Become an Art Director

Art directors have to have a keen eye for images and creativity. If you share these talents you might want to become an art direct. There are so many different carrier paths available for someone who is an art director. Here are just a few ideas to get you started on the road to becoming an art director in any industry you want to choose.

You have to understand art and what appeals to which people to become an art director. Just like any other career it helps to have a decent education to get the ball rolling. If you lack any formal art training you might want to take a few art appreciation classes. Of course, having a degree or completing a certificate from an art school is also helpful. You should have developed your skills in art, photography, drawing, and graphic design to be able to consider for a realistic position. You should also be up to date on the current trends in computer art. (I.e. Photoshop, 3D rendering images, etc...) Finally, you should be a sociable person capable of dealing with many different types of clients with different needs.

Before you jump into the field and start grabbing up interviews you should have a portfolio created of your work that you can give to potential employers. Your portfolio should have professional work inside of it to distinguish you from a hobbyist. For instance, it is better to include book cover, magazine layouts, or web site layouts then your personal projects. Though you should include personal projects if they are particularly good at displaying your specific talents. If you are having a hard time lining up an art director job it might be time to beef up your portfolio more.

It is also very useful to accept a position as intern in order to prove to potential employers that you have experience in the art industry. The best way to get into an art director job is to jump into a starting position and working your way up. Try to get a hold of some book publishers, ad agencies and editors to find out if they have an art internship jobs available. If you go to your local are schools they will usually have art internships listed for all the local companies that are seeking. The experience that you earn during an internship can be invaluable when later looking for a job because experience is the best evidence of value any one can have.

When you are done with your formal education and you have done your time as a lowly intern it will be time to apply for a job as an art director. If you are in an internship let your supervisors know that you are looking for a full time position. It could be possible that you could work at the company that you built a relationship with. Look at company's website to see if they are accepting applications via their website. You should have a resume listing all of your recent and most relevant art director related experience.

Source
http://mediacareers.about.com/od/mediajobprofiles/a/ArtDirector.htm