Should I Become a Design Director?
Design directors, also known as creative or art directors, serve as creative leads for graphic design and advertising projects. They're typically responsible for creating a visual concept or brand and supervising its implementation.
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree, though a graduate degree could be helpful |
| Degree Fields | Any art or design-related major |
| Experience | 3-5 years of art or design experience |
| Key Skills | Creativity, excellent communication, strong leadership skills, ability to meet deadlines, proficiency with CAD and graphics software programs |
| Salary (2018) | $92,780 per year (Annual median salary for art directors) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*Net Online.
A career as a design director will likely require a bachelor's degree , though a graduate degree could be helpful if interested in moving into a management position. These professionals may earn a degree in any art or design-related major and then look to gain 3-5 years of experience in other art or design-related jobs before being hired as a design director.
A few key skills that a potential employer may be looking for include creativity, excellent communication and strong leadership skills, and the ability to meet deadlines. In this career field, proficiency with CAD and graphics software programs will also be beneficial.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2018 the annual median salary for art directors is $92,780.
Step 1: Obtain a Bachelor's Degree
Design directors often have a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in visual arts, such as drawing, graphic design or photography. Graphic design programs typically cover basic artistic concepts such as painting, sculpture, photography, typography, color theory, 2-D design and 3-D design. Courses may also include principles of marketing and advertising, visual communication, digital and web design, print design and the business of graphic design. Some programs require students to assemble a portfolio of their work before graduating.
A student looking to begin a career in this field should apply for and complete an internship. Students can develop their skills and make industry contacts with graphic design internships. Duties may include conceiving ideas for print and digital outlets and implementing designs across a variety of media, including websites, advertisements and brochures.
Step 2: Gain Work Experience
Design directors work in a number of fields, including print media, advertising, video game design, television and film. Graduates entering the field can start as junior designers and work their way up. Designers who show creativity and contribute to the success of their teams may eventually advance to senior designer or design manager positions. Candidates with several years of experience and leadership skills can become design directors and oversee the entire design team. These professionals articulate their vision to design staff and oversee the completion of projects to ensure that they meet client requirements and budget constraints. Design directors may also work with other managers to make executive decisions and review creative output.
Once working as a design director, it will be important to maintain computer skills. Design directors must keep their departments' work up-to-date and might need to complete designs of their own, so they may attend seminars or pursue other continuing education options to learn the most current design software.
Step 3: Seek Career Advancement
As mentioned, some individuals in this field may choose to earn a master's degree in order to advance their career or in order to move into a management position. A design director with more experience and an advanced skill set may also decide to become self-employed. This can give them the freedom to choose the design jobs that are of the most interest and work hours that best meet their schedule. However, when self-employed or not, art directors often have to deal with the stress that comes with leading a design team under strict deadlines; overtime is not uncommon.
So when considering a career as a design director, prepare to earn a bachelor's degree, gain several years of experience in an art-related field, and remain up to date with technology and design software in order to develop, create, and implement design plans and layouts while working with a team to meet the advertising needs of a client's campaign and budget.
