Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : How do you become an Art Director?
Crimson
10-03-2005, 04:09 PM
I've always been a Designer. I figured an art director was once a Graphic designer that moved up into the role. Some are naturals and have the leadership quality and some are just jerks. Pretty much like it is with any manager. I see art director as creative but needs to take on managerial duties. That's the only reason why I can think of them making more money on the AIGA scales. So If I consider myself a seasoned experienced designer, can I apply for Art Director postions? Will I be instantly shot down because I don't belong to the ADC or have experience managing people. I'm a father of 4 and a graphic designer. I feel qualified to lead people and make more money for my family. So what is my narrow view missing?
Crimson
10-03-2005, 07:21 PM
No Comments - I'm really struggling with this. I have an interview for it soon and don't know how transparent I'll be. I need the GDF advice to help me talk intelligently
PersonasBinar
10-03-2005, 08:15 PM
I'm awaiting an answer from the director of my creative dept.
Art director takes control and responsibility for the project. designer takes direction from art director. So... I asked for a bit more as to when would a designer know it's time.
TheBluePanda
10-03-2005, 08:19 PM
I've only been a designer for a few years, so I can't fully tell you what "makes" an AD. The way I see it, they are the glue that holds everything together and manages all the projects. They often take care of logistics, and act as a general leader for the creative department.
In my opinion, if you have been a designer for a hefty number of years, are experienced in the industry, have good design skills, and are effective at managing people and orchestrating workflow, you should make a good AD.
Just my 2 cents.
colonel5
10-03-2005, 08:24 PM
From what I've seen and experienced companies seem to be all over the board on things like this. Some want the official schooling and managerial experience and others just want someone who really knows what they're doing and they feel could communicate that to a team of people. An old co-worker of mine started as a lackey for the Video Production department at his old job and within 3 years he was "creative director" and had 2 people under him.
good luck
PersonasBinar
10-03-2005, 08:31 PM
I'm almost of the same as you Crimson, the Director of Creative mentioned he might want me to be one of his next ADs. Design and production for years and years. I'm pretty interested in what the answer might be, if there really is one. I 'd say talk about how you are familiar with the whole proces not just the GD portion, juggling tons of things, good with folks. What the Panda said. How old are your munchkins? I have a couple myself and I should be lookig for more coin of the realm before they get into high school.
Best of luck to you. Go slay them.
Andrew
steve-o
10-03-2005, 08:36 PM
This article may help you:
http://thecreativeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137
Mynock
10-03-2005, 08:40 PM
I think you have to be the previous AD in a sack race.
PersonasBinar
10-03-2005, 08:41 PM
^^^^^
Cool!
Neballer
10-04-2005, 03:39 AM
Three expriences with Art Directors:
1. Was creatively incharge of the whole studio.
2. Fancy name for a seasoned designer - more than one AD here.
3. Title given to an old washed up designer who hasn't kept up with design trends or software. Can't teach an old dog new tricks - so give him a fancy title and just make him manage the other designers.
PrintDriver
10-04-2005, 11:17 AM
I never work directly with AD's (or Creative Directors for that matter). Usually just the designers on a portion of a particular project. The AD's I know of are more like the Producer of a TV show. They know the overall picture, the general 'look', the print, staging, or architectural terminology and processes to get their 'look', the willingness to ask about process if unsure of method, the ability to communicate the 'look' to others (usually involving sketches on napkins, cardboard or the back of a scenery flat), the ability to get what they WANT from people-on a budget, and the ability to do this for 3 or 4 shows concurrently or consecutively. Some step right into it, for others it takes years.
Review the requirements for the position they are interviewing you for and ask yourself realistically if you can handle them all, what your weaknesses are and your strengths. Don't go in blind and get tripped up.
Crimson
10-04-2005, 08:02 PM
Three expriences with Art Directors:
1. Was creatively incharge of the whole studio.
2. Fancy name for a seasoned designer - more than one AD here.
3. Title given to an old washed up designer who hasn't kept up with design trends or software. Can't teach an old dog new tricks - so give him a fancy title and just make him manage the other designers.
That's exactly why i want to be come the AD. I'll try to reverse the third one into becoming a puppy and bring out the best in my people.
PD - my weakness is in the writing sense. If I get it I will take some writting classes to improve my written communication skills. But that's why I'm a designer - To communicate with pictures like the cavemen used to do. You've seen enough of my post to know that my typing sucks! I think I have good enough people skills to make a team happy and gel together. Hopefully the person before me was a total a$$ and just having a new guy will be helpful.
Wish me luck. I need this job so I can reunite with my wife when she moves to FL for teaching.
Only Seen Here
10-04-2005, 08:21 PM
A.D.'s have the nicest staplers.
Silence04
10-04-2005, 09:59 PM
I am an Art Director, and let me tell you this...
Art Directing isn't something you can just jump into, you need to earn your way thru a company. Unless you've had years of experience Art Directing (or as a manager somewhere), you won't be able to just go land an AD position. A company would be better off promoting one of their designers that have worked there for a long time... why? Because their designer would know more about how things are run in the company than any designer off the street.
It takes more than just years of experience as a designer, it also takes knowledge on how to create an effective workflow, or at least already know how the workflow is in the studio.
You may get paid more as an AD but believe me, it's not all its cracked up to be. Long days, "your" ass on the line for everything, non-stop interruptions, less and less design work...
It’s all about delegating tasks to your designers and managing the job schedule. Sure you get to design all of the "really important" jobs, but time can be limiting when you have a whole department on your hands...
My advice to you is find a good company with the chance for advancement and work your ass off as a designer. Once you get promoted to AD, stick with it for no less than a year or so. Because any time less than that on a resume will look like you've cracked as an AD, it takes more than a year to really show that you took over an art department... then you can consider getting hired somewhere else as an AD.
oh and btw, i do have a kick-ass Stapler!
I have great respect for Art Directors.
My AD is a designer, but not all designers are potential AD's. The real difference is management. With everything else I have to do Owning a Commercial Printing Company and a Graphic Design Company, the last thing I want to do is throw all my time to one design campaign. Yes, it may be the project that pays all the salaries for the year, but I have to have someone who is willing to be in charge of all aspects of that design project.
My AD and I don’t always agree on direction. After all, I’m a long time designer. But, he is there to replace me in the campaign and he gets the salary that goes with it so I take a back seat to his direction....he also gets the stress of me breathing down his neck to keep budgets in line.....that’s my stress relief. :)
For all of you who want to be AD’s work under a few at some different agencies. Study what they do and ask questions about what they do, but never question what they are doing. If you can stomach the stress, by all means strive to become one. If you can take it.....become an Owner... :eek:
Crimson
10-06-2005, 01:27 PM
Thanks Silence 04 and StepPrinting- Those are some real answers that I wanted to hear. I understood the things you said and thought about it but it helps to see it in writing from someone elses point of view. Espeically actual people in the position. I can certainly understand that the stress, interruptions and responsibilty is what makes the pay higher. Maybe They don't have any designers they want to promote because the position is posted publicly. I think it's at least worth the effort if I could get an opportunity. In the same sense, I wouldn't take it lightly and know I'd have to really throw myself into the position. It would be hard and stressful but it also could be challenging and rewarding. Thanks for some real advice.
Know where I could get a good stapler?
PersonasBinar
10-06-2005, 01:37 PM
Crimson: When is your interview? Best of Luck ... go get 'em
Robofunc
10-10-2005, 07:56 PM
"I am an Art Director, and let me tell you this...
Art Directing isn't something you can just jump into, you need to earn your way thru a company..."
Amen to that. I started working as a designer for an ad agency right out of college. They fired the senior AD after I'd been there only 6 months. They picked me to fill his shoes (he'd been there 13 years!). Needless to say, I was overwhelmed. How I managed to not get myself fired long enough to actually learn the job I'll never know.
defjoe
10-10-2005, 08:16 PM
you build up. Eventually you get anough experience that some one wants you to take the leap. Once you get the AD title.. then it's fairly easy to transfer it over from job to job. there are some companies that have the JUNIOR AD title... but that is a bunch is shit. It's making youl ook big but paying you crap.
Only Seen Here
10-10-2005, 08:22 PM
Know where I could get a good stapler?
In the 80's, Swingline put out some really nice all american-grade steel 747's. They've got that sh*tty trailer trash look to them that will be "so retro-chic" in about 15 more years...sort of like this forum's interface.
Anyway, I would ebay it.
There is no art director where I work, myself (the designer), the General Manager, and the Vice-President of Sales pretty much share the role, with some input from the President.
Mineral_009
10-17-2005, 07:18 AM
Good article, i think that will help many people.
This article may help you:
http://thecreativeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137
Crimson
10-19-2005, 03:45 PM
No luck on the interview. They want someone with experience. I'm not a good liar so I couldn't fake it to get a better chance. However, I still don't know how to aspire to one. The general consensus seems to be all about the managment side of it. So do i take managing classes or read books on it. Some say it's nothing to jump into but what better teacher is experience. How do you get experience if you never get a chance to try. A catch 22
PersonasBinar
10-19-2005, 03:47 PM
Damn sorry to hear man. Yea the old standard of employment. It almost sounds your job is suppose to magically grow into being an AD without even knowing it. I wouln't mind that happening either.
steve-o
10-19-2005, 04:17 PM
Crimson, sorry to hear about this. Does your current place of employment have an art director?
Probably the best way to become an art director is to become one at your current place of employment. If there is already one, make sure you express interest in the position if he or she happens to leave. If there isn't one, you may want to make the case for having one and offer yourself as the candidate.
Crimson
10-19-2005, 07:07 PM
People that work here stay here. I'll be waiting for another 15-20 years. Should I join ADC and try to network my way into it. I have a family so it only makes sense that this is the next level in graphic design apart from doing all freelance. I don't have that kind of faith in myself. I am a dad so why can't I be a manager? hehe
Rocketpig
10-19-2005, 10:35 PM
I am a dad so why can't I be a manager? hehe
Because you can't spank a print shop after it has misbehaved?
:)
Vikia
10-20-2005, 12:25 AM
Just as a musical director with a baton interprets and directs the "music" for each member of a symphony, the AD interprets the needs of a client and directs the "vision" of a project for each stage of production, from concept to delivery.
An AD has to have people skills to put a team together that can work cohesively. An AD has to have the ability to direct creative whilst stepping back enough to encourage a free-flow of creative ideas from your team. An AD that can only micro-manage may as well do the work themselves. They don't need a team of creatives...they need non-thinking, production-laborers.
AD's are responsible for marketing the team's ideas and selling them to the client.
They need the ability to communicate verbally equally as well as they can communicate visually.
They need to have a sixth sense for production based in reality so they can accurately schedule each phase of production including manufacturing once the project moves to the printer etc.
Good luck on FUTURE interviews Crimson. I wish you well.
Vikia
10-20-2005, 12:36 AM
No luck on the interview. They want someone with experience. I'm not a good liar so I couldn't fake it to get a better chance. However, I still don't know how to aspire to one. The general consensus seems to be all about the managment side of it. So do i take managing classes or read books on it. Some say it's nothing to jump into but what better teacher is experience. How do you get experience if you never get a chance to try. A catch 22
One way to break into this "upper echelon" of experience is to ask for it. Let your employer know that you want to grow into this or a similar position. Ask if there is a mentor program or if they would consider mentoring you. Take the initiative to take business and management courses to augment your design skills which will make you a more rounded and qualified candidate. If an employer sees genuine initiative in an employee that is up front about his aspirations to grow, it would be in their interest to cultivate that employee for the future of the company.
Crimson
10-20-2005, 01:46 PM
Thanks Vikia. I appreciate the advice. Are you an AD or just own your own business? It sounds like you have lots of experience and very concerned about the GD field.
Crimson
10-20-2005, 01:50 PM
Nevermind. I looked at your website and discovered what I already knew. You're almost a design legend. Unfortunately for artist, you only get famous after you die.
Graphic Design = Martyrdom
Vikia
10-20-2005, 11:18 PM
OMG! no legend here LOL!
Just been able to get up more times than being knocked down - still kickin' it.
But I have managed 2 different catalog departments over a 10 year period. When you get to that level of creative management, you quickly realize that creative is directed and delegated. I was very active in presenting ideas, but if I wanted my staff to do well, I needed to encourage their creative participation. Managing copy editors, creative staff, photography staff, assets, production/shooting schedules, dealing with print vendors and purchasing paper by the ton left little time to actually sit down and be creative on my own. I found myself really missing actually doing graphics for the sake of creative. Managing people is an art unto itself. I strongly suggest professional leadership training like Zenger-Miller's "Frontline Leadership" before lording over your domain like an ass.
I love doing what I am doing now - I am near retirement, but am now working for a small print shop and freelancing on my own for several corporate clients and a direct mail firm. It is the perfect balance for me. I get to be as creative as I want, the print shop gives me a great discount and I don't have to have a large format printer in my living room (LOL)
The best of all worlds.
and I don't have to have a large format printer in my living room
But... Doesn't that get lonely? ;)
btree
10-30-2005, 06:18 PM
Nothing makes you differ from others , only your mission and your opinions , creativity is one of you opinions , you decide to be creative or not , being Art Director is a way for creativity , but that is not the limit.
Moderators note: btree, please stop spamming your website all over the forum. It's not allowed. Thank you.