How I’d Build a Career in Art Direction From the Ground Up Today
With all my insights: a step-by-step roadmap to get started without school or industry contacts
I’m an introvert and have always felt slightly envious of the cool kids with huge friend groups that lifted each other up. The ones from big cities who seemed years ahead: more access, cooler clothes, more money, more exposure to the world. Growing up, the internet opened up a lot for me, but my career path into art direction wasn’t linear. I spent time doing the wrong internships, chasing roles I thought I wanted, and I honestly didn’t even know this career existed when I started out in the industry.
So I wrote this post for anyone starting now. A step-by-step guide based on what I’d do if I had to start all over again. Not five years ago. Not pre-TikTok. Right now, in 2025, with everything I’ve learned, and in the media and job landscape as it is today.
If you loved my ‘breaking into the industry as an art director’ series, you would really love this post!
I also have to mention that I did do a bachelor in fashion and branding, but feel like that not much I learned has been crucial to land where I am today. I started school at 18, learned the basics of Photoshop but had very little exposure to the industry and job roles. It did teach me to write down my process and think about things, but when you get into the industry you don’t have to do any of that. It’s taught me to overcomplicate things and question my taste level rather than give me the confidence and learn the power of simplicity that clients often look for.
That being sad, I 100% believe that school is absolutely not necessary. Getting into the industry a lot of things were contradicting from what I’ve learned and it was a mental switch for me. Last December I wrote a post with all the industry insights I’ve learned, going from very very specific things that would’ve changed the timeline of my career if I knew that from the beginning.
Today I’m turning those insights into a step by step career path for those starting today. It can be for people who don’t know where to start, those switching careers or wanting to do something creative but haven’t fully explored yet what.
I do recommend reading my list of insights linked below and do the ‘art director’s DNA’ course on my Substack to learn what you stand for and how to differentiate yourself on the market. This post is also exclusive for paid subscribers where I share my specific industry insights besides just education and inspiration. As a paid subscriber you also get access to the course and a lot more content.
There is no specific way to build a career in art direction and art direction is quite broad. I had compiled a list earlier with all the places you can work at as an art director, from using your background in architecture to strategy. There is a place in the industry for every type of art director, you just need to familiarise yourself with what skills are needed where. Defining this for yourself already puts you ahead of many other creatives, and with that in mind I’m sharing my step by step guide on how i’d work a career in art direction from the ground up today.
