What Are The Differences Between Creative Director vs Art Director

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Greg Gunn
Published
December 21, 2017

Greg Gunn breaks down the difference between Creative and Art Director, who's steering the ship? Or looking into the future of the project. And Who's working hands on?

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And this was from I'm notsure if Vince is here with us,but this from Vincerose and Vince asked,which is really areally great question.We get all thetime, which is whatare the differences inrole and responsibilitybetween a creative directorand an art director?And I think that'sa great question,and the answer comes in alot of different flavors,depending on, Iguess, where you are.But does anyone want to take astab at answering that first?Like, does anyone haveany ideas or any thoughts?Right I believe.Yeah, Yeah.So like our directorsare kind of like direct.They were like handson with the projectthat's being created to makesure that everything looksgood, feels good and likecreative directors are tryingto make sure that itmakes the business money,like in the sense I get it.It's going to be profitable.It's going to be aprofitable business wise.And art directors is mostlyfocused on the heads downinto the actual project itself.I'm just guessing.Yeah Let's see.Yeah, you were OK.Yeah, Thanks.Thanks for jumping in there.I think that's apretty good breakdown.Like, like fundamentally,you know, the difference.So let's if youdon't mind, I liketo expand on that a little bit.So I think from my backgroundin the like advertisingand, you know, motion designworld, and this will varydepending on where you're at.But yeah, typicallya creative directoris kind of like thecaptain of the ship.So, so their job isreally to look, you know,the kind of like eyeglassand like, look, look deepinto the future,you know, and tryto figure out, OK, what dowe need to worry about next?What's coming?You know, are there anyice icebergs out there?Like, what do we needto worry about, right?And just in general to make surethat the project and the teamis on the right track, you know?And you know, a lotof creative directors,you know, some canbe really hands on.Others can beextremely hands off.And like I said,there's a lot of kindof fluctuation in between.But but essentiallythe creative directoris kind of like the gluebetween the internal teamand making sure that everyoneis heading the right direction.And ultimately what the clientneeds, what they're asking forand are their needs being met?Are we striking abalance, you know,because those creativepeople were always like,let's make the best thing we canthat looks the most interestingand the coolest and whatever.But maybe that's not exactlywhat the client wants,and there's alwaysthat place in betweenbecause the client knew howto do what you're doing.They would justdo it themselves.They wouldn't need you.So ultimately, they'relooking for a creative vision,some sort of guidance.But they do have somethings that they want.And I guess it's thecreative director's jobto be mindful of that and strikethat balance between the two asopposed to, as you put it,you're an art director.It's like their mission isjust to make everything likehit a certain caliber, acertain quality of aesthetic.And again, artdirectors play a lotof different roles in alot of different places.But but typically it'slike the art directorshould be your leader in termsof the design and the executionand have the kind of aestheticvision for ultimatelywhat the project will lookand feel like and the toneand everything.So the way creativedirectors and artdirectors might worktogether, for example,is creative, could comein and say, well, OK,we need something thatspeaks to this demographicand is friendly but nottoo playful or cute,and it needs to be illustrated.It would then be theart director's jobto say, OK, yeah, andask questions and havethis kind of back and forth.And then figure out a, youknow, a point of referenceto use in terms of what theart style will look like,how typography willlook and all that stuff.And then the kindof back and forthbetween that person andthe creative directoris trying to get trying toget it in the right place.So that you're solvingthe client's problem,you're hearingwhat they're sayingand you're doing yourbest to address it.And then on the otherhand, it's up to parwith what you want to produce asa business that will hopefullyget you more work in the future.And, you know, if you'rereally doing it right,make you proud of what youmade at the end of the daysometimes.And I think blindfalls in this categorydepending on thescale of the job.But I will find myself beinga creative director and artdirector, and that's,you know, thatcan be for a lot of reasons.One budget, you know, andto just time and resources.You know, ideally,I think, you know,you would want both ofthose, both of those peoplethere to be ableto work together.But that's not always the case.So sometimes you needto wear both hats.That's sort of my mini rant ona creative direction and artdirection.What the difference is.So yeah, one is really beinghands on doing the work,and the other is like keepinga keeping a safe distance,but being able to kind ofsee the forest for the treesand look beyond what pixels areimmediately in front of you,if that makes sense.

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