Employers
Approximately 50,120 art directors are employed in the United States. A variety of organizations in virtually all industries employ art directors. They might work at advertising agencies, publishing houses, museums, packaging firms, photography studios, marketing and public relations firms, desktop publishing outfits, digital prepress houses, digital media companies, or printing companies. Art directors who oversee and produce on-screen products often work for film production houses, Web designers, multimedia developers, computer games developers, or television stations.
While companies of all sizes employ art directors, smaller organizations often combine the positions of graphic designer, illustrator, and art director. And although opportunities for art direction can be found all across the nation and abroad, many larger firms in such cities as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles usually have more openings, as well as higher pay scales, than smaller companies. Approximately 58 percent of art directors are self-employed.
Starting Out
Since an art director's job requires a great deal of experience, it is usually not considered an entry-level position. Typically, a person on a career track toward art director is hired as an assistant to an established director. Recent graduates wishing to enter advertising should have a portfolio of their work containing seven to 10 sample ads to demonstrate their understanding of both the business and the media in which they want to work.
Serving as an intern is a good way to get experience and develop skills. Graduates should also consider taking an entry-level job in a publisher's art department to gain initial experience. Either way, aspiring art directors must be willing to acquire their credentials by working on various projects. This may mean working in a variety of areas, such as advertising, marketing, editing, and design.
College publications offer students a chance to gain experience and develop portfolios. In addition, many students are able to do freelance work while still in school, allowing them to make important industry contacts and gain on-the-job experience at the same time.
- Actors
- Advertising Account Executives
- Advertising Managers
- Advertising Workers
- Animators
- Art Teachers
- Artist and Repertoire Workers
- Artists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Augmented Reality Developers
- Bloggers
- Book Conservators
- Book Editors
- Brand Ambassadors
- Broadcast Engineers
- Business Managers
- Camera Operators
- Cartoonists
- Chief Information Officers
- Choreographers
- Cinematographers and Directors of Photography
- Circus Performers
- Clowns
- Columnists
- Comedians
- Comic Book Artists
- Comic Book Publishers
- Comic Book Writers
- Composers and Arrangers
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Content Management Specialists
- Copy Editors
- Copywriters
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Costume Designers
- Dancers
- Demographers
- Desktop Publishing Specialists
- Diet and Fitness Writers
- Digital Advertising Workers
- Digital Agents
- Digital Designers
- Digital Marketing Workers
- Disc Jockeys
- Editorial Assistants
- Editorial Research Assistants
- Editors
- Exhibit Designers
- Fashion Designers
- Fashion Illustrators
- Fashion Photographers
- Fashion Stylists
- Fashion Writers and Editors
- Film and Television Directors
- Film and Television Editors
- Film and Television Extras
- Film and Television Producers
- Film and Video Librarians
- Food Photographers
- Food Writers and Editors
- Foreign Correspondents
- Fund-Raisers
- Furniture Designers
- Gallery Owners and Directors
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Green Marketers
- Greeting Card Designers and Writers
- Growth Hackers
- Hedge Fund Investor Relations Specialists
- Illustrators
- Indexers
- Intellectual Property Lawyers
- Interior Designers and Decorators
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Content Curators
- Internet Developers
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Interpreters
- JavaScript Developers
- Jewelers and Jewelry Repairers
- Journalism Teachers
- Lexicographers
- Lighting Technicians
- Literary Agents
- Live Streamers
- Magazine Editors
- Magicians
- Makeup Artists
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Consultants
- Marketing Managers
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Media Relations Specialists
- Medical Illustrators and Photographers
- Mobile Software Developers
- Motion Graphics Artists
- Motivational Speakers
- Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Multimedia Sound Workers
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Conductors and Directors
- Music Journalists
- Music Producers
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Music Video Directors and Producers
- Music Video Editors
- Musicians
- News Anchors
- Newspaper Editors
- Non-Fungible Token Artists
- Online Gambling Specialists
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Online Reputation Managers
- Personal Privacy Advisors
- Photo Editors
- Photographers
- Photographic Equipment Technicians
- Photographic Laboratory Workers
- Photography Instructors
- Photojournalists
- Podcasters
- Political Columnists and Writers
- Political Consultants
- Political Reporters
- Pop/Rock Musicians
- Prepress Workers
- Press Secretaries
- Production Assistants
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Publicists
- Publicity Photographers
- Radio and Television Announcers
- Radio and Television Program Directors
- Radio Producers
- Real Estate Writers
- Real-Time Captioners
- Reporters
- Science and Medical Writers
- Screenwriters
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Show Runners
- Singers
- Social Media Influencers
- Social Media Workers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Songwriters
- Special and Visual Effects Technicians
- Sports Broadcasters and Announcers
- Sports Photographers
- Sports Publicists
- Sportswriters
- Stage Production Workers
- Statisticians
- Stunt Performers
- Talent Agents and Scouts
- Tattoo Artists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- Technology Ethicists
- Telemarketers
- Translators
- Typists and Word Processors
- Unity Developers
- User Experience Designers
- Video Game Art Directors
- Video Game Producers
- Video Game Testers
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Webmasters
- Writers