Art Careers / Art Director

Business of Art

What Does an Art Director Do? An Art Career for Kids

Curious about this job? Here is what the work looks like, a typical day, the tools, where people do it and how to get started, plus a small activity so you can try it yourself.

What an art director does

An art director is the leader in charge of the overall look of a project, like a magazine, ad, video game, package or movie. They guide a team of designers and artists.

A day on the job

  • Meet with clients to understand the big idea
  • Decide on the visual style, colors and images
  • Review and give feedback on the team's work
  • Manage budgets and deadlines

Tools of the job

  • Computer and design software
  • Mood boards
  • Sketchbook
  • Presentation software
  • Project schedules
  • Video calls

Where they work

  • Advertising agencies
  • Publishers and magazines
  • Film, TV and game companies
  • Their own business (many are self-employed)

The path in 4 steps

  1. Start now

    • Lead a group art project and help everyone's ideas fit together
    • Make mood boards for a pretend movie or game
    • Practice giving kind, useful feedback

  2. In your teens

    • Take art, design and media classes
    • Lead the yearbook, school paper or a club's design
    • Build a design portfolio

  3. Training

    Art directors typically have a bachelor's degree in fine art, design or a related field. Most also have 5 or more years of experience in a related job, like graphic design, photography or illustration, before becoming art directors.

  4. Build a portfolio

    Projects they led or designed, showing the big idea and the final result.

Skills that help

  • Leadership
  • Visual style
  • Communication
  • Giving feedback
  • Managing time and money

Try this job

A small taste of the real work, using things you already have.

Pretend you are art directing a cereal box for a new brand. Make a mood board: pick 3 colors, 1 font style (draw it), and 3 images that show the feeling you want. Then hand it to a sibling or friend and ask them to sketch the box using your board. Did they get your vision? Art directors guide others without doing all the drawing themselves.

Related art careers

Graphic DesignerDesignWhat do they do?PhotographerMedia and EntertainmentWhat do they do?Gallery OwnerBusiness of ArtWhat do they do?

Learn more

For pay, job outlook and training details, read the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook page for this kind of work.

Which art career fits you?

Answer a few quick questions and see which art jobs match what you love to do.

Take the Which Art Career Fits You quiz

Questions teachers and parents ask

What does an art director do?

An art director is the leader in charge of the overall look of a project, like a magazine, ad, video game, package or movie. They guide a team of designers and artists.

How do you become an art director?

Art directors typically have a bachelor's degree in fine art, design or a related field. Most also have 5 or more years of experience in a related job, like graphic design, photography or illustration, before becoming art directors.

What skills does an art director need?

Leadership, Visual style, Communication, Giving feedback and Managing time and money.

The Artastic Collective art curriculum

Full art lessons, videos and units for the whole year, ready when you are. Monthly, yearly and VIP plans.

See the plans