Profession art director

Art directors shape the visual layout of a concept. They create innovative designs, develop artistic projects  and manage the cooperation between all aspects involved. Art directors may perform creative work in theatre, marketing, advertising, video and motion picture, fashion or online companies. They ensure that the work performed is visually appealing to audiences.

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Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Design principles

    The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.

  • Personal directing styles

    Understand and analyse the behaviour of specific directors.

  • Theatre techniques

    Understand techniques that facilitate a successful presentation of a play.

  • Health and safety regulations

    Necessary health, safety, hygiene and environmental standards and legislation rules in the sector of particular activity.

  • Business strategy concepts

    The terminology related to the design and implementation of major trends and aims which are taken by an organisation's executives, while keeping in mind its resources, competition and environments.

Skills

  • Manage budgets

    Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

  • Develop creative ideas

    Developing new artistic concepts and creative ideas.

  • Determine visual concepts

    Determine how best to represent a concept visually.

  • Direct an artistic team

    Lead and instruct a complete team with the required cultural expertise and experience.

  • Cue a performance

    Plan the technical actions and interventions during an artistic performance. Determine when actors go on and off stage. Make sure these cues are followed to ensure a smooth running of the performance.

  • Analyse the need for technical resources

    Define and make a list of the required resources and equipment based on the technical needs of the production.

  • Consult with producer

    Consult with a motion picture producer about requirements, deadlines, budget, and other specifications.

  • Work with playwrights

    Work with writers through workshops or script development schemes.

  • Finish project within budget

    Make sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.

  • Read scripts

    Read a playbook or film script, not only as literature, but identifying, actions, emotional states, evolution of characters, situations, different sets and locations, etc.

  • Develop design concept

    Research information to develop new ideas and concepts for the design of a specific production. Read scripts and consult directors and other production staff members, in order to develop design concepts and plan productions.

  • Assemble an artistic team

    Bring together an artistic team, after identifying the needs, looking for candidates, conducting interviews and aligning on the conditions of the project.

  • Create new concepts

    Come up with new concepts.

  • Develop professional network

    Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

  • Create solutions to problems

    Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.

  • Follow time cues

    Observe the conductor, orchestra or director and follow text and vocal score to time cues accurately.

  • Keep up with trends

    Monitor and follow new trends and developments in specific sectors.

  • Analyse a script

    Break down a script by analysing the dramaturgy, form, themes and structure of a script. Conduct relevant research if necessary.

Optional knowledge and skills

define artistic vision multimedia systems manage staff trends in fashion carry out interviews to select artistic team members manage contracts musical instruments graphic design supervise equipment digital marketing techniques ensure visual quality of the set liaise with cultural partners estimate duration of work work with motion picture editing team maintain blocking notes marketing principles evaluate art quality promote cultural venue events evaluate advertising campaign select music for performance perform project management history of fashion music and video industry computer equipment coordinate technical teams in artistic productions plan musical performances manage prompt book approve advertising campaign use technical documentation create production schedules negotiate with artists work with pre-production team coordinate advertising campaigns audiovisual equipment coordinate with creative departments carry out auditions advertising techniques acting and directing techniques photography check material rescources social media marketing techniques coordinate artistic production marketing management work with video and motion picture production team lighting techniques film production process organise rehearsals cinematography technical drawings search databases translate artistic concepts to technical designs musical genres cultural projects contact talent agents discover acting talent lead cast and crew

Source: Sisyphus ODB