Art Directors
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
At a Glance
Art Directors earns a median of $111,040/yr with +4.2% projected growth. Typical entry: Bachelor's degree. Top skills: Thinking Creatively, Working with Computers, Adobe Illustrator.
$111,040/yr
+4.2%
12
Bachelor's degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (14)
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Knowledge (7)
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
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.
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.
Abilities (16)
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Technology (23)
Work Activities (17)
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Work Styles (2)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.
Careers with Overlapping Skills
These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.
Graphic Designers
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media · 217 shared skills
Special Effects Artists and Animators
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media · 214 shared skills
Marketing Managers
Management · 213 shared skills
Web Developers
Computer and Mathematical · 211 shared skills
Software Developers
Computer and Mathematical · 211 shared skills
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Business and Financial Operations · 210 shared skills
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer and Mathematical · 209 shared skills
Computer User Support Specialists
Computer and Mathematical · 209 shared skills
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