A List of Industry Insights I've Learned As an Art Director
Practical advice, lessons learned, and insights to navigate the creative industry as an art director
Hope you’re having a good weekend and enjoying getting into the Christmas spirits. It’s the first of December and I feel like the year flew by. I want to thank you for all the support and love I received on my recent notes, I’ve been thinking on where I want to go with this newsletter as I have recently felt a bit down and pressured with writing. There’s been some newsletters popping up very closely copying my format and series, and although I am happy more people are wanting to educate, I feel like doing the exact same thing as someone else isn’t the right thing to do, especially after almost two years writing this newsletter and finally gaining traction in the last few months. It feels frustrating and sometimes I feel like being open like this is backfiring me rather than helping. I get blocked on what to write about and whether or not my newsletter stays interesting or unique enough.
Sharing my personal experiences, inspirations, and the way I educate is something I care deeply about. It’s close to me, and I’m excited to put it out there for those who needed it just like I once did. I’ve been lucky to connect with some of you more closely, chatting over careers and questions on Zoom. This got me thinking it might be nice to share some insights I’ve learned over the years as an art director in a simple list.
So here we go. This isn’t written in any specific order or format. Some points are a stream of thoughts, while others are more direct. Get ready for a long list packed with valuable insights I wish I had known before starting out.
Getting your foot in the door is always the hardest part, but once you land that first opportunity, whether it’s a freelance gig or a junior role, things tend to flow more easily. Keep going and don’t give up.
You have to find your first job on your own, but once I became a junior, a whole new world opened up. I discovered recruiters, recruitment companies, and freelancers who help place creatives with brands and agencies or fill roles for those companies. They usually aren’t interested in helping someone land their very first job since they earn a percentage of your salary (paid by the company, not you), but once you reach mid-level, they can be incredibly helpful.
It often takes longer to move from junior to mid-level at a big agency because you’ll be working under many people and only playing a small part in larger campaigns. Starting at a smaller agency or brand as your first role can be a better choice. You’ll get to dip your toes into a variety of tasks and have more opportunities to show that you can handle responsibility.
This brings me to the second point about levels. Generally, a junior role covers 0–3 years of experience, mid-level is 3–6 years, senior is 6–10 years, and then comes creative director. However, this isn’t set in stone. If you’ve outgrown your junior role and have taken on a lot of responsibility, talk to your manager about a promotion. If your company isn’t open to it and you’re ready to move forward, start looking for mid-level roles elsewhere. For context, it took me less than 1.5 years to move up to mid-level.
Re-Edition Zine by Charlotte Wales Your portfolio doesn’t need to be filled with just client projects. Including personal work like photo series, written pieces, or even volunteering activities with events or organisations can make your portfolio stand out. These projects often showcase your individuality and creativity, making you more interesting as a creative.
Make sure your portfolio includes at least one passion project that reflects your values as an art director. It’s something you can talk about during interviews, where you’re often asked to present your work and walk them through it. Sharing a passion project allows you to highlight what makes you unique. This could be anything from a sustainability initiative to an editorial project on a specific topic, a non-profit event, or even a zine.
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