Art director

The term art director is an overall title for a variety of similar job functions in publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games.

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In publishing, where the term originated, an art director organizes the pages of a magazine or newspaper and in consultation with an editor, choose or design accompanying pictures or graphics.

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An art director, in the hierarchical structure of a film|movie art department, works directly below the production designer and a large part of their duties include the administrative aspects of the art department. They are responsible for assigning tasks to personnel, keeping track of the art department budget and scheduling, as well as over all quality control. They are often also a liaison to other departments; especially the film|construction department. In the past, the art director title was used to denote the head of the art department (hence the Academy Award for best Art Direction) however, the Art Directors union felt that the title was becoming too diluted, as multiple art directors where appearing on a single show (negating the idea of one person responsible to the look of a show) and people started giving themselves the title without the approval of the union. As a result, the union decided to create the title of production designer, and created rules as to the use of the title, namely there can be only one production designer on a show, and the union must approve the use of the title. See also production designer, set designer, set decorator, leadman.

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In the world of Advertising an art director takes on the familiar function in the Publishing since but is more dynamic and far

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ranging. An art director may be responsible for the look, feel and sound of a print ad, television commercial, radio spot and interactive

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campaign. Their traditional counterpart is the copywriter who is respondsible for the copy. Either one may create the original idea from which some form of media ultimately springs forth. In terms of hierarchy an art director usually reports to a creative director.

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