Art Directors

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Also known as:
Art Director, Magazine Designer

See all Business, Management and Administration Careers.

SNAPSHOT

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.

Leadership	HIGH
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	MED
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict	LOW

Competition for this position	HIGH
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

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.

Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends.

Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.

Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.

Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.

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

Present final layouts to clients for approval.

Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.

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.

MAIN 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.
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.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

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.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Sales and Marketing	Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Communications and Media	Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Computers and Electronics	Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Design	Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Customer and Personal Service	Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Fine Arts	Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

TOP SKILLS

Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening	Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making	Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Time Management	Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving	Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Coordination	Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.