I want to be an Art Director when i grow up??

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Permalink Reply by Todd Huffine on August 20, 2010 at 6:01am

I suppose that just like any job you must work your way up through the ranks. Depending on the type of art director you'd like to be, you should find a school that can teach you the basics of that field. I feel that for any person in this field should have a chance to experience each of the positions leading up to the AD position. This will allow you to have full knowledge of what is best for each situation that arises. I am merely a motion designer, but I know what qualities I like to have in an art director. Do you have any more reasons why an art director position is appealing to you?

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Permalink Reply by Mario Horvat on August 20, 2010 at 6:23am

Ok, it's just that i am very interested in working with pictures and I am eager to learn how to create nice ads like posters ore video commercials or other videos. How did you become a motion designer for example? what does a motion designer do? I typed in "art director" only because i am not fully aware of the other opportunities and possibilities within this business. I am studying marketing here in Sweden and I am going to Tokyo in september for 6 months, and hoping to get new experience working with images and videos.

But I am very interested in learning and in the future maybe work with this kind of job somewhere outside Sweden.

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Permalink Reply by Todd Huffine on August 20, 2010 at 7:28am

Honestly, I stumbled into motion design. I went to school for graphic design and was being bred to become a web designer. I applied for an internship at a production company that also did web and when I started they ended up needing more help with the video and animation side so I began to learn it. Sounds to me like you want to be a graphic designer; most art directors start their or somewhere around there. Internships are the best way to get into the industry. So search out as many different types of internship positions and if you get a position, learn as much as possible about it. Pay will always take a back seat until you have proven your skills and talent. Good luck in Tokyo, I am very jealous of your ability to travel. It is one thing I'd really love to do.

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Permalink Reply by Mario Horvat on August 21, 2010 at 8:00am

Yeah, sounds interesting. thank you for the information :) hopefully I will take some courses and get some experience in this business and maybe in the near future work with that :)

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Permalink Reply by Mia Hood on August 23, 2010 at 7:38pm

I used to want to be an art director, myself, but not anymore. But I can tell you what I have learnt studying it and from people I met in the industry.

If you want to do Art Direction, there are Universities that teach Art Direction, mine was taught in my Advertising degree. A lot of working professionals however, do not think a degree is necessary...that it's just a piece of paper. I know there are other equivalent courses in the forms of diplomas and short courses. Over here in Australia, there are a few choices of where to go to. Some kids do graphic design to make the transition to become an Art Director later. But to make it into the Advertising industry, you don't only need the skills but also great ideas.

Over here, AdSchool is taught by Advertising professionals who teach only a select batch of maybe 100 students (out of 1000 who would apply every year) about ideas and ideas generation, and those who make top10 are guaranteed a job. This, I think is similar to Miami AdSchool. You should research if there any types of these schools in your area, or maybe do a course to learn the basics of Photoshop, Illustrator, etc, so you know how to execute your ideas. Check out the website Young Guns. It's a worldwide competition for students to enter their work.

Hope this helps :)

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Permalink Reply by Mario Horvat on August 23, 2010 at 8:26pm

Thank you, sounds interesting, i'm going to check it out right away

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Permalink Reply by Mia Hood on August 23, 2010 at 9:14pm

No worries :)

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Permalink Reply by James Kay on December 14, 2010 at 10:08pm

Don't you think you need to be an accomplished artist before you try directing creative people?

 

Go get a BFA in the field you want to direct and see if you are any good at it. Nobody in their right mind will put you in right at the top without any experience. 

 

I see you are going to Tokyo. That's a great choice. There is really wonderful design work being done there. (How is your Japanese?)

 

The best approach, in my opinion, is to get a BFA. 

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