Creative Director
Why Is Creative Directing a Job of Tomorrow?
In every industry, whether it is a non-profit organization, school, or healthcare facility, there is a business aspect that must be attended to in order to ensure efficiency. As
a result, these industries need employees with substantial expertise in business knowledge and skills. With some of the fastest growing industries in the country, the business sector is expected to grow by 23.3 percent by 2016, adding more than 4.1 million new jobs to the market, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As businesses large and small continue to grow, creative directors will be needed to successfully push a company in the right direction in terms of targeting the business’s ideal customers and pricing its goods and services accordingly. Employment opportunities for creative directors are expected to increase six percent by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Creative directors earn an average salary of $98,720 annually.
What Does a Creative Director Do?
Creative directors handle a client’s marketing strategy, looking for ways to push the organization’s brand name into the public arena for potential customers to see. They work with the copy chief, art director, and all associated staff to determine the best method of product presentation in the packaging of the product as well as in advertising. Creative directors work primarily in the aesthetics of the product or service, and handle everything from informational pamphlets to packaging to advertisements. Many work in different media, applying their skills to video advertisements as well as printed materials. They determine whether the copy, or text, on an advertisement or box, represents the product inside and conveys the right message. In advertising, the creative director must determine the best way of expressing what the client wants to sell, and to do so in an enticing way.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become a Creative Director?
Creative directors should have at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing, or a degree in graphic design. However, many employers now seek applicants who have completed a master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete, and a master’s degree takes an additional two to three years to earn after first obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Courses in business administration include lectures on consumer behavior, sales, market research, and other related topics. Although it is not required, prospective creative directors may seek certification in order to increase their marketability to employers.
