Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
•   Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
•   Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
•   Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Working Life

An Art Director’s role includes realising the production designer’s and the director’s vision for the look and visual style of a film or TV show.

It involves:

• Project managing all work across the Art department and controlling the creation of sets and locations that give the project its specific look and feel.
  
  
• Working to a budget, overseeing the working schedule for all required design. 
  
  
• Construction and dressing work, overseeing construction both in studio and on location.
  
  
• Communicating with the department team and with all relevant departments.
  
  
• The supervising art director works on larger productions, supervising a team of art directors.

Works With

• Production Designer
• Director
• DOP
• Costume Designer
• Costume Supervisor
• Hair Designer
• Standby Art Director
• Rest of Art department team

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and sise of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
• Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
• Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
• Present final layouts to clients for approval.
• Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
• Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
• Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
• Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
• Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
• Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Education Routes:  Ideally you will need to have a degree in architecture, design, interior or 3D design or film, or fine art studies would be useful, but years of experience working in the art department is essential.

Career Path to Art Director: There are no usual career paths. Art directors, through experience on many productions, will have worked their way through the art department, starting as an art department trainee. 

Career Path from Art Director: Production Designer.