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The differences between designer/art directors and creative directors & designer can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a designer/art director, becoming a creative director & designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a creative director & designer has an average salary of $108,589, which is higher than the $97,448 average annual salary of a designer/art director.
The top three skills for a designer/art director include photography, graphic design and creative concepts. The most important skills for a creative director & designer are graphic design, sketch, and photography.
| Designer/Art Director | Creative Director & Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,448 | $108,589 |
| Hourly rate | $46.85 | $52.21 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 53,314 | 52,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
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.
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.
Designer/art directors and creative directors & designer have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Designer/Art Director | Creative Director & Designer | |
| Average salary | $97,448 | $108,589 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $157,000 | Between $72,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Media | Internet |
There are a few differences between a designer/art director and a creative director & designer in terms of educational background:
| Designer/Art Director | Creative Director & Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between designer/art directors' and creative directors & designer' demographics:
| Designer/Art Director | Creative Director & Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 13% |