Very often the roles of Creative Director and Art Director get confused, it’s a common misconception that they are the same (just a different title). However, the two roles have distinct differences, this blog post will go into depth on what an Art Director actually is.
Art directors have the responsibility of directing visuals and imagery, in the fashion industry, this could range from magazines, set design, packaging design to advertising. The Art Director will create the design and will direct a team to develop the design and take it from concept to reality.
“They [Art Directors] have the power to sway a brands image from one, to another." - Gary Bradnick, Art Director.
Art directors tend to be working high up within brands and agencies, therefore, it comes as no surprise that this is a role that individuals work their way up to during their career. Most Art directors will have worked in other art and design roles beforehand, this could range from Photography to Graphic Design to Editing.
In terms of the skills needed to pursue a career in Art Direction, one key skill is Communication and leadership. Not only do Art Directors need to communicate clearly with the team of Artists whom they are directing, but they also need to be able to listen to Clients' guidelines. And, of course, an Art Director needs to be both creative and innovative to come up with the overall concept for a design.
With the rise of Technology changing consumer habits, the Print Media industry is slowly declining, with many consumers opting for on-the-go digital services. It’s important to note that as a result, the role of an Art Director is slowly changing too. It is likely that there will be a decline of positions that focus on print, such as magazines, and rather an increase in roles for Art Direction of digital platforms, such as digital magazines, apps, and websites.
Art Direction for Dior by Fabien Baron
“An art director should be a maker, someone that has an opinion on everything, and has a very precise point of view that they can apply to different mediums. That’s what a good art director should be.” - Fabien Baron, Art Director
As I’m greatly interested in the rise of Digital media and the new mediums that will form as a result, I’m excited to see how Art Directors adapt to newer platforms, and what future opportunities will arise with the introduction of the Metaverse in the fashion industry. With an ever-changing technological landscape, who knows what innovative designs will come next?
Personally, I think Art Director would be an incredible role. I would consider it later on in my career. Having experience in a range of creative roles within the industry would definitely be beneficial before stepping into Art Direction. It’s important to build a strong portfolio of various skills, alongside gaining leadership experience before stepping into a role with such a large amount of responsibility.
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