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The differences between designer/art directors and art directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a designer/art director and an art director. Additionally, a designer/art director has an average salary of $97,448, which is higher than the $88,367 average annual salary of an art director.
The top three skills for a designer/art director include photography, graphic design and creative concepts. The most important skills for an art director are graphic design, art direction, and creative concepts.
| Designer/Art Director | Art Director | |
| Yearly salary | $97,448 | $88,367 |
| Hourly rate | $46.85 | $42.48 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 53,314 | 11,472 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An art director collaborates with the design and art staff for books, public relations firms, advertising agencies, or newspaper publishers. Art directors create designs and layouts that embody the organization and send the message they want the audience to get. They work with producers and directors of theatres, television, and movie productions to oversee set designs. Being an art director also includes critiquing people's work, working to reach deadlines while still following the budget allocated for a certain project, and (on occasion) disciplining designers who are slacking off on the job.
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.
Designer/art directors and art directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Designer/Art Director | Art Director | |
| Average salary | $97,448 | $88,367 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $157,000 | Between $57,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | The Walt Disney Company |
| Best paying industry | Media | Technology |
There are a few differences between a designer/art director and an art director in terms of educational background:
| Designer/Art Director | Art Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between designer/art directors' and art directors' demographics:
| Designer/Art Director | Art Director | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 11% | 11% |