The Assistant Art Director working in the advertising department of a corporation can have varied responsibilities depending on the size and structure of the company he or she is working in. In some corporations the individual might be responsible for advertisements from the initial concept through completion. In others, he or she may be delegated responsibilities to complete only certain phases of the advertisement.
The individual may create ads for any type of media, including newspapers, magazines, billboards, direct mail, packaging, promotion, posters, books, or broadcast. In very large corporations the individual is responsible for helping the senior art director supervise artists, designers, copywriters, and illustrators. In smaller industries the Assistant Art Director may function as an artist, illustrator, and copywriter.
The Assistant Art Director working in the advertising department of a corporation may be required to design advertisements and commercials that are eye-catching and effective. He or she assists in the development of the graphics, typography, photography, color, illustration - the entire look and layout of the advertisements.
If the corporation is small, the Assistant Art Director may choose or design type styles, sizes, and colors for both the headlines and the body copy. If the company is larger, the Assistant Art Director may recommend or review the suggestions of the other artists working in the department. The Assistant Art Director may sketch or draw art and graphics to be used in advertisements, or he or she may just offer suggestions to the artists to render or produce. The Assistant Art Director is often at a “shoot” when a photographer is taking a picture for an advertisement. The assistant tells the individual exactly how he or she wants the finished photo to look, and what should be emphasized, in order to make the advertising effective.
If the corporation is working with television broadcast commercials, the Assistant Art Director has additional duties. He or she may be responsible for locating freelance people to work on a commercial, including producers, directors, camera people, set designers, etc. The individual may sketch out storyboards indicating the way the set should be designed, photographed, and lit. The Assistant Art Director is also responsible for having design work done for any graphics and type to be used in the television commercial. The Assistant Art Director may work with the corporate graphic designers developing the art, graphics, and layout for company logos, packaging, corporate identity, promotional or sales materials, brochures, leaflets, or booklets.
Depending on the size of the department, the structure of the company, and the individual's duties, he or she may also be responsible for doing the actual designing and developing of ideas. The individual is often assigned the task of finding outside or freelance people to perform various functions, including airbrushing, type design, photography, and illustration. In addition to locating these people, he or she may have to negotiate fees, make sure payments are made promptly, supervise workers, and approve their work. The Assistant Art Director is required to attend meetings with the senior art director and directors or managers from the promotion, marketing, public relations, and sales departments. He or she may also attend meetings with executives and owners of the company to obtain feedback, concepts, and ideas for advertisements.
The Assistant Art Director is responsible to the senior art director in the advertising department. He or she must get used to working with the pressure and stress of meeting deadlines. While the individual may work normal business hours, he or she is often required to work overtime to develop ideas, finish advertisements, or attend meetings.
Salaries for Assistant Art Directors working in the corporate world differ from job to job depending on the company and its size, prestige, and location. Salaries also depend on the individual's experience level and his or her responsibilities and duties. Earnings can range from approximately $25,000 for an individual with little or no experience or one working in a small company to $55,000 or more for one with more experience, with more responsibility, or in a large corporation.
Employment prospects are fair for individuals seeking employment as Assistant Art Directors in corporate settings. Opportunities will get better in the coming years, as more and more companies are taking charge of their own advertising, eliminating the use of advertising agencies. There are numerous corporations located throughout the country that have internal advertising and art departments and therefore offer this position. Individuals can often get a job as an Assistant Art Director in a smaller company right after graduation from college without a great deal of experience.
There is a lot of turnover in all departments in the corporate world. The advertising and art departments are no different. Individuals may climb the career ladder by becoming the Assistant Art Director in a larger, more prestigious corporation or by obtaining a position as a full-fledged art director.
The Assistant Art Director is usually required to hold a bachelor's degree in either fine arts or commercial art. While many creative art positions do not require formal training, most corporations prefer that individuals in executive positions hold at least a four-year college degree. Although the individual may just be supervising other artists, letterers, photographers, and pasteup people, he or she must also be able to perform these tasks if need be. Courses and seminars on advertising as well as graphic arts, pasteup, layout, and photography are useful in honing skills.
He or she may be in charge of the work of freelance and corporate artists, graphics people, and photographers. The individual must know how to set priorities and be able to meet deadlines without getting flustered. The Assistant Art Director should be creative, artistic, and fully able to perform most art tasks. A working knowledge of pasteup, layout, typography, sketching, drawing, painting, photography, mechanicals, computer graphics programs, and desktop publishing is necessary. A sense of style and design is imperative.
The individual must have the ability not only to visualize an advertisement, but to communicate ideas as well. The Assistant Art Director must be articulate and personable. He or she often meets with management and directors of other departments. While many Assistant Art Directors with little experience find employment just after graduation, the individual is usually required to present a portfolio of work and ideas for review.
Assistant Art Directors working in corporations do not belong to any union. Individuals may, however, be members of a variety of trade associations. These groups often offer educational guidance, and the chance to get together with others in the same field. Some of these organizations include the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the Art Directors Club, Inc. (ADC), the One Club, the Society of Illustrators, the Graphic Artists Guild (GAG), and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Individuals might also belong to trade associations specific to their industries.
1. Put together a portfolio of your best work. If you have no real experience, include work you have done while in school. Make sure, however, that nothing in the portfolio is of mediocre quality and that it is creative, imaginative, versatile, and neat.
2. Many large corporations offer training programs and internships. Write and inquire.
3. Job openings are often advertised in trade journals and classified sections of the newspaper. Look under heading classifications of “Advertising,” “Artist,” “Art Director,” or “Corporations.”
4. Join trade associations. Many offer student memberships. Some provide job guidance and will even review your portfolio and make suggestions as to what will make it better.
5. Work on school publications to get experience with layout, type styles, headline sizes, and graphics.
6. Consider a part-time or summer job in the advertising or art department of a newspaper or magazine. It will give you hands-on experience.
7. Don't forget Internet companies when job hunting.
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