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- rson0
Does it matter?
- clearThoughts0
I think this also has to do with the fact that you have many tech-heads that call themselves designers.
So, by calling somebody Art Director, they are setting it clear that they are just choosing colours and fonts...??- Don't think the developer calling themselves designer is much of a problem these daysPIZZA
- since the web bubble burst.PIZZA
- don't think it's a 'problem' but maybe pushes the graphic designer to call himself Art DirectorclearThoughts
- lukus_W0
Don't you need to manage people and delegate work to be an art director?
- nah, you just need a mac and dark framesgeorgesIII
- i heart george.Hombre_Lobo
- *buying dark frames*akrokdesign
- +1clearThoughts
- Ranger0
I noticed a few years back before the crunch that there were suddenly millions of freelance art directors about. Every online portfolio was for an art director, you never saw anyone happy to call themselves a designer. Fair play if they can jump ship and get work in agencies as art directors. I think many of those art directors will now be quietly becoming art workers again now.
Agencies do push the whole title thing though through their own charge out rates. It's reassuring to see grounded designers happy to forget about titles. Concentrate on your own standards and your quality will set you apart, things will level out again so I wouldn't worry about it. There's plenty of places that don't worry about dicky titles, just seek work in one of them if you prefer to stay out of the willy waving game.
- dconstrukt0
i went to miami ad school.... all i know is art directors are really just shitty designers
just sayin'
- but tell the designers what to do and earn more than them??clearThoughts
- vespa0
Why is everyone on here so angry? Isn't it a fairly natural progression to go from a designer to an art director, if directing interests you?
- Original beef was that 1 years experience classes you as a director which is a progression from designer/senior etcRanger
- I didn't spot where the 1 year thing came from though, says 4 year degree + 5 year experience in adRanger
- still doesn't make you an art
you need some real knowledge and not just vapor projectsgeorgesIII
- zenmasterfoo0
How many tv producers do you know who are right out of school? Tons.
- OP310
I have learned when you work at a small shop job titles mean nothing. I'm called an art director by my bosses yet they do not pay me like one. Other titles they have called me over my 3 years here have been Head of Production, Graphic/Web Designer, and the best of all, Fire Marshall.
- gramme0
I think besides egos, the problem with titles in our industry stems from the dumbing down of "designer." The word doesn't have the same clout it once did. These days, it doesn't seem to carry much more weight than "production artist."
Oddly enough, the interior, product, and fashion design worlds don't seem to have suffered such a hulking glut of spineless, unskilled wallpaperists as those who flooded the graphic design industry in the nineties. As a result, the term "designer" actually means something in those other fields.
- JSK0
People with out talent call them selves AD / CD etc.
So. No one cares.
- ukit0
I think gramme is right, by running away from the title it makes it seem like something you don't want to aspire to.
Although, interesting that once you get to people who are actually well-known for what they do, they don't seem to have any problem with it.
Ever heard Rand, Milton Glaser, or other well known people in our field referred to as art directors? They seemed happy with graphic designer.
- Ranger0
The title's have just been so watered down over the years along with the designer title by both individuals and companies using the gravitas of the title as a shortcut to charging more. The title now means dirt if it is acceptable to call yourself this out of college.
Everywhere is different but the general levels of promotion used to be junior designer > designer > senior designer > art director > creative director. Lately it seems it splits after junior designer into designer/freelance art director.
- vespa0
"Designer" is a perfectly respected job title. So is "Art Director".
They are different job titles because they are different jobs. Designers design only. Art Directors may design, but their main role is to be able to direct others in the art dept effectively.
- Mr_Right0
I have to say it has taken me many years to learn the difference between an Art Director and Graphic Designer. I confess I really did not know the difference when I was right out of school. The confusion is because Graphic Designers are occasionally called upon to do some art direction, and Art Directors are frequently doing their own graphic design. The lines between these two disiplines is very blurry. If you do good work, bad work does not get done.
- gramme0
I don't know many graphic designers who only design and never art direct. Speaking from experience, most of my time at former studios was spent designing, but I did art direct the occasional photo shoot.
This dual role applies especially to "graphic designers" working in fashion. Moamoa comes to mind. I think of him as a designer and art director at the same time.
- pango0
my friend had a title "design officer"
whatever that means...
- cannonball19780
It's so employers can bill your hours higher.
You're all still juniors though. Don't let it get to your head.
- gramme0
I call myself owner & design director. This is in part because I can, and because it's accurate – despite the fact that I rarely direct anyone else, occasional freelancers notwithstanding. I figured when I get to the point of making a hire, I don't want to have to change my title. Also, I've been doing this for seven years. That's not a tremendously long time, but I think most people consider that long enough to work up to senior level.
I avoided "creative director" because I hate adjectives being turned into nouns. I don't want anything to do with producing "creative." I produce design.
- I've been doing it longer than you. I call myself designer. Of course, I don't own, so it's your perrogativecannonball1978
- in short, what I am really trying to say is that I am better than you at everything.cannonball1978
- :|cannonball1978