there are a few things I want to be, but this is what I want to be the most

[mmmmallory]

ART DIRECTORS

Occupation Description

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches, and direct workers engaged in art work, layout design, and copy writing for visual communications media, such as magazines, books, newspapers, and packaging.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Art Directors.

Knowledge:

• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills:

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Abilities:

• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Source: Occupational Information Network: Art Directors.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Art Directors.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

• Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.
• Conceptualize and help design interfaces for multimedia games, products, and devices.
• Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
• Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
• Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
• Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
• Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing.
• Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
• Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.
• Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.
• Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.
• Present final layouts to clients for approval.
• Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
• Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
• Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.

Generalized Work Activities:

• Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities:

• approve product design or changes
• assign work to staff or employees
• communicate visually or verbally
• confer with other departmental heads to coordinate activities
• consult with customers concerning needs
• create art from ideas
• distinguish details in graphic arts material
• interview customers
• make presentations
• organize commercial artistic or design projects
• oversee execution of organizational or program policies
• prepare artwork for camera or press
• proofread printed or written material
• schedule work to meet deadlines
• set page layout or composition
• tell stories through musical, visual, or dramatic arts
• use computer graphics design software
• use creativity in graphics
• use creativity to art or design work
• use graphic arts techniques