Skills and abilities: Excellent creativity and design skills, with IT capability. Strong communication and an ability to work with a team.
What you’ll be doing: Work will vary depending on the agency, and the clients. However, projects will usually start with a brief introducing the client, product, target audience, and the message to convey. Typical day-to-day responsibilities include:
- Creating original ideas tailored to a client’s brief, in co-operation with a copywriter
- Sketching or storyboarding ideas, and presenting them to Creative Directors and client
- Incorporating changes requested by the client, in line with budgets and deadlines
- Commissioning photographers, artists, film companies, and other creatives
- Choosing studios or locations, attending production, and overseeing final edits
Career progression: You may come to this position through different routes, stemming from a number of creative credentials, supported by a broad graphic design portfolio. You may begin as a Junior Art Director, and with experience develop into Senior Art Director or Creative Director roles. There are opportunities to work freelance. Alternatively, you could decide to set up your own agency, or move into other creative disciplines such as film directing.