Managing the Chaos: Scott asks the question, “What Makes a Good Art Director?” (pt. 2)
Continued from last weeks discussion, here are some of the best answers we gathered….
Leadership skills and good design skills: the ability to coach a designer to find their own best solution. -Patrice
A great director brings greatness out of others and communicates concepts simply. -Michael Bast
Bravery. Collaboration. Trust. –Penelope Dullaghan
He or she has some knowledge of the importance (and historical effectiveness) of illustration in the field being considered: editorial, advertising, multimedia, etc., and how it differs in effect and execution from straight design and/or photography. He or she is willing to trust the instincts and creative input from the illustrator, as opposed to just hiring a pair of hands. - John Maggard
I’ve worked for clients who’ve told me exactly what they want, and others who’ve pretty much turned me loose. Both approaches can yield wonderful results. Difficulty occurs when the job really has no flexibility, but those all-important parameters are hidden from the artist. -Chuck
A clear vision of what is needed. - David Reinbold
I’ve spent 35 years practicing. Maybe one of these days I’ll get it right. -Tim
A good art director can communicate a vision and then release it to the
artist. Next step is partnering with the artist and giving the vision enough
room to have its say. – Andrea Eberbach
Working as both an art director and a freelance illustrator, I’ve experienced the frustration when design is forced to fall victim to the ‘convenience’ of stock art. A good art director communicates visually and will often see an image beforehand in his/her imagination that best illustrates their desired message. Problem is, the design process is too often the reverse where we are stuck trying to find an existing image that will work, changing our concept to fit what can be found. I love opening the door to creativity and allowing an illustrator to translate my thoughts graphically. -Clint Hansen
An art director is good when they love their job. They’re great when they are perceptive, honest, open to communication, willing to challenge you to perform to your best but also willing to hear you out when you present an offbeat idea. A good art director gives input but doesn’t lead the illustrator on a leash– they give their views and collaborate, but ultimately trust the illustrator to deliver more than what they ever expected. They’re in your corner and work with you to produce the best work you can for their product. –Meg Hunt
