It’s easy to get confused over the difference between the role of art directors and creative directors. Both are leaders in their profession with similar skills such as time management, good communication, and creativity. They also both work in a variety of fields, such as magazines, advertising, graphic design, music, newspapers, and movie productions.
However, there are slight differences in their roles. Here are the main differences between an art director and a creative director.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in one of these fields, it’s certainly worth familiarizing yourself with the differences.
Creative directors handle both the creative and the business aspects of a project. They must establish relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders. Creative directors are responsible for carrying out projects on behalf of the client or partner. Some of these projects may include website designs, casting, and commercials.
In order to succeed as a creative director, one must be able to communicate effectively, have a strong vision, and serve as a guide for team members in their departments.
Creative directors work in a fast-paced environment and must ensure deadlines are met. Thus, it is essential that they possess good time management skills.
Responsibilities of a creative director include:
Art directors are skilled professionals that supervise designers in creating designs and layouts for magazines, product packaging, newspapers, and movie productions. They require excellent communication skills to inform team members of ideas and project goals. It is down to the art director to ensure a project will be aesthetically pleasing and capture the attention of the audience.
Most of what art directors do occurs behind the scenes or before a photoshoot. Art directors decide on the aesthetic of a project, select the right photographer for the campaign, and establish a team for the project. It is their job to make sure everything goes seamlessly and that their vision is materialized according to the client or magazine’s mission.
Like creative directors, art directors typically have strict deadlines to meet for projects, so they need to have good time management skills.
Responsibilities of an art director include:
As you can see, both careers – while similar – do have their differences. If you are interested in becoming a creative director, you may also be interested in pursuing a career as an editor, which also consists of planning and organizing projects.
If you are interested in becoming an art director, you may also enjoy a career as a graphic designer, a role which also calls for strong visual skills and the ability to materialize a vision for either printed or digital media.
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