Hire the best Art Directors

Check out Art Directors with the skills you need for your next job.

Clients rate Art Directors
Rating is 4.8 out of 5.
4.8/5
based on 674 client reviews
Cristian Javier C.
$85/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Visual Effects
  • Maxon Cinema 4D
  • 2D Animation
  • Animated Explainer
  • Motion Graphics
  • UI Animation
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Explainer Video
  • Advertisement
  • Presentation Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Motion Design
  • Graphic Design

More than a decade of professional experience. I'm skilled at Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Cinema 4D. cardozopuig.com 3000+ hours worked and 153 successful projects with brilliant client reviews. "We asked Cristian to help us create some animated elements for a recent website redesign project. He is work was exactly what we were looking for. Communication back and forth was super smooth, the project was well organized, and everything happened exactly on time/schedule. I'd love to work with Cristian again in the future." "Cristian delivered an excellent quality animated explainer video to us. He is highly experienced and made...

Tosca V.
$65/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Fashion Consultation
  • Tech Pack
  • Fashion Design
  • Product Design
  • Clothing
  • Accessories
  • Product Development
  • Children's Clothing
  • Casual Fashion Style
  • Sportswear
  • Socks & Hosiery
  • Sourcing
  • Artwork & Print Specs
  • Activewear

+20 Years of experience in fashion design and production. Degree in fashion design at Fashion Academy Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Top rated plus by Upwork. I am an enthusiastic go-getter and share my experience in fashion design and production to get the best results. I can work well independently. I am proactive in my thinking and not afraid of making decisions. I am used to work with a wide range of materials and suppliers including sustainable options. My global production experience makes me able to support my fashion designs clearly and to explain technically. I work for international brands, wholesale, start-ups, and retail...

Csaba M.
$60/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Animation
  • Redshift3D
  • 3D Design
  • 3D Modeling
  • Video Editing
  • Audio Post Production
  • 3D Rendering
  • Video Post-Editing
  • Visual Effects
  • 3D Animation
  • Motion Graphics
  • Video Intro & Outro
  • Maxon Cinema 4D
  • Adobe After Effects

3D & Motion Designer with 15 years of experience in TV channel branding, 3D visualizations, on-air and motion graphics. Rated in TOP 1 % among Upwork freelancers. Highly proficient in Cinema 4D & After Effects. Portfolio is available at renderhell.com

Jacqueline M.
$50/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Graphic Design
  • Photo Retouching
  • Layout Design
  • Digital Marketing

Hi! Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Jacqui, a passionate creative with 10 years experience in art direction, graphic design, and digital marketing in international markets. I have a keen eye for creating clean editorial layouts (print and digital), retouching imagery, producing on-brand social media content and marketing collateral. With a proven record of brand development and growth through digital platforms, I love providing clients with unique design and direction that will set them apart.

Daniel R.
$100/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Creative Direction
  • Mobile UI Design
  • UX & UI
  • Website Prototyping
  • User Interface Design
  • Web Application
  • Branding
  • Web Design
  • WordPress
  • User Experience Design
  • Landing Page
  • Figma
  • Graphic Design

🥇 Top Rated Plus Contractor 🥇 26 years of professional experience 🥇 15 years on Upwork 🥇 1800+ Jobs Done and $4M+ Earned 🥇 Strong portfolio of Website, Mobile & Web Application (SaaS) I’m a full-time User Experience and User Interface specialist with more than 26 years of professional experience in the Design field as an Art and Creative Director. I’ve created thousands of fully responsive websites, conversion oriented landing pages, web apps (SaaS products and dashboards), mobile apps and interactive UX prototypes for all sorts of companies and causes around the world. Have access to my online portolio at: danielrothier.com My...

Paula V.
$60/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Brand Identity & Guidelines
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Presentation Design
  • Label & Package Design
  • Editorial Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Children's Book Illustration
  • Logo Design
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Illustration
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • 2D Animation
  • Adobe After Effects

✅ Fresh, unique, and beautiful visual content that’s on brand, on budget, and on time. ✅ Supporting Enterprise clients worldwide, including Microsoft, Scuderia Corsa, Toyota, TEDx, MHP, Credit Agricole and many more. ✅ Upwork Top Rated Plus - Top 3% of All Upwork Performers. ✅ Specializing in 2D Art & Illustration, Graphic Design and 2D Animation. ✅ Creative Visual Content Agency. I have more than a decade worth of experience as a professional artist and designer and successfully managed to work as a freelancer with 100+ clients. My portfolio is very diverse and includes all types of digital art and design. My key expertise is in: ✔️ 2D...

Giacomo U.
$125/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Brand Identity
  • Brand Identity Design
  • Logo Design
  • Brand Design
  • Branding
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Label & Package Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Label Design
  • Logo Usage Guidelines
  • Brochure Design
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Brand Identity & Guidelines

Hi! I'm Giacomo, and I am an expert creative graphic designer, brand identity and packaging designer. I have 20 years of experience in logo design, brand identity, packaging and label design, print design and advertising. I’m certified as Vetted Expert in brand identity design by Upwork Talent Management Team (Only the top 1% of Upwork experts hold this badge). Working with high-impact startups and large international brands, I have learned to pair my design skills with a highly professional, effective and strategic work style. I create smart, modern, and conceptual design works through constant exploration of new trends in the visual...

Allison B.
$85/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Web Design
  • Layout Design
  • Branding
  • UI/UX Prototyping
  • Graphic Design
  • Squarespace
  • Creative Direction
  • Communication Design
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Print Design
  • Digital Design
  • Project Management

Passionate about design, art, and learning, I solve problems through creation. I believe well-crafted design begins with a strong foundation of research, a deep understanding of design principles, and a passion for growth and innovation. As a visual designer, I constantly strive to elevate and connect a brand to its audience through exciting, refreshing design.

Vojin D.
$45/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Traditional Animation
  • Toon Boom Harmony
  • 2D Animation
  • Motion Graphics
  • Animation
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Video Animation
  • Illustration
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Character Design
  • Video Production
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Explainer Video
  • Vector Graphic

I am a Senior Graphic & Motion Design professional with 13+ years of experience in animation, illustration, graphic design and production of visual content. I help businesses elevate their brand and products to their full potential, all within budget and on time. I offer free consultations for your project, so please don’t hesitate to reach out directly. 📩 Press "Invite" button at the top of my profile and let’s bring your ideas to life! Skills that I am proficient with: ✒ Vector Illustration ✒ Digital Illustration ▶ Animation (2D and 3D) ▶ Traditional Cell Animation ▶ Motion Design ▶ Video Editing 🔸 UI Design 🔸 Graphic Design 🔸 Web...

Roberto C.
$45/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Logo Design
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Brand Identity Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Typography
  • Label & Package Design
  • Illustration
  • Album Cover Design
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Branding
  • Brand Naming

I will create a unique, professional, poetic, conceptually strong and visually engaging design for your brand. As an expert visual artist and graphic designer with 20+ years of experience, I can make your brand stand out and get noticed. Whether you’re a larger organization, small company or an individual, I treat every project with the same high degree of ambition and attention to detail with fast turnaround time and effective communication. Every project has a specific identity that I study and translate into visual design, always using knowledge, experience and methodology. My approach is generous and dedicated, developing graphic...

Hansel G.
$79/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Papercraft 3D
  • Illustration
  • Creative Strategy
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Creative Direction
  • Logo Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Advertising
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Digital Design
  • Graphic Design

Hola! My name is Hansel and I'm here to help you with any visual and artwork you could need to INCREASE YOUR SALES! 13 years of experience providing creative and professional deliverables and services to worldwide ad agencies and Upwork clients: - Advertising campaigns (online/offline) - Logos and branding design - Creative thinking and brainstorming - Digital illustration and digital retouching - Graphic design - Print and digital artworks - Crafts (paper, molding clay, etc) - Photography - Icons, web and app design - Creative consultancy Top Clients I've worked with: McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Audi, Diageo, Jameson Whiskey, KPMG, New...

Melody R.
$69/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Graphic Design
  • Print Design
  • Presentations
  • Web Design
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Layout Design
  • Trade Show Exhibition Design
  • WordPress
  • Design Writing
  • Web/graphic Design
  • Google Slides
  • Presentation Design
  • Financial Presentation

⭐️Expert-vetted, Top 1% of Upwork Talent ⭐️ I have been a Creative Director and Designer for over 17 years helping clients reach success through visual design. I immerse myself in your company and truly believe that high-quality visuals increase viewer interaction and produce results. My team works closely with you every single day, often becoming a seamless extension of your in-house departments. We truly care about your business and know how important quality is for your success. We make sure all of your projects are on-target and delivered on-time to produce the results you are looking for!

Alyssa T.
$60/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Copywriting
  • Market Research
  • Project Management
  • Blog Content
  • Writing
  • Blog Writing
  • Project Management
  • Design Research
  • Art Curation
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • History
  • Market Research
  • Content Writing
  • Research & Strategy

Experienced Curator and Art Consultant with a demonstrated history of working with private clients, artists, and museums. Knowledgeable in NFT Art, Design, Writing, and Curating. Strong arts and design professional with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Visual, Material & Museum Anthropology from the University of Oxford.

Arsentii H.
$50/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Responsive Web Design
  • User Interface Design
  • User Experience Design
  • Mobile UI Design
  • Web Design
  • Icon Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Product Design
  • Website Prototyping
  • Icons
  • UI Graphics
  • Mind Mapping
  • Unified Modeling Language
  • ScreenFlow

🏆 Tappaward: App of the Day; 🎖 Interface Interaction: Behance; 🥈 Dev Challenge 2018: Second Place Hello! My name is Arsentii, I am a Design Director of Starbase Agency. We're a small design team from Ukraine. We work with startups as well as small and medium businesses. Our approach relies on trusting relationships, expertise in a client's domain, and a business-oriented mindset. My area of knowledge includes: ✔️ Art-Direction and team managment; ✔️ Brand Strategy and Identity; ✔️ Design for iOS and Android devices; ✔️ Creating design systems; ✔️ Modern design guidelines; ✔️ Atomic Design methodology. Among my works there are: ✔️...

Maribelle S.
$20/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Branding
  • Photo Editing
  • Social Media Design
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Infographic
  • Business Card
  • Print Design
  • Illustration
  • Label & Package Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Presentation Design
  • Icon Design
  • Typography
  • Logo Design

I'm a graphic designer with more than three years of professional experience delivering high-quality and unique designs. I am hard-working, and detail-oriented creativity and I take pride in knowing my clients are 100% satisfied. I'm offering: - High-quality original designs - Professional communication - Quick turnaround times - Affordable prices Specialized in: - Logo Design & Branding - Illustration - Packaging Design - Print Design

Brian N.
$100/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Logo Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Branding
  • Creative Direction
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Digital Design
  • Contemporary Style
  • Brochure
  • Brand Identity
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Packaging
  • Content Writing

High level Creative Direction, Graphic Design, Design Thinking, Branding & Visual Design. My services include: ⁠— Brand Strategy & Positioning ⁠— Brand Identity Design ⁠— Messaging and Branding Guidelines ⁠— Print and publication ⁠— Digital design ⁠— Content Creation ⁠— Copywriting I have a clear process, discussed in detail with you before working together. I deliver high-quality work and can have it done as fast as 24 hours turnaround when needed. I don't rush through, just developed some supreme efficiency! Whether you're a new or established business, I’m here to increase the value of your business and to build customer recognition so...

Crispin S.
$69/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Marketing Collateral Development
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Corporate Style
  • Brand Positioning
  • Packaging Design
  • Print Design
  • Logo Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Advertising Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Brand Identity Design
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Brochure
  • Adobe XD

I'm an Art Director/Graphic Designer with extensive experience in brand marketing and design. My skills include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign and Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premier Pro. My primary work is brand building and advertising but I work with clients with a wide variety of requirements. If developing or maintaining a cohesive and consistent brand voice is what you're looking for, then I have no doubt I can help you achieve this. The range of work I produce includes print material, advertising, package design, brand design, animation, film editing, website design, and much more. Whether the target audience...

Lauren R.
$200/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Brand Marketing
  • Sales Funnel Copywriting
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Social Media Advertising
  • Creative Writing
  • Facebook
  • Brand Strategy
  • Content Marketing
  • Copywriting
  • Branding
  • Brand Consulting
  • Email Marketing
  • Influencer Marketing

I am a Brand Strategist with a specialty in Health, Wellness, Travel, and Tech. I craft unique and compelling Brand Strategies through visual and written mediums which then translate into converting, engaging Marketing Campaigns.

Bethany G.
$110/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Graphic Design
  • Creative Direction
  • Packaging Design
  • Social Media Design
  • Logo
  • Print Advertising
  • Digital Design
  • Print Design
  • Brand Identity & Guidelines
  • Corporate Brand Identity

Hello! I'm Bethany Guier, a freelance art director. I have 17 years of experience working for agencies and clients to create smart designs which solve problems and exceed client expectations. I have worked in a variety of media including print, digital, packaging, point-of-purchase, outdoor and television. I have travelled nationally and internationally art directing photo shoots for food, fashion and consumer goods.  My successful performance over the years is driven by a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills and the ability to work well independently as well as collaborate with others.

Dmytro Z.
$75/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Brand Marketing
  • Covers & Packaging
  • CLO 3D
  • 3D Design
  • Autodesk 3ds Max
  • 3D Product Rendering
  • Product Design
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Industrial Design
  • Logo Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Label & Package Design
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Graphic Design

"Dmytro and his team are exceptionally good communicators and their design principles and techniques are world class." - Michael S., Performance Property Ltd. "Highly recommend Dmytro and the quality of his team's work. I am only hesitant giving him such good feedback because selfishly I don't want him to be too busy for my ongoing jobs with him!" - Michael S., Performance Property Ltd. (Yes, it's the same client as above) "We were under a pretty tight deadline and Dmytro and his team went above and beyond our expectations!" - Heather M., Poimen Group. "Great work, really great work. It's the subtle things in design that make a big...

Gabriel D.
$50/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Graphic Design
  • Wireframing
  • Responsive Design
  • User Interface Design
  • Website Prototyping
  • WordPress
  • User Experience Design
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Mobile UI Design

My name is Gabriel, I’m a senior webdesigner, UI/UX Designer and Creative Director with more than a decade of experience and dedication in creating visually stunning online presences, user-centric web/mobile products and successful brands. My work is 100% original and done from scratch, strategically designed to perfectly match your brand concept, target audience profile and objectives, building highly effective products that resonates with your users and goals. On top of being a designer, I’m a business expert with a degree in Communication Science and a Marketing focused MBA. I applied my expertise working as a Senior Designer and...

Bohdan Y.
$70/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Image Editing
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Banner Ad Design
  • Outdoor Advertising
  • Layout Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Typography
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Editorial Design
  • Sales & Marketing Collateral

DESIGN SERVICES ANY COMPLEXITY • Graphic: outdoor ad, branding, packaging, exhibition stand, presentation, etc. • Editorial & Print: catalog, magazine, book, report, brochure, leaflet, etc. • Creative: advertising campaign, concept, art direction • Web: Facebook Targeted Ads, Google Display Network and Instagram • Image Editing, Retouching and Complex Compositing SOFTWARE SKILLS Adobe Photoshop • Illustrator • InDesign • After Effects • Lightroom Affinity Photo • Designer • Publisher Figma • Blender 3D • Keynote I started my professional design career in 2014, and for over 5 years worked full-time in studios and agencies. Hiring me means...

Ahmed M.
$60/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Illustration
  • Logo Design
  • Brochure Design
  • Poster Design
  • Banner Ad Design
  • Animation
  • Storyboarding
  • Motion Graphics
  • Image Editing

I am a Creative designer with more than 10 years of experience in the visual communication industry. Based in Japan, I have been working remotely with various clients in the tech industry including Logitech, ServiceNow and LinkedIn. I specialize in multi-page layout design. I provide striking, visually engaging layouts with sleek imagery and illustrations for print and web based projects. I can take your idea from concept to completion at the highest level. I am also able to work within a team. I have a thirst for challenging projects. Without meaning to use words that have been overused in too many hideous advertising campaigns... "there...

Jana M.
$50/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Advertising
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Mobile UI Design
  • Video Production
  • Web Design
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Graphic Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Cover Design
  • Adobe Illustrator

Creating thumb-stopping visuals & emphasising the unique selling points of a product (or a service) - ultimately reaching higher conversion rates. And having fun throughout the process! Truly enjoying my profession, I'm very passionate about great colour combos, powerful typography, sunlight, and responsive web. I have experience with clients from a variety of areas such as Marketing agencies, Video production experts, and Educational professionals. Every project I've done was meant to increase business income and bring the conversion rate to a higher level; that is always my focus. I do UI and UX Design, Illustration, Traditional...

Zorica J.
$30/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Social Media Imagery
  • Logo Design
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Business Card
  • Infographic
  • Flyer Design
  • Label & Package Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Social Media Design
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Social Media Content Creation
  • Minimalist

I'm a professional graphic designer with more than a 8 years of experience, and I'm one of the Top Rated designers here on Upwork. Expertise: Logo Design, Label and Packaging, Branding, Print Marketing Material, Social Media Design, Social Media Content, Website Content Material, Ads, Email Design, White Paper and Corporate Profile Design I offer 100% original design, you can be assured that what I produce is specifically created for your brand needs. I am well organized designer, I work fast and deliver high-quality design for your business. Feel free to click the green ‘Invite to Job’ button in the top right-hand corner, and I would be...

Edhar S.
$30/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Layout Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Editorial Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Icon Design
  • Logo Design
  • Corporate Brand Identity
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Brand Identity & Guidelines
  • Branding
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Art & Design
  • Amazon Listing
  • Brand Identity Design

Brand Identity • Logo Design • Packaging Design • Print Layout Design • Editorial Design I'm a graphic designer who specializes in progressive brand development that helps companies and entrepreneurs achieve their business goals. I've been professionally designing logos, print materials, packaging, and branding projects for around seven years now. My logo collection has recently received the Behance Award and is now featured in the Behance Best Logo Gallery.

Nauman A.
$25/hr
  • Trophy Icon Art Direction
  • Game Development
  • Unity
  • C#
  • Photon Unity Networking
  • Web Development
  • PHP
  • Laravel
  • JavaScript
  • AngularJS
  • .NET Framework
  • Facebook Games Development
  • AR & VR Development
  • Oculus Go Game
  • Oculus Rift Game

I have vast experience of development in different technologies. I have developed many games, from casual games to action and single player to multiplayer games with social features. I can do any kind of games, either a server-side integration or a core gaming side. For server-side I love to use the most used gaming servers, like parse (back4app now), GameSparks, App42, PUN, and sometimes the core PHP based servers. My main area of expertise are: 1. Games: Development, Design, Modeling, Texturing, Rigging, and Animation, 2. Mobile, Desktop and Web Apps, 3. Server-Side Programming/Databases I mostly follow such architecture in games...

$NaN/hr

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Graphic Designer, Art Director, or Creative Director: Which Do You Need?

Let’s take a look at what art directors—and creative directors, and graphic designers—do to help determine the best fit for your next design project.

Graphic designer vs. art director vs. creative Ddirector: what’s the difference?

It might seem that these titles are as simple as junior, advanced, and senior designer—and their rates may reflect that—but it’s not that simple. Their responsibilities and what they contribute to a project can vary, depending on the structure of the team, design shop, or agency.

Marketing manager Joe Lesina makes a great analogy of creative work as music to help explain how the roles differ:

  • The creative team: All the professionals who make high-quality creative work possible are the orchestra, from copywriters and project managers to video producers and graphic designers. Each has his own instrument that contributes to the final production.
  • Graphic designer: An orchestra member who’s highly skilled in one instrument—say, the violin. He plays notes (and sometimes solos) that contribute to the sound.
  • Art director: A composer who writes the song the orchestra plays. He works with the orchestra to pull it together and polish it for performance.
  • Creative director: The director of the orchestra who selects the songs to be included in the production. He chooses songs that support his clear vision for the final, full-length performance.

Let’s look a little closer at each role, with examples of how each might complement the others’ roles on a real-life creative team.

The creative director: translating goals to strategies

Creative direction is focused on strategy. In any industry—fashion, music, advertising, event planning, hospitality, interior design—creative directors act as guardians of a brand’s vision. They’ll oversee the what, when, and where of visuals and messaging. They are also the keepers of creative briefs, translating business objectives into projects and ensuring they align with the strategy.

Example: A pharmaceutical company hires an ad agency to handle the branding, marketing, and sales materials for a drug launch. It conveys the business goals to the creative director, who brainstorms the specific projects to address each need, from TV ads and drug packaging to sales brochures and shelf talkers. After sitting in on market research, the creative director drafts a creative brief for each project, then reviews and approves concepts from creative teams.

Note: Whereas graphic designers often “graduate” to art directors, the step between art director and creative director isn’t quite as linear. Copywriters, who are often paired with art directors, have been known to become creative directors too.

The art director: wrapping a strategy in a vision

If the creative director handles strategy and a graphic designer handles execution, the art director creates the vision that brings the strategy to life. Art directors have a well-honed sense of graphic design, although they may not be the ones carrying out the smaller tasks. They’re responsible for translating a creative brief into tangible concepts, and their creative eye can focus on everything from photography to video to illustration.

Example: The pharmaceutical company wants a brochure created that reps can take with them on in-office visits. An art director and a copywriter team up to brainstorm the new branding, including a color scheme, a logo, and a tagline. They’ll create an entire system for the brand’s materials, with guidelines for how text, colors, logos, and messaging are used in different applications. For the brochure project in particular, they might create three options: a trifold, a folder kit with inserts, and a spiral-bound booklet. The creative director chooses a winning concept, then provides feedback as it is produced.

The graphic designer: executing the vision

When design files need to be created, graphic designers are your hands-on executors. They put their creativity down on paper or into pixels, whether it’s for web design, print, mobile UI design, or logos. Using Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketch, or InDesign, graphic designers execute the vision provided by an art director; however they’re perfectly capable of dealing with clients themselves.

Example: Using the branding system and concept created by an art director, a graphic designer might take over the brochure project as it goes through rounds of revisions from the client. He might flow in copy, tweak margins and kerning, make edits from the client or the editor, update logo versions, and upload the files to the production server.

Which creative do you need?

In the above examples, we looked at each role in terms of an agency, where titles are very structured. However, it’s more likely that designers wear a few different hats and are capable of everything from ideation to execution—especially freelance designers.

Keep in mind that what you need from a creative professional will come down to the level of execution you need vs. the level of vision and concepting you need. You might not need a creative director to help design a logo or a home page, while a junior graphic designer might not be the right choice to execute your top-to-bottom rebrand by himself. If you need a team of designers to carry out all aspects of your project, it might make sense to have a hierarchy with a more senior designer guiding the vision and junior designers building the files. In the event that one creative will suffice to complete your project, be sure it’s someone with the breadth of experience you need—something you can gauge by asking the right questions and reviewing portfolios of prior work.

Design roles are easily blurred, as many creatives regardless of title are capable of everything from ideation and conception to execution and production. A solo designer can wear many hats—and sometimes all of them, at one time.

Here are a few questions to help decide which of these creatives you need:

  1. What size is your company? A larger company with more resources has the capacity for more hierarchy in its design roles, in which case a creative director and an art director might not overlap as much. A small start-up might need only an art director or a senior graphic designer who can help with both ideation and execution.
  2. How complex is your project? How many assets do your require? How much strategy and planning is required to get started? If you need a more layered design system, you’ll want an art director or a creative director. For simpler, one-off tasks, an art director might be overkill.
  3. What does your project need? Do you need a thinker or a doer? In other words, what could your design project benefit from more: planning, brainstorming, and concepting or execution of specific deliverables? For the former, a strategic role like an art director would be a better fit.
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