I’m a Designer looking to become an Art Director in the next 2 years. I am finishing up my BA in design. What will help me get my first job as an AD? (I currently work as a designer at a science tech company).

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You can either:
- Find a place that will allow you to grow into that role, which is difficult but can be done.
-Go to art direction school to build a new portfolio that showcases an AD skill set. Leverage the connections of the school to help get your foot in the door.
-Or build a portfolio on your own on the side and apply to AD roles. Brand yourself as an AD first, designer second.

I’m a hybrid and the industry has a hard time with that cuz they see the roles as 2 entirely separate roles. Also you need to decide if you want to be more of a designer art director or a traditional art director in commercial advertising. “Art Director” means different things depending on the place hiring.

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I definitely want to do some designing in my role, I would like to lead a team of designers. There is an art direction school? I’ve heard of doing an art direction internship- I was thinking about doing one. But haven’t heard of a school for it.

I think the first thing that will be helpful is to find out how the term Art Director is being used in the industry you are interested in (Ad Agency creative dept, Ad Agency Design Dept, Gaming company, Design Studio, Brand, Tech company, Film Industry etc). Then accept that this term has become very misleading and has wide usage in confusing ways. If you are actually saying you want to become a creative director in 2 years (a leader that supervises other creatives) you might need to do a little more digging on what you’re up against in the industry you are targeting. It’s not impossible but it’s like saying you want to get drafted by the Lakers after basketball camp. That might sound ridiculous but could be accurate. If you want to be a designer that has the title “Art Director” and your main focus is ideas over typography and on some occasions (stress some) you get the chance to “direct” other designers you should look into working at an ad agency creative dept. You can start as a Jr Art Director but you will not be “leading other designers.” You might on occasion “direct” folks who work as prod designers (tactical designers that prepare assets to be delivered based on specs) but you will largely start out doing jr level stuff and coming up with ideas as part of a creative team reporting to a creative director. In an Ad agency setting if you work in a design dept vs creative dept the leadership role is usually called a Design Director. Not an AD. There are usually steps on this ladder. This can change entirely outside of ad agencies but ad agencies tend to be where the most high paying jobs are traditionally. The previous post mentions portfolio school. They are referring to something like Miami Ad School or Brand Center. If your current portfolio focuses on things like typography or identity you likely don’t have what is needed to get a Jr Art Director job. Finishing schools or portfolio schools are good at helping you get ready for what’s needed—concept focused big ideas. Usually a 1 yr intensive program like the above mentioned. Keep in mind these labels are not a comment on a person’s creative capacity. It is solely about job function and how this world creates billable hours.

I wouldn't even tell an ad agency that you have any interest in design or that's what you'll end up doing regardless of your title.
Make your own art direction led portfolio, answer briefs, enter competitions.

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