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.

Personality Type

• Artistic / Enterprising

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

Source: Sisyphus ODB