a client's plans and goals in a diplomatic way. Because new campaigns will need to be pitched effectively, exceptional presentation skills are required for both positions. Therefore, the only real difference between the two jobs is the actual job title itself.
New Business? Advertise Professionally for Less
If you are a fledgling business with a limited budget, you'd likely benefit more from hiring individual artists rather than hiring a large ad firm. But there is also a happy medium.
Hiring an experienced freelance art directors fresh from the workplace could mean discounts to you. That's because someone who just left a large firm to freelance likely has many many contacts. This could benefit you by helping cover your advertising bases quickly and less expensively!
Placing an Ad for an Advertising Art Director
It is important to make your description precise in your advertisement for an art director position. Let candidates know you expect them to supervise creative design and develop final visual images that communicate a client's marketing objectives to consumers.
A typical art director position requires a bachelor's degree with five to seven years of experience in the field. Art directors must also juggle many assignments at once. It may seem obvious, but pointing this out in a job description can help weed out candidates who cannot multi-task well!
The Job of an Art Director
In the world of advertising, the art director is the person responsible for the graphic design and creative positioning of an advertisement or campaign. This person is in charge of the ad agency¡¯s production department. Not only does the art director need to be savvy about technical aspects of putting together a campaign, he or she also has to stay on top of the latest trends in advertising to make sure the agency maintains an edge over the competition.
A good art director must have excellent managerial skills, as he or she often works with large teams of artists, photographers, writers and Web designers on any given project.
Art Direction in Film
Advertising is not the only field in need of art directors; the film business also needs talented art directors.
In the business of cinema, an art director is responsible for the design, look and feel of a film's set. This includes the number and type of props, furniture, windows, floors, ceiling dressings and all other set materials.
The art director is a member of the film's art department, which is responsible for set construction, interior design and prop placement.
Art Director? Join the Club
Founded in New York in 1920, the Art Directors Club (ADC) is the premiere organization for integrated media and the first international creative collective of its kind. ADC is a not-for-profit membership organization that inspires creative excellence and connects creative visual communications professionals around the world.
One of the ADC¡¯s missions is to encourage students and young professionals entering the field. In addition, the ADC strives to provide a forum for creative leaders in advertising, design and interactive media to explore and anticipate the direction of their rapidly changing industries.