Day in the life
A Day in the Life of an Art Director
What art directors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for an art director?
Review campaign concepts with copywriters. From there, the day usually includes develop visual concepts, lead creative teams, and review and approve designs. Most work full-time with long hours near deadlines.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for an art director working full time.
- Review campaign concepts with copywriters.
- Give feedback on designers’ layouts.
- Present concepts to the client.
- Direct a photo shoot.
- Review final files for print.
- Plan next week’s workload.
- Meet the account team about budget.
Where art directors work
Art directors work in agencies, studios and offices, plus photo shoots and production sets.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time with long hours near deadlines.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Develop visual concepts
- Lead creative teams
- Review and approve designs
- Present ideas to clients
- Manage budgets and schedules
- Ensure brand consistency
- Collaborate with copywriters and marketers
Tools you’ll use every day
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Figma
- Presentation software
- Project management tools
- Mood board tools
- Proofing software
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Creative leadership
- High pay
- Variety of projects
- Visible impact
What’s hard
- Deadline pressure
- Client demands
- Long hours
- Requires years of experience
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love visual design
- I want to lead creative teams
- I can present ideas confidently
- I handle feedback and pressure
- I care about brand consistency
- I have design experience
Not sure? Take the free Art Director fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Manage team workload to prevent burnout
- Respect licensing for images and fonts
- Follow set safety on shoots
- Protect client confidentiality