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The differences between interactive art directors and freelance 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 an interactive art director and a freelance art director. Additionally, an interactive art director has an average salary of $90,392, which is higher than the $85,453 average annual salary of a freelance art director.
The top three skills for an interactive art director include develop user, UI and visual design. The most important skills for a freelance art director are photography, strong work ethic, and creative development.
| Interactive Art Director | Freelance Art Director | |
| Yearly salary | $90,392 | $85,453 |
| Hourly rate | $43.46 | $41.08 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 11,598 | 9,215 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An interactive art director oversees the design, development, and research of web-based products to promote a business' management and marketing. They are responsible for the project's overall look, which usually involves leading graphic designers and web developers to create and produce a variety of interactive products. An interactive art director manages a website, widgets on different social media platforms, or mobile applications. They collaborate with other professionals like digital marketers and product managers and outline a goal for the project.
As a freelance art director, you will work hand-in-hand with the production designer to procure works of art for your organization. Note that your duties will depend on your particular industry. Generally, though, you will determine the artistic tone of various projects and use visuals to give life to magazines, websites, ad campaigns, and lots more. You may also lead a team of artists, evaluate the art, and approve copies. In this role, it is very likely you will work for an advertising agency, publisher, or media production company.
Interactive art directors and freelance art directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Interactive Art Director | Freelance Art Director | |
| Average salary | $90,392 | $85,453 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $140,000 | Between $51,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Apple | - |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between an interactive art director and a freelance art director in terms of educational background:
| Interactive Art Director | Freelance Art Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between interactive art directors' and freelance art directors' demographics:
| Interactive Art Director | Freelance Art Director | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.6% Female, 24.4% | Male, 59.1% Female, 40.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |