Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- Advertising Art Director- from: Youtube Search
- Desktop Publisher- from: YouTube Video
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Working Life
Advertising art directors are responsible for the appearance and presentation of printed advertising material and television commercials. For printed advertisements, the creative team of art director and copywriter work from a client's brief. The brief provides information about the product or service the client wishes to promote and the target audience. The art director and copywriter produce a number of possible advertising ideas that include rapidly sketched illustrations known as 'storyboards' or 'roughs'.
The Advertising Art Director works in a creative department of an advertising agency, to produce a suitable and persuasive image that helps to sell a product.
In preparing advertisements, the creative team must consider both content (headlines, slogans, text and illustrations) and visual appearance that is affected by the use of space, colour and typeface. Although the design may need to be interesting, exciting, appealing or eye-catching, the creative team must remember that its prime purpose is to sell a product.
EGSFN (2022) Design skills report
Once approved by the client, a rough idea is translated by the art director into the final advertisement. Sometimes art directors produce the required illustrations themselves, but more often they select and commission suitable artists. This may involve examining portfolios of drawings, photographs, cartoons and graphic designs. Art directors instruct the typographer about typeface and layout, and check the final advertisement before it is sent to the printers.
Advertising Art Directors design a wide range of printed material including posters, leaflets, brochures, packaging and display material.
Some Advertising Art Directors work on television commercials. They may be required to select a film director or production company by looking through show reels and choosing actors, actresses and locations. Art directors attend all production meetings, and supervise filming and editing of both film and soundtracks.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and sise of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- 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.
- Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
- Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
- Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.
Further Information
- Advertising Art Director- from: N.C.S. [UK]
Qualities - Advertising Art Director
As an art director, you'll need creativity, a lively imagination and sufficient knowledge of the Arts to use theatre, cinema, literature and painting as a source of inspiration. An eye for shape and colour is a requirement in an Advertising Art Director.
EGSFN (2022) Design skills report
Most art directors have backgrounds in graphic design and have knowledge of photography, typography and printing techniques. The ability to withstand (and preferably thrive on) pressure is essential, as you'll often have to work to very tight deadlines. Communication and interpersonal skills are desirable, as you also have to spend time in meetings and with clients.
Interests - Advertising Art Director
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Linguistic
The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Entry / Progression - Advertising Art Director
Most employers will expect you to have developed skills & experience in art and design. Most Art Directors begin as designers working in advertising, for example, graphic designers, multi-media designers etc. Many entrants have a degree.
Entry in this area is quite competitive therefore it is important to try and get some type of work experience and build your portfolio before to support your applications.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: business admin, animation, digital media, design.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: art, graphic design, marketing.
Search for PLC Courses
Apprenticeships:
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.
Examples: Animator.
Search for Apprenticeships
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: art, media, graphic design.
Search for CAO Courses
Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).
Example search terms include: graphic, digital media, art, design, marketing.
Search for Postgraduate Courses
Pay & Salary - Advertising Art Director
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €40k - €75k
Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.
Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Morgan McKinley / Prosperity/ Excel
Last Updated: March, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Advertising Art Director
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists; Authors; writers; translators; Actors; entertainers; presenters; Dancers; choreographers; Musicians Arts officers; producers; directors; Photographers; audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators; Graphic designers Product; clothing and related designers.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.
New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.
Useful Contacts - Advertising Art Director
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Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland
