Art Director Job Description Template

Art Directors must have an artistic eye and a keen sense of leadership. They have several years of work experience in graphic design, illustration, or other fields and are ultimately responsible for elevating a client’s visual brand and taking it to the next level. Art Directors lead teams, collaborate with other members of an organization, and create presentations to tell the story of their vision.

Share

Art directors are a crucial part of a design team. They inspire and guide the vision of the design team, oversee the work of illustrators, graphic/visual designers, photographers, and others who are engaged in artwork or layout design. New opportunities for art directors are emerging with the shift in focus from print design to digital design.

An art director that has proven skills in communication, creativity, leadership, and time management will find opportunities in several industries including specialized design services, manufacturing, motion picture, and digital marketing.

When hiring art directors, it’s important to understand that it takes more than just a creative vision and artistic experience. The role ultimately requires strong leadership ability, because art directors have to work collaboratively across departments to strategize, manage, and execute their vision.

Art Director Job Description and Ad Template

Copy this template, and modify it as your own:

Company Introduction

{{Write a short and catchy paragraph about your company. Make sure to provide information about the company’s culture, perks, and benefits. Include office hours, remote working possibilities, and anything else you think makes your company interesting.}}

Job Description

We are seeking an Art Director to concept and execute creative campaigns that blend storytelling and visual innovation. The ideal candidate will be able to express their ideas clearly, provide direction and leadership to team members, execute company objectives, and partner with cross-functional departments on strategy and execution.

You will lead a global team of graphic designers, illustrators, and remote talent (UX and UI designers).

Responsibilities

You will work in a creative, fast-paced environment that requires proven leadership and vision execution by partnering with cross-functional departments to translate business and marketing objectives into ideas that are clear, compelling, and visually exciting.

More responsibilities in detail:

  • Responsible for managing and supporting a team of graphic designers to bring concepts, presentations, and prototypes to life. Collaborate on the ideation and development of innovative marketing campaigns.
  • Participate in the execution of the entire creative process within an allotted time frame and budget.
  • Work with project managers and associate creative directors to ensure that schedules are accurate and realistic and deadlines met.
  • Lead presentations and effectively communicate a creative vision.
  • Collaborate with managers, designers, writers, other marketing team members, and external stakeholders to ensure the appropriate concepts, themes, and messages are represented effectively and consistently for the business objective(s) and audience(s).
  • Strong conceptual, graphic design, type, and page layout skills for projects ranging from print to interactive to broadcast.
  • Stay on top of the latest standards, processes, and trends in the visual design field.
  • Responsible for all pre-production meetings for projects including photoshoots, video editing, broadcast, and fulfillment.
  • {{Add other relevant responsibilities here}}

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, fine arts, or related field.
  • Three or more years of hands-on experience with logo design, typography, color, web layout design, print production, image selection, and package design; proficient use of InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, or other visual design and wireframing tools; demonstratable graphic design skills with a strong portfolio.
  • Ability to present creative work internally and to clients.
  • Ability to collaborate with copywriters and graphic designers.
  • Ability to collect and interpret feedback.
  • A well-rounded portfolio of client work, demonstrating a strong understanding of client objectives.
  • Ability to critically communicate and persuade around design concepts.
  • Passion for design; not satisfied with status quo and always thinking of ways to improve.
  • Ability to motivate and inspire top performance against assigned projects.
  • Dynamic, creative personality, effective at engaging and influencing a variety of audiences.
  • Must understand design in multiple mediums — print, digital, mobile.
  • {{List education level or certification you require}}
See also:Toptal’s growing, community-driven list of essential Art Direction interview questions

Recent Art Direction Articles by Toptal Designers

Find the right Art Direction interview questions

Read a list of great community-driven Art Direction interview questions.
Read them, comment on them, or even contribute your own.

Read the Questions

Hire a Top Art Direction Expert Now

Toptal is a marketplace for top art direction experts. Top companies and start-ups choose Toptal freelance art directors for their mission critical design projects.

See Their Profiles

Daniel Sigvardsson

Art Direction DesignerProduct DesigniOSApp UXUI DesignUX DesignInformation Architecture (IA)AdobeAdobe PhotoshopAdobe Creative SuiteAdobe After EffectsAndroidInteractive Design

United StatesToptal Member Since November 16, 2018

As an award-winning multi-disciplinary designer, Daniel is passionate about helping startups create a strong brand identity and visualize solutions to complex problems. He collaborates closely with clients to identify and develop the assets needed to launch and grow their businesses. With a focus on making your business succeed, Daniel brings expertise in brand strategy, identity, content strategy, user experience, visual design, product design, communication, and service design to the table.

Show More

Simon Moolman

Art Direction DesignerInVisionResponsive UIWireframingCampaign DesignApp UICreative DirectionMobileeCommerce DesignUser Experience (UX)User Interface (UI)Identity DesignSketch

NetherlandsToptal Member Since January 24, 2017

Simon has more than 15 years of experience in the creative industry. He became an integral part of agencies, such as MC Saatchi, VML, and Ogilvy—where he led various creative teams. He has worked with the world's largest brands and transformed emerging brands into competitive entities. His focus is interactive and experience design. Simon constantly pursues meaningful storytelling through design that makes a difference in people's lives.

Show More

Iñaki Soria

Art Direction DesignerSketchAdobe PhotoshopiOSAndroidUser FlowsFigmaWireframingUX DesignUI Design

SpainToptal Member Since February 12, 2018

For the past decade, Iñaki has been designing and building digital products (UX/UI)—helping agencies and brands like Google, Volvo, Dove, Jaguar, and others to bring their concepts to life. His passion is to help clients to achieve their business goals through design.

Show More

Marti Bruno

Art Direction DesignerBrand GuidelineseCommerce UXPrototypingUser Experience (UX)User Interface (UI)UX ResearchInVisioniOSAndroidUI DesignDesign SystemsBranding

United StatesToptal Member Since August 7, 2019

Marti is a senior UI/UX designer based in New York. For the past several years, he's been designing digital products for the banking, hospitality, fashion, healthcare, pharmaceutical, automotive, and software industries. Marti's past clients include Citibank, HP, Galaxkey, Meta, Deutsche Bank, Volkswagen Group, Riyad Bank, Vorwerk Thermomix, Asics, The Ritz-Carlton Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Al Rajhi Bank, and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Show More

Christina Barsan

Art Direction DesignerDigital Product DesignApp UIBrand DevelopmentIcon DesignOutdoor GraphicsUser FlowsRebrandingSitemapsBrand GuidelinesProduct DesignWeb DesignMobile App Design

United StatesToptal Member Since August 23, 2016

Christina is a digital designer and creative director with over 15 years of experience as a visual thinker, problem solver, manager, collaborator, and technology lover. She constantly seeks to help her clients create the ideal brand for their business aligned with their big vision.

Show More

Liz Young

Art Direction DesignerAdobe IllustratorDigitalVisual DesigneCommerceeCommerce DesigneCommerce UIBrand BooksBrand DesignUI DesignCreative DirectionMarketingPresentation Design

United KingdomToptal Member Since March 29, 2018

Elizabeth is a highly experienced creative director who has defined experiences for global brands like Universal Records and PUMA while transforming many more. With expertise in branding, social media content, digital design, and UI/UX, she has helped launch startups in Silicon Valley and create integrated brand and website designs for well-established DTC, new tech and premium sportswear brands. Elizabeth takes a holistic and reductive approach, balancing design strategy with functionality.

Show More

Pierre E. Poulin

Art Direction DesignerInteractive DesignWeb DesignBrand GuidelinesMobile App DesignUI DesignUI AnimationBrandingMobile UIHigh-fidelity PrototypesFigmaAdobe After EffectsAdobe CC

MexicoToptal Member Since August 20, 2019

With an early career woven into the rise of the internet, Pierre's experience in digital is vast. Over the last 20 years, he founded one of the first award-winning web shops in Montreal, crafting work for major accounts, such as Burger King. Pierre designed an event app used by Airbnb, Salesforce, and Cisco. He continues to serve on a jury at the prestigious FWA. Typography, smooth interactions, and a glimmer of sassy irony are the driving forces behind his elegant yet highly functional style.

Show More

Sam Flaherty

Art Direction DesignerAdobe SuiteAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorWebWebsitesVisual DesignLogo DesigneCommerceeCommerce UIShopify DesignLogotypeAdobe

United KingdomToptal Member Since February 4, 2016

A veteran Toptal designer with nearly two thousand completed hours under his belt, Sam collaborates globally with like-minded clients such as Google, Citibank, Hugo Boss, YouTube, and Levi's to ensure clear and effective communication with their audiences. He has over 15 years of experience in the fields of graphic design, brand creation, digital design, and creative thinking.

Show More

Priscila Dias

Art Direction DesignerInVisionSketchBrandingPrototypingRapid PrototypingWireframingUser Interface (UI)UX DesigniOS App DesignAndroid App DesignDesign SystemsAdobe Illustrator

PortugalToptal Member Since July 4, 2017

Priscila is a product designer with eight years of experience working in both design studios and software houses. She's passionate about helping organizations establish their brands, build digital products, and step up their game through strategic design.

Show More

David Fotherby

Art Direction DesignerPhotoshop CCIllustrator 2017Adobe After EffectsUI DesignUX DesigniOS App DesignWeb DesignMobile Web DesignCreative DirectionWeb App DesignIconographyLogo Design

United StatesToptal Member Since February 8, 2017

David has created exceptional, user-centered products for some of the top Fortune, healthcare, retail, and entertainment businesses worldwide. His approach of putting the user at the center of product design ensures that clients have a clear insight into their market potential and the technical requirements needed.

Show More

Sign up now to see more profiles.

Start Hiring

Toptal Connects the Top 3% of Freelance Talent All Over The World.

Join the Toptal community.