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The differences between creative directors & designer and art directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a creative director & designer, becoming an art director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a creative director & designer has an average salary of $108,589, which is higher than the $88,367 average annual salary of an art director.
The top three skills for a creative director & designer include graphic design, sketch and photography. The most important skills for an art director are graphic design, art direction, and creative concepts.
| Creative Director & Designer | Art Director | |
| Yearly salary | $108,589 | $88,367 |
| Hourly rate | $52.21 | $42.48 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 52,688 | 11,472 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
Creative Directors and Designers are responsible for leading the creative output and brand representation of a product, service, or organization's publication. Their duties include developing visual communication strategies across design, content, graphics, artworks, and media, implement industry benchmarks, leading creative marketing campaigns, and working with the design team to create product or service design. Besides that, they are involved in setting the creative direction and message of a brand and supervising the creative team in ensuring brand touchpoints consistency. Creative Directors and Designers also monitor project delivery and assist in creative project budgeting.
An art director's duty will vary depending on the line of industry involved. However, most of the responsibilities will revolve in taking charge of the artistic direction and decisions in a project or campaign. Most of the time, it is an art director's call to conceptualize and bring a vision to completion and take the lead in coordinating with various artists and creative staff. Furthermore, an art director must oversee the progress of workflow and workforce, develop plans and strategies, and approve or provide suggestions in every creative output from staff.
Creative directors & designer and art directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Director & Designer | Art Director | |
| Average salary | $108,589 | $88,367 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $163,000 | Between $57,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Walt Disney Company |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Technology |
There are a few differences between a creative director & designer and an art director in terms of educational background:
| Creative Director & Designer | Art Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between creative directors & designer' and art directors' demographics:
| Creative Director & Designer | Art Director | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 11% |