Art Director?
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- fredddddd
What does the title "Art Director" really mean? Why is every young designer an "Art Director" now?
- dragonfruit0
just a company strategy to pay you less. you really are just a designer, if that.
- slappy0
Art directors at my work come up with advertising concepts. We have a jnr art director.
They are a different job to design.
jnr designer > designer > senior designer > design director
and
jnr art director > art director > creative director
- Huh? That's completely wrong.
Designer > Sr. Designer > AD > Sr. AD > ACD > CDantagonista - ACDC FTWCanHasQBN
- Jr. Art DIrector is a bullshit position. You're either a creative lead or not.CyBrainX
- Huh? That's completely wrong.
- d_rek0
A lot of the bigger agencies in the Metro-Detroit area all hire 'Art Directors' now and all of the previous design staff follows the jnr art director > art director > creative director path. However, it's a misnomer, as they are just designers, mindlessly managing client requests and feedback from their superiors. I think it's an industry trend. It's also really misleading because people who don't have any experience with true 'art direction' (and I think the a list apart article actually explains it nicely) stand out like sore thumbs.
A title is a title is a title. What you do is what's important. Not what someone calls you.
- identity0
We're all given 24 hours a day. How we fill it is entirely on us.
Titles mean so little. Live, make and create.- +moldero
- You were stoned when you wrote that.antagonista
- You old hippie. Try getting a new job with that attitude ;-)HAYZ1LLLA
- Haha almost died a month ago - been getting better since. Just have a different perspectiveidentity
- how did you almost die?CanHasQBN
- Bacteria infection/blood clots found after a bad line catheter through my chest. Was prepping for stem cell/chemo therapy.identity
- Jeez. Glad you pulled thorugh. Isn't 2013 the best? Disagree about titles to some degree though...CyBrainX
- If you have a lower title, you will get more grunt work.CyBrainX
- Horp0
I noticed this trend in the UK at the beginning of this century. Suddenly all people who had previously been graphic designers were now describing themselves as art directors, quite incorrectly. Traditionally the role of art director was nothing at all to do with the role of designer.
My ex-business partner, who I refer to a lot and always in negative terms, unfortunately (and unfairly too) used to credit himself (probably still does) as 'art director' on record sleeve designs that he had done no more than laid out as finished artwork.
The term was rendered meaningless through acts such as this and now when I hear someone describe themselves as an art director I assume that he/she is more likely to be a finished artwork designer with a jumped up attitude and a chip on their shoulder.
Fortunately I don't get out much any more.
- Perfect. Fortunately, I'm not out much anymore as well... : )ideaist
- ksv1230
Also gives (sudo) more leverage with clients saying you have an art director on your project...Hopefully they know what they are talking about.
- qTime0
Basically its become so competitive these days everyone is looking for an edge and just to compete with the idiots you have to change your title too and have a bloody blog with your fucking opinion on the latest design bollocks that no one cares about
- identity0
I literally went into an interview some time back and after they looked at my portfolio, checked references and had a long conversation with me they asked if I had a twitter, Pinterest accounts a blog - any unique or quirky interests (read: collecting and documenting bottle caps, making minimalist movie posters based on one scene from the movie, home-brewing).
I told them I evaluate and visually/strategically solve problems.
Looks like I should start that bottle cap collection.- One time I was being interviewed by 3 people at the same time, and one guy says to me "Tell us a joke".CanHasQBN
- I think you have to tell the most office-inappropriate joke you know in that caseidentity
- This was back in 2006. It was a large and well-known firm in my city. They collapsed 6 months later...CanHasQBN
- ... I guess they hired too many comedians and not enough designers.CanHasQBN
- You have a problem being asked those questions?MarleyMarl
- no - but when a job depends on what my twitter feed says or wether I like craft-beers, yes...identity
- They want to find out about your personality, and your interests beyond the role. Pretty standard in a creative job.MarleyMarl
- youngdesigner0
Some of us really are Art Directors
- MarleyMarl0
You guys realize that there is a difference between an AD that works in a design agency vs. an AD that works in a ad agency right?
- Yepmaquito
- Doesn't sound like it.MarleyMarl
- depends if either is any good.newuser
- albums0
Wiki:
General role and job description
Various artists may create or develop specific parts of an art piece or scene; but it is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and unify the vision. In particular, the art director is in charge of the overall visual appearance and how it communicates visually, stimulates moods, contrasts features, and psychologically appeals to a target audience. The art director makes decisions about visual elements used, what artistic style to use, and when to use motion.
One of the most difficult problems that art directors face is to translate desired moods, messages, concepts, and underdeveloped ideas into imagery. During the brainstorming process, art directors, coworkers, and clients are engaged in imagining what the finished piece or scene might look like. At times, an art director is ultimately responsible for solidifying the vision of the collective imagination while resolving conflicting agenda and inconsistencies between the various individual inputs.