Art Directors Go Back to List Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising. Direct workers engaged in art work or layout design.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Document management software

Tasks
	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.
	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.
	Present final layouts to clients for approval.
	Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
	Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing.
	Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
	Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
	Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.

Skills
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Knowledge
	Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
	Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.   Related Experience:   A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $103,546.00 $49.78  $30.35  $36.22 - $61.24  Bridgeport/Stamford $108,635.00 $52.23  $31.09  $37.57 - $63.83  Danbury $90,205.00 $43.37  $24.52  $28.95 - $51.31  Hartford $108,398.00 $52.12  $30.61  $34.33 - $63.48  New Haven $90,916.00 $43.71  $31.91  $36.07 - $50.76  New London/Norwich $95,912.00 $46.11  $31.66  $36.13 - $50.47  Waterbury $102,485.00 $49.27  $37.00  $43.81 - $49.12

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   219   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

Related Occupations
	Advertising and Promotions Managers
	Interior Designers
	Producers
	Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio
	Program Directors
	Copy Writers
	Film and Video Editors
	Fashion Designers
	Graphic Designers
	Multimedia Artists and Animators

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.