An Advertising Senior Art Director will oversee a creative team of copywriters and designers who put together a product for clients. The senior art director develops an advertising campaign that is based on the client's marketing plan assuring that their ideas go from conceptualization to execution. To ensure that a client's needs are being met, the senior art director will work with the Account Executives. They will also assign projects to various members of their staff and verify that schedules are being kept and deadlines are made.
To become an Advertising Senior Art Director it would be important to have a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in the advertising field. Some firms are even requiring seven to ten years of experience. A two or four year degree in advertising and public relations would also be beneficial but not required. Although advertising is a strong and growing business, a position as an advertising senior art director is competitive and takes a lot of experience. Those with experience should also have a strong portfolio and strong skills in communication. There are many entry level positions available in the advertising business that could prove to create the foundation needed to lead to a future career as an advertising senior art director. Furthermore, many advertising agencies and firms will have training to help accelerate advancement in this career. There are also many courses available at local colleges and universities and even online that can help individuals gain specific skills needed to prepare for a career as a senior art director.
While a bachelor’s degree is required and a college degree in advertising can better prepare individuals for the creative and visual aspects of selling and presenting a product and service, there are some personality traits that can make for a successful career in advertising. Senior Art Directors should be creative individuals who are self-motivated and willing to work long hours. They should also work well with people and in front of people as strong communication and presentation skills are important. They should be able to delegate since they will be leading a team. They would do well to have a strong background in copywriting and or design. Being motivated and competitive are important traits for this field but should never get in the way of establishing and maintaining great personal relationships with the advertising team, sales representatives, and the client. Those pursuing a career in advertising should also be adaptable, decisive, and able to handle stress.
Senior Art Directors can make between $62,000 and $115,000 but salaries are based on the agency’s size, the location of the market and the individual credentials and experience of the employee. To gain the experience needed most people work in copywriting or design roles within an advertising agency for many years. Employers can be highly selective when hiring for this position so it is important that individuals pursuing this position are self-motivated and energetic candidates with strong communication and leadership skills.
