Become a Commercial Art Director
Commercial art directors create design ideas for visual media, such as advertisements, books, CDs, magazines, and marketing materials. They supervise projects from start to finish, often directing a team of artists to help execute the design. They are responsible for making decisions about the use of appropriate artistic style and tone throughout the process of development and creation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than half of art directors are self-employed. A high degree of stress may be inherent in this occupation due to the need to continually find new projects, meet deadlines, and function within a fast-paced work environment.
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Field | Art, fine art, or closely related fields such as illustration or graphic design |
| Experience | 3-5 years of related professional experience |
| Key Skills | Extensive art and design knowledge; creativity, communication, organizational, and leadership skills; critical-thinking, management, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities |
| Salary (2018) | $92,780 annually (median salary for all art directors) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Becoming a Commercial Art Director
Step 1: Get a Bachelor's Degree
According to the BLS, aspiring art directors should have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in art or a related subject area, such as design. Students can look for art programs that offer core or elective courses in commercial arts. These classes teach students layout and design, illustration, photography, drawing, graphics, and typography. Degree programs with a graphic design concentration can also teach prospective art directors essential skills and prepare them for entry-level jobs.
Success Tip:
Consider an internship program. Internships can provide students with first-hand experience, as well as the opportunity to network with professional artists and gain exposure to the art and design industry.
Step 2: Create a Portfolio
Entry-level artists and designers can put together a portfolio of their work to show employers their skills and creative talent. The BLS states that a portfolio helps employers decide whether to hire a candidate. Good portfolios show off an artist's best work and are well organized. They are also versatile, displaying the artist's technological skills and abilities to create designs in various styles.
Success Tip:
Participate in workshops for artists. Those seeking a position as a commercial art director could benefit from signing up for local workshops that provide tips and suggestions for putting together a portfolio.
Step 3: Gain Work Experience
Art directors typically start their careers as entry-level artists or designers. Jobs are often available in advertising, publishing, design, or film production. Previous work experience as a graphic designer could lead to high-level positions since designers play an important role in commercial art by creating designs for book covers, magazines, brochures, and more.
Advancement to an art director's position generally comes after proving exceptional creative skills and leadership abilities, plus gaining at least three to five years of experience. Candidates need to have good interpersonal skills for interacting with clients and meeting with other departmental heads to discuss budgets and ideas.
Success Tip:
Join professional art associations. Membership provides access to resources like job postings plus the opportunity to meet with other artists already working in the field.
Step 4: Earn a Graduate Degree
Candidates seeking higher-level positions involving management responsibilities may want to consider continuing their education at the graduate level. A variety of programs are available, such as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or combined Master of Business Administration (MBA)/MFA program. An advanced degree in combination with several years of work experience may help a candidate progress to other positions.
Hopeful art directors should first earn a bachelor's degree in an art-related field, then build a portfolio, and gain three to five years of related professional experience before advancing to an art director role.
