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 implements the established art direction throughout the production. They create and define the level and standard of the show. The Art Director works with all creative departments to uniform the production for the level and style that the production requires.

The Art Director manages, reviews, and adjusts assigned art/technical content to meet creative direction throughout pre-production, production, and post production.

Work Aspects

• Contribute innovative and original ideas towards optimising the look development for the production.
  
  
• Work closely with the Supervising Director and Episode Directors to achieve an overall artistic direction.
  
  
• Lead several creative departments throughout the production in order to define the look development of that production.
  This includes, pre-production character, props and environment artists, asset production character, props, and environment modelling and texturing artists, FX and Lighting departments and Post Production with Tech Reviews, Online and grading viewings.
  
  
• Create a look development bible for the entire production.
  
  
• Assign work to different supervisors, department leads and artists.

• Reinforce the importance of deadlines, and alerts the Production Manager, CG Asset Lead, CG Supervisor VFX Supervisor and Production Coordinators of any problem arising that could effect the schedule.

• Assist in the documentation and communication of technical and process guidelines for lighting creation and implementation.
  
  

Works with

• CG Asset Lead
• Directors
• Assistant Art Directors
• CG Supervisor
• Production Manager
• Production Coordinators
• Producers
• Lighting Department
• VFX Supervisor

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.

Education Route: Art Directors often have a degree in Fine Arts, Design, Animation, Film or Visual Effects.

Career Path to Art Director: Several years experience in the look development department, or generalist knowledge across the pipeline with excellent design knowledge. A pristine portfolio demonstrating your skills as an art director.

Career Path from Art Director: Head of Department, VFX Supervisor, Director, Episode Director.

Art Director is not an entry level position. Show reel and experience are extremely important.