Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Art director internship skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Scott Foster,

Brian Pirman

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical art director internship skills. We ranked the top skills for art director interns based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.4% of art director internship resumes contained art direction as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an art director internship needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 art director internship skills for your resume and career

1. Art Direction

Art direction is an essential job in the activities related to theatre, advertising, fashion, publishing as well the film industry. All of these fields have a direct or indirect connection with art and therefore require direction and supervision regarding this very aspect of the job. The art director is responsible for how a product turns out visually..

Here's how art director interns use art direction:

Worked with the design department to conceptualize and present concepts to clients Skills Used Art Direction, Presentation, and Graphic Design
Assisted with concept development, and art direction for multiple agency projects including the Washington Auto Show.

2. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how art director interns use graphic design:

Provided graphic design services including the creation and design of posters and advertisements for events.
Intern responsible for department graphic design for upcoming events and visiting artists.

3. Adobe Creative Suite

Here's how art director interns use adobe creative suite:

Illustrated and designed magazine and book covers using programs in the Adobe Creative Suite 3 along with the Creative Suite 2.
Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in design, web and multimedia software and applications, such as Adobe Creative Suite.

4. Brainstorming

Here's how art director interns use brainstorming:

Participated in brainstorming sessions for marketing campaigns.
Rendered preliminary concepts for accounts, refined logos Participated in brainstorming sessions, Prepared presentation boards Performed miscellaneous jobs for various departments

5. Creative Concepts

A creative concept is a big idea that helps in capturing the audience's interest, attracting customers, influencing decisions, and help them to take action. A creative concept can be applied to all communication channels like messages, call to action, emails, etc. Generally, a headline or a tagline is the place where creative concepts play a vital role in successfully attracting the target audience.

Here's how art director interns use creative concepts:

Communicated and presented creative concepts.
Assisted in developing creative concepts for Audi Magazine and Audi collection catalog.Created web banners and POS deliverables for Bosch Kitchen Appliances.

6. Photography

Here's how art director interns use photography:

Contributed to art director's visual resources by capturing original product and signage photography.
Web ad design Web landing page design Product photography

7. Campaign Concepts

Here's how art director interns use campaign concepts:

Developed logo and campaign concepts for clients.

8. Copywriting

Here's how art director interns use copywriting:

Created a whole TV commercial campaign from idea development, storyboard making to copywriting for C.P.
Developed advertising for various golf communities' marketing efforts including design/layout and copywriting of advertising, editorial and collateral materials.

9. Creative Directors

Here's how art director interns use creative directors:

Collaborated with creative directors, art directors and copywriters for print, web, TV and non-traditional advertising.
Served as liaison between the company and the agency Creative Directors during commercial productions.

10. Flyers

Here's how art director interns use flyers:

Designed materials including POS, mailings, brochures, posters, flyers and other collateral materials.
Created flyers, show cards, and prepared artwork and media files for exhibitions director.

11. Adobe Photoshop

Here's how art director interns use adobe photoshop:

Used advanced Adobe Photoshop technique to address organization, exceptional and image editing process.
Selected and color-corrected artwork leveraging expertise with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

12. Client Presentations

Client presentations are speeches or demonstrations presented to clients in an effort to either convince clients to work with the company or to provide updates to client projects. These presentations often include evidence of success, whether this is past success from previous projects or current success in a project the company is actively working on for the client.

Here's how art director interns use client presentations:

Aided with client presentation comps for Best Buy, Fruit of the Loom and Applebee s.
Worked on mechanicals and storyboards, created preliminary sketches for client presentations.

13. Web Banners

A web banner is used on websites as a form of advertisement to showcase products and services via images situated at strategic positions on the web page. They are mostly rectangular and can be situated at the bottom, top, right, middle or left part of any given web page or online content. A web banner is a popular form of online advertising and doesn't obstruct the viewing process of web visitors like pop-up ads.

Here's how art director interns use web banners:

Developed campaign for Pujols Family Foundation, worked directly with clients, designed ads, web banners, and product branding.
Worked on various interactive Web Banners and Billboard design for Nokia based on the brief and tight guidelines given.

14. Web Design

Here's how art director interns use web design:

Web design/development and print communications.
Worked with digital team on presentation and oversaw web design for landing pages.

15. Mood Boards

Here's how art director interns use mood boards:

Produce concepts for photo shoots Compile inspiration images for mood boards Help facilitate photo shoots Assist in keeping magazine's image consistent
Assisted creative director with mood boards, campaign development and final advertising concepts.

What skills help Art Director Interns find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What art director internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Scott Foster

Associate Professor of Studio Art, Chair of Creative Arts Department, Siena College

Working on a team. The exact project might not matter much, although it's better if it dovetails with your interests or career goals. This could be as simple as volunteering at a non-profit to revamp a website or build an app to measure outcomes.

What type of skills will young art director internships need?

Brian Pirman

Associate Professor, St. Norbert College

For someone who is contemplating a career in graphic design, I recommend several things. One would be to develop a portfolio that shows a diverse skill-set. This may include expertise in design and layout, photography, illustration, typography as well as animation and video. If you have a more varied skill set, you are more likely to either gain employment or able to do freelance work. The other thing is internships, internships, internships. Having a portfolio of applied work (versus school projects), as long as it's good, will separate you from the competition.

Do you want to know more?

List of art director internship skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an art director internship resume and required skills for an art director internship to have include:

Art Direction
Graphic Design
Adobe Creative Suite
Brainstorming
Creative Concepts
Photography
Campaign Concepts
Copywriting
Creative Directors
Flyers
Adobe Photoshop
Client Presentations
Web Banners

Web Design
Mood Boards
Photo Shoots
Creative Ideas
Layout Design
Print ADS
Facebook
POS
Promotional Materials
OOH
Brainstorm
Print Materials
Logo Design

Mail Pieces
Design Concepts
Print Advertisements
PowerPoint
Video Content
Creative Solutions
Creative Process
Rebranding
Premiere Pro
NYC
BMW
Creative Projects

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Zippia Careers
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Industry
Art Director Internship
Art Director Internship Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs