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Art direction used to be locking visual expression to copy so that the copy and visuals cannot exist without each other. Design is taking that visual expression and raising it to the level of great art, making it unique, impactful and hard to forget.
Not all great art directors are great designers. And not all great designers are visually conceptual enough to work with a copywriter. A great art director also knows what great copy is, and can craft a headline as well. Just like a great copywriter can think up a great visual.
One does art direction and the other one designs.
Then you’d apply for the art director role!
You can tell when an art director doesn’t have a design background.
And you can tell when a designer doesn’t have an art director background.
Art Director: more conceptual and sets look
Designer: more executional and elevates look
The lines are blurring because agency’s/clients want more for less. So more AD’s are having to do design work to be within project budgets.
I come from a design background and I think it helps me sell through a lot of work. I would highly suggest looking into some ways you can learn graphic design. It will help you in the long run and help you be more efficient/fast behind the keyboard.
Pro
1. ADs get paid more
2. Designer is nowadays shoved into a production role
3. At most places, ADs do their fair share of designing, but typically AD is art-conceptual while a designer art-executional
TL:DR, I’d just apply for the AD role
Rising Star
Art directors don’t typically know all the super crafted design rules that exceptional designers work with. Designers aren’t capable of the big thinking or copy-oriented asks, along with the craft of script writing or the art of being on set/shooting/post.
I’ve done both for extended periods of time (I’m an ACD now) and they’re more cousins than they are siblings imo.
In 2025, Art Directors are copywriters who don’t know how to design and aren’t great at writing.
Some places treat you as both under an AD title
If you want to be an art director just know that you will be expected to design at a high level (at good agencies better than designers tbh). Maybe not doing like iconography or stuff in heavy design systems as much but your need to make high quality, tasteful images is not just important, it's everything. If the slide does not hold a sellable comp you will never advance. I've seen art directors who have perplexing taste get stuck in no mans land because their decks always looked under executed.
The only difference is pay as far as an ad agency is concerned