Occupation · SOC 27-1011
Art Directors
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
382 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingTime ManagementComplex Problem SolvingCoordination
Knowledge areas
DesignEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsFine ArtsCommunications and Media
Technology & tools
Document management softwareDevelopment environment softwareVideo creation and editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWeb page creation and editing software
Representative tasks
Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.Present final layouts to clients for approval.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.Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing.Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends.Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.Conceptualize and help design interfaces for multimedia games, products, and devices.Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Layout concepts and design briefs — interpret and translate into preliminary visual compositions under direct supervision in a studio or agency environment.Graphics and photo imaging software — apply foundational tools and features to produce basic design assets under the guidance of a senior art director.Client objectives and background information — gather and document during initial intake meetings with support from a creative director.Type styles, photograph selections, and graphic elements — specify basic material details according to established brand guidelines on assigned projects.Creative team members — coordinate scheduling and file handoffs using project management tools under supervisor oversight.Design presentations — assemble and organize slide decks or PDF layouts using desktop publishing and presentation software for review by senior staff.Art and copy materials submitted by staff — review against provided checklists and flag inconsistencies for approval by a senior art director.Custom illustrations and simple graphic elements — produce using graphics software to support campaign concepts under directed creative briefs.Active listening and note-taking — apply during client and team meetings to capture requirements accurately and relay them to the creative team.Budget and scheduling parameters — track personal task progress against project timelines using agency tools, escalating conflicts to a project manager.
developing
Design solutions — develop collaboratively with creative directors by contributing original concepts grounded in client strategy and brand standards.Final layout presentations — prepare and deliver to clients with limited oversight, incorporating feedback cycles and clearly articulating design rationale.Own accounts and projects — manage end-to-end within established budget and scheduling requirements across concurrent mid-scale engagements.Creative, copywriting, and production department heads — confer routinely to align on client requirements and synchronize cross-functional creative workflows.Layout design approaches — formulate independently, specifying type size and style, photography direction, animation cues, and sound guidelines for standard campaign formats.Art materials, copy, and print proofs — review and approve with confidence, applying production knowledge and quality standards in a fast-paced agency setting.Video creation and editing software — use competently to direct and assemble motion assets that support integrated advertising or branding projects.Client presentation styles and techniques — adapt based on audience, industry sector, and campaign objectives during regular client-facing meetings.Web page and desktop publishing software — apply across digital and print deliverables to maintain visual consistency throughout a project lifecycle.Time management and coordination — exercise across multiple active projects by prioritizing tasks, delegating to junior designers, and meeting hard deadlines.
proficient
Complex design problems — resolve autonomously by synthesizing client objectives, market context, and creative vision across full-scale integrated campaigns.Presentation approaches and visual concepts — formulate and defend before diverse client stakeholders, adapting persuasively to objections and evolving briefs.Multiple client accounts — oversee simultaneously, maintaining budget compliance and on-time delivery without supervisory intervention.Cross-departmental creative activities — coordinate at a senior level by facilitating alignment between art, copy, strategy, and production on large, multi-channel projects.Material specifications — determine with authority across print, digital, motion, and interactive media, ensuring technical and aesthetic coherence throughout production.Staff-developed art and copy — evaluate and approve with expert critical judgment, providing constructive direction that elevates quality and meets strategic goals.Custom illustration and advanced graphic elements — create or art-direct with originality and craft, establishing a distinctive visual voice for brand identity systems.Emerging design technologies and platforms — integrate into existing workflows by assessing operational feasibility and training team members in new tools.Visual color discrimination and information hierarchy — apply with precision to guide audience attention and reinforce messaging across complex multi-format deliverables.Systems analysis and operations review — conduct on creative production workflows to identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements at the department level.
advanced
Creative vision and design strategy — establish at the organizational level, setting the aesthetic direction that differentiates the agency or brand across all output.Creative directors and senior designers — mentor and develop through structured feedback, stretch assignments, and career-path planning within a large creative department.Agency-wide standards for art, copy, and production quality — define and champion, instituting approval frameworks that ensure excellence at scale.Executive-level client relationships — cultivate and steward by leading high-stakes presentations, negotiating creative direction, and converting strategic objectives into compelling visual narratives.Cross-functional leadership teams — convene and align around integrated campaign strategy, translating ambiguous business goals into executable creative mandates.Organizational budget and resource allocation — oversee across the creative division, making investment decisions on talent, technology, and tooling to maximize creative output.Innovation culture within the design practice — foster by championing experimental techniques, emerging media formats, and risk-tolerant creative processes at the institutional level.Talent acquisition and team composition — lead by defining role competencies, interviewing senior candidates, and shaping a high-performing, diverse creative organization.Industry trends, platform evolution, and audience behavior — monitor systematically and translate into forward-looking creative strategy recommendations for senior leadership.Organizational credibility and thought leadership — build by representing the creative practice at industry events, publishing perspectives, and establishing the firm as a recognized authority in visual communication.
Also known as
53 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Historian Apprentice (Air Force 3H031)Visual Documentation Specialist (Navy A25A)Public Affairs (Air Force 3N0X6)Product Design DirectorCombat Graphics Specialist (Marine Corps 4512)Advanced Visual Information-Motion Media Marine (Marine Corps 4573)Historian (Air Force 3H0X1)Historian Helper (Air Force 3H011)Public Affairs Journeyman (Air Force 3N056)Historian Superintendent (Air Force 3H091)Historian Craftsman (Air Force 3H071)Digital Art DirectorArt DirectorProduction Manager, AdvertisingBrand Creative DirectorMass Communications Specialist (Navy MC)Artistic DirectorPublic Affairs Helper (Air Force 3N016)Presentation DirectorVisual Information Specialist (Army 46V)Public Affairs Manager (Air Force 3N000)Creative Services ManagerArt ManagerGroup Art SupervisorCreative Art DirectorMagazine DesignerCreative Design DirectorAdvanced Visual Information-Photojournalism Marine (Marine Corps 4543)Public Affairs Apprentice (Air Force 3N036)LDO - Photography (Navy 647)Creative Services DirectorPublic Affairs Craftsman (Air Force 3N076)Art SupervisorPictorial Editor (Navy 2425)Visual Information Officer (Marine Corps 4503)Creative Director (CD Director)Group Creative DirectorHistorian Journeyman (Air Force 3H051)Design ManagerCreative Operations Director (Creative Ops Director)