But sometimes the Art director would call the shots (and maybe highres could confirm this). I'm not a great talented designer myself, but I do have some ideas to know what looks 'okay/good' and whatnot. I'd then pitch this idea to the art director, who makes the final decisions by combining all our ideas together and reach an agreement.
Usually my ideas consists of usability issues, cross browser compatibility and small ideas involving layouts. Art directors would be responsible for colours, logo designs, etc...
Well I've only been in the industry for 1 year as a graduate, so I don't know much and trying to see what others are doing.
As for the interview, what I find is try to show that you're workable. I'm not employer, but if I was to hire someone, it'd be someone I can work with. G'luck!
As an Art Director we are NOT responsible for the actual creation of logos, picking color schemes, or even laying out the designs. I had to do years of this type of creative web and print design work (logo design, type and page layouts, image and retouching work, processing new photography, developing and presenting artwork or content to my Art Director, HTML page and content design, CSS and Java callouts), while fine tuning my chops and developing my portfolio to make my way up to Art Director.
All the dynamic programming language work (PHP, SQL, Cold Fusion, server side call outs, et.) are handled by an IT Programmer who in turn hands some of his grunt work off to his web production artists.
It's the Graphic Designers that will come up with several creative concepts based on my overall requirements and present them to me for overall review, proofing and QC and to make sure they are meeting the clients requirements and are on track. I am also in close contact with our Account Exec who is in turn in contact with the client or their Account Exec on a daily basis and helps with getting changes, revisions, meeting deadlines and gathering input or suggestions from the client.
I unlike many other AD's will
usually take the time and give specific input and hands on help to Graphic Artists on the creative work THEY have cooked up. It's still up to them to do the cooking and come up with something that is aesthetically pleasing, functional (HTML, CSS, Java technical work) and meets the clients requirements and is delivered in a timely fashion (i.e. I will say I need such and such layouts by this date), also bear in mind there are many small deadlines within the final client deadlines that designers have to be aware of, even if it means working nights and weekends to meet those internal deadlines).
What I as an Art or Creative Director typically do when setting up a job or project is: Nail down the requirements of the job (i.e., size, overall themes or direction, deadlines and time requirements, put together the design teams or who is working together on what, etc. and act as a Production Manager to manage the production of the designers and production artists).
I have a whole host of other rsponsibilities than this, just trying to give a a barebones version of the production process as relates to my agency and most typical agencies in my industry.
The hierarchy in a medium to small agency usually goes something like this:
CEO or Pres (If it is a big enough or high dollar account, they will want to be kept current and will decide which AE and AD get the project, if not the Account Executive working with the AD is the management team)
Art Directors and Account Execs
Print and Web Designers
Production Artists
Printers and Comp or Mockup Techs (used to be called "print devils" in the old days)
Gophers (Packing and Shipping)
Sorry for this extremely long and somewhat confusing post but I hope it sheds some light on the real word design and production process in the advertising and marketing industries.
i found this really helpful to read,i am still a student but it will be a big help in the future im sure
thanks a lot
No problem, glad I could help.
