Difference Between Art Director and Creative Director

koshal

13 years ago

Art Director vs Creative Director

Art Director and Creative Director are two job titles that are often confused when it comes to their meanings and connotations as most people do not see a difference between them. In the movie industry, an art director is in charge of the sets used in the making of a movie, whereas a creative director is in charge of the designing part of the sets used in a movie or a film. This is the main difference between art director and creative director. This is actually a basic way to put the job role expected from both art director and the creative director in the field of movie making.

Who is a Creative Director?

A creative director is the person who is in charge of all the creative work in a project. He thinks about the project first and takes the decision on how to make the concept on which they are working successful. This project can be anything from an advertisement to a movie. He is the leader of the team that consists of copy chief, photographer, as well as the art director.

So, in a campaign for a brand, a creative director tends to set the vision for the brand and campaign. He tries his best to take the movie or the production to the outer world by means of brand and campaign. The creative director relies more on his creativity. The work of a creative director has to appeal to the human mind, if his efforts have to be successful. The creative director does the best to advertise. He is very much assisted by the art director in getting the artistic visuals and other artistic presentation at the right time. Hence, a creative director trusts the art director to put his creative ideas in to practice. Both creative director and art director have to complement each other to move towards success.

Who is an Art Director?

An art director listens to the strategy or concept or the idea provided by the creative director. Then, the art director puts that concept, strategy, or idea into practice through his artistic talent. So, an art director is responsible for the design or the look of the final product which can be an advertisement or a film.

An art director tends to be more tactical when compared to a creative director in the sense that he works more in terms of illustrating, photography, and sometimes writing too. The art director relies more on his art skills. He needs his creativity too. On the other hand, an art director helps the creative director to go on with his campaigning. Hence, it can be said that both the art director and the creative director have to work in unison to taste success in their respective fields, and also in the field of movie making. Art director does not concentrate much on advertising as he is following the orders of the creative director. He merely completes his job. However, in the absence of a creative director, art director works as the boss.

You will see that in some companies they have art directors even for different parts of the project. However, no matter how many art directors you have, there is usually one creative director to oversee all these projects.

What is the difference between Art Director and Creative Director?

• Job Description:

• A creative director is in charge of developing the concept for a project, which can be from an advertisement to a movie.

• An art director is responsible for following the creative director’s concept and putting visual effect to it.

• Education Qualifications:

• Both creative director and art director at least need a Bachelor’s degree in design, fine art, or advertising.

• Job Hierarchy:

• Creative director is a higher position than the art director.

• Art director is a lower position than the creative director.

• Connection:

• Art director works under the creative director.

• Salary:

• A creative director, as he is of higher position, is paid more than an art director.

These are the differences between art director and creative director. So, as you can see both creative director and art director are responsible for how artistically and attractively a project is completed. Though they work together an art director has to work under the creative director.

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