What You'll Do

  • 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.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Reading Comprehension 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.75/5
Coordination 3.62/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.62/5
Time Management 3.62/5
Writing 3.38/5
Persuasion 3.38/5
Operations Analysis 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Persistence, Cooperation, Innovation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Fluency of Ideas 4.25/5
Originality 4.25/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Visualization 3.88/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe ActionScript Adobe After Effects Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Director Adobe Dreamweaver Adobe Illustrator Adobe ImageReady Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Adobe Premiere Pro AJAX Apache Flex Apple Final Cut Pro Apple iWork Keynote Apple Keynote Apple macOS Atlassian Confluence Atlassian JIRA Autodesk 3ds Max Design

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.7/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.58/5)
  • Persistence (High importance: 4.41/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.35/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 4.35/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Art Administrator (Art Admin) Art Coordinator Art Director Art Manager Art Supervisor Artistic Director Brand Creative Director Creative Art Director Creative Design Director Creative Director (CD Director) Creative Manager Creative Services Director Creative Services Manager Design Director Design Manager Digital Art Director Graphic Design and Art Production Manager Group Art Supervisor Group Creative Director Magazine Designer Presentation Director Product Design Director