Art Director
Controller Job Description
An Art Director is a professional who is in charge of developing and maintaining a creative vision that speaks to the reader, viewer, or user. To accomplish this, they manage teams of designers who work on creative projects such as film and television advertising, graphic design, and marketing.
Being a director of any kind requires strong leadership skills. As an art director, you will be in charge of managing individuals who work on a project and ensuring that the project is completed in a timely manner. Regardless of which industry you work in, you should hone your leadership skills if you are considering pursuing a career as an art director. Art directors oversee every aspect of various creative projects, including the production of movies, media and advertising. Being organized and able to handle multiple components of a project including the timeline and budget is key to being a successful art director. Art directors need to be able to communicate with both their team as well as their clients to successfully complete a project. Efficiently communicating timelines and expectations to team members as well as understanding and interpreting the desires of a client is an important part of being an art director. As an art director, you will be in charge of creating and producing the overall aesthetics of a project. Whether you are implementing a new design for a client website or designing a video game, having strong aesthetic judgment is a primary skill needed by effective art directors.
Nearly every art director job will require you to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in terms of education. There are several degrees you can obtain to support your goal of becoming an art director, including degrees in advertising, fine arts and graphic design. There are also art management degrees available that combine business management with artistic practices. While not always required, many art directors also hold a master’s degree in fine arts or a related field. Pursuing a master’s degree can further prepare you for an art director position and equip you with valuable managerial skills needed to oversee a team of creatives.
Typical duties of a Controller
• Generate clear ideas and concepts in tandem with the copywriter
• Produce sketches, storyboards, roughs to visualize ideas
• Understand marketing initiatives, strategic positioning, and target audience
• Cooperate with the rest of the creative team across different types of media
• Take work from concept to final execution within deadlines
• Manage and delegate responsibilities to other designers and provide directions
• Present completed ideas to clients/team members
• Stay on top of all trends and maintain best practices
Skills:
• Proven working experience as Art Director
• Hands on experience with logo design, typography, color, web layout design, print production, image selection and package design
• Proficient use of InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator or other visual design and wire-framing tools
• Demonstrable graphic design skills with a strong portfolio
• Incorporate feedback and take/give direction well
• Team player with strong communication and presentation skills
Qualifications: Degrees in advertising, fine arts and graphic design