Managing the Chaos: Scott asks the question, “What makes a good art director?” (pt. 1)
To help understand the creative process and what it takes to make the collaboration between illustrator and art director more fluid, I thought the answers to this question might be enlightening.
The first trait of a good art director that sprang to mind was teamwork. Art directors, creative directors, designers and illustrators are passionately focused on their work, as we know. And sometimes it seems more comfortable to work as a lone constructor, undistracted by “outside” voices. But in my experience, that’s not ideal. Besides, there are lots of ways to be a more collaborative player within the larger team. Learning more about each other’s respective roles in the artistic world is a good start. Listen to each other. That’s one route to rising above the basic differences and misconceptions, and elevating our work as well.
Here’s what Seth Godin has to say about art and where it comes from. “Art is an original gift, a connection that changes the recipient, a human ability to make a difference. Art is the very human act of creating the uncreated, of connecting with another person at a human level.” No reason you couldn’t do that with other humans, right?
Here are my favorite answers from some of my contemporaries and our own artists at Scott Hull Associates:
What makes a good art director? A tenuous balance of humility and passion. -Adele
A good art director is one who can sell a good idea to an editor. A good art director is one who knows a good idea when he sees one. A good art director is one who hires me. ☺ - Curtis Parker
Was it Ogilvy who said “Always hire people (smarter/better) than you are? Aspire to be the dumbest person in the room.” Plus I’d add that wisdom is worth more than raw intelligence. -Brian
Star Trek Analogy: We are the creative Federation, Collaborating with Klingon warriors to vanquish the Borg of assimilated ideas, leveraging marketing with Vulcan precision, and all the while making our clients’ Ferengi bean counters satisfied with an increase of gold-plated latinum.
-Von Glitschka
Like a good coach, a good art director is a visual person with a good connection between their eyes and mouth. They know how to get those involved excited about the project. They know how to supply visual inspiration and reference while still giving enough room for the artist’s interpretation. –Lisa Ballard
Check back in next week to see more answers!
