Roles within the Magazine Industry: Art Director

What is an Magazine Art Director?

A magazine art director is the person who oversee's the art, i.e the photographs, and perhaps even drawings that appear in magazines, the art director usually oversees the entire design department working with photo editors and editors to co-ordinate what images will match up with what words. The magazine art director would also work on the specific look and feel wanted for the magazine, making sure that there is a unified look throughout.

What qualifications do you need to become an Magazine Art Director?

To become an Magazine Art Director, there are many things that help someone to gain the training necessary to be an art director. In High School, a student should have at least taking Art for a GCSE. Post-secondary education, going to an art school is particularly helpful as a stepping stone towards the career as an Art Director. Art School's are particularly helpful as a number of them offer training in graphic design which includes courses in typography, design, layout and photography, a person must present a portfolio typically to be even considered for an art school.

What are the responsibilities of an Magazine Art Director?

The responsibilities of an Magazine Art Director is that they must over-see the whole of the design department and work with photo editors and editors to make sure the right images are going to the right words and that the whole magazine as a whole flows together rather than it coming out all un-matched and looking bad because of the Art Director not overseeing that everything was looking good. The Art Director also has the responsibility of trying to find a "look" for the magazine, making the magazine have its own style and therefore ensuring people will buy it and have interest in it.

What experience do you need to become an Magazine Art Director?

To become an Magazine Art Director, like most jobs, you'll need to get some experience in this area, experience that could help you get a job is by doing an internship, this could include doing anything in a magazine company as every little experience helps in gaining steps forward to getting the "dream" job. Art Schooling also helps with gaining experience.