Art Directors – Are They Human?
There is a fascinating misconception that plagues the Illustration industry and hurts the businesses of artists who embrace it.
For some reason, many Illustrators believe that Art Directors are omnipotent, all-knowing beings who live and work on a higher level than themselves.
As an element of human nature, one can understand why an idea like this might have been adopted.
After all, Illustrators are often in a position of trying to convince Art Directors to hire them. Much of an artist’s success relies upon this very thing. This lends itself to a natural, psychological hierarchy where Illustrators may feel that they are at the mercy of Art Directors everywhere, and therefore occupy an inferior position in the industry.
This is a flawed way of thinking, because it does considerable damage to an Illustrator’s professional relationships, and thus their careers.
The truth is, the best creative output happens when Illustrators and Art Directors work together in a collaborative way for the greater good of any given project.
This is only possible when an Illustrator and an Art Director see each other as equals.
Art Directors are People Too
It is important to remember that Art Directors are humans and creative professionals, just like Illustrators. They have their own set of challenges, skills, and limitations. Most importantly, they share an artist’s goal of creating the best possible visual solutions for every project they work on.
This idea was recently discussed on the Escape From Illustration Island Podcast:
“I love working with Art Directors because they’re already half-way there with the concept. You can talk to them, and they get it. And you’re working with them for the same ultimate goal. You want to produce this thing that’s going to be beneficial to everyone, and you’re gonna work together to get to that goal, together. It’s kind of a team.
I don’t see myself as working for them. I’m working with them, and that’s a big difference to me.“ – Diana Ponce, Episode 37
“I always thought … the Art Director is all-powerful. They are these super fancy, happy people who sit there and grace Illustrators with their assignments and then just by being mean they kill or not kill art. And seeing how desperate you are as an Art Director when you put your trust in an Illustrator has really changed my whole perspective.“ – Christoph Niemann, Episode 38
It is true that you will probably work with several Art Directors who have more experience in the industry than you do, but that doesn’t mean that you are on a lower level.
One of the best ways to approach your relationships with Art Directors is to treat yourself as an equal. This, after all, is just one more element of presenting yourself as a professional and an expert in your particular field.
Your business will improve, as will the respect that you command from your peers and fellow collaborators for years to come.
What is your experience with the Illustrator/Art Director relationship? Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
Related Posts:
- EFII Podcast Episode 37 – Diana Ponce
- EFII Podcast Episode 38 – Christoph Niemann
- 10 Tips on Contracts and Clients
- 15 Steps to Freelance Illustration
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I’d like to take this article on Art Directors a step further and ask the question, ” What Makes a Good Art Director?” Yes, the creative process has changed. But the first trait of a good art director is teamwork. Check out what a few of our contemporaries comments: http://scotthull.com/artists/blog/apr2010-1/
Well, I am lucky that I can speak from both angles, as I am an Art Director for an advertising agency and also work as a freelance illustrator. I’m sure that has help me realize that Art Directors are not Gods (I know I am not :)
When I talk to an Art Director I totally understand where they are coming from, their goals and what they want, I always listen to what they want and try to offer some of my ideas (and believe it or not I got more ‘nice one, let’s do that’ than ‘errrr, not’ …… it is no surprise that they do want exactly the same thing as you – to do some nice work.
When I am on the other end commissioning work for an Illustrator I also understand what they need from me, questions, direction. As the Art Director it is your idea and you know how you want it to look like, but then you are hiring a professional illustrator that is very good at it, so you should always listen to their input.
I think both jobs are more related to each other than most people think, in both roles you need loads of imagination and a sense of what looks good, what works, what doesn’t …….
Cheers,
Oscar (Art Director and illustrator)
Thanks for sharing, Oscar. I agree that the two worlds are more interlinked than some people realize. It would be nice to be able to work in both fields as you have.
Cheers,
Thomas
I have worked at the other end of the art director/illustrator relationship also. I always felt honored to have worked with some great illustrators and never felt like I was more important than them. I was like Wayne and Garth from “Wayne’s World” and thought, “I’m not worthy!” The highlight of a project was when I got an original illustration in the mail. I loved those days! I hope any future art directors get a rush like that when I send them my stuff!
I meant to say in the comment above “any art directors I work with in the future.” It sounds like I’m talking about them like they haven’t even been born yet! :–)
I’m honored that you used my quote to illustrate the topic :)
I too have worked both as an illustrator as well as an art director and understand both sides. Although, I never had the responsibility to hire another illustrator, i understand the things an AD has to deal with on a daily basis. Not surprisingly, many of the responsibilities are the same.
Essentially, it all boils down to relationships. You are dealing with people, and in business just as in life it’s always good to go into it with confidence balanced with respect. Most times, you’ll get the same in return :)
Actually, I was an art director for many years, from the age of 22, and did all of my own illustration/design. (There were no illustrators to speak of in Anchorage, Alaska, and computers weren’t used for communication OR graphics up there for quite a few years later!) Later on, I was able to do some hiring of illustrators and photographers, and above all it was always a team effort on all of our parts. I was able to understand what they needed, and I made sure through excellent communications what I needed from them.
As an aside, I often do work now for the last ad agency I worked at as an art director, most recently doing a logo job.
Thanks for this excellent blog subject!