 rt jobs in advertising
(also called visual communications) are
plentiful, but competitive. If
you work well under deadlines, \come up with fast ideas and able to work
long hours, then this may be your profession. The majority of
advertising jobs in the United States are in New York City, Los
Angeles, and Chicago. You can also find many in smaller cities such as
Pittsburgh, Phoenix, and Houston. Although a college degree is not
required for most advertising creative jobs, it can help. Many students
who graduate from art
schools across the nation with associates degrees land successful
careers.
Recruiters say the
key to
being a
good candidate is to have a great portfolio. This portfolio should
include a variety of layouts, thumbnail ideas, and if appropriate,
storyboards. Most candidates have created their own websites to
advertise themselves. Portfolios are digitized by scanning and/or
pictures with a digital camera. If you have some experience, include
printed samples. The
candidate should also demonstrate a proficiency with the computer.
Currently, the computer of choice for advertising creatives is the
Macintosh with the Wintel platform growing in popularity. Programs you
should be proficient in include Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator
and/or Freehand,
InDesign and/or Pagemaker, Corel Draw, Flash,
and Dreamweaver. A strong knowledge of type faces and
production is also helpful.
Frequently art directors and designers use stock photography for their campaigns to save money. For example, you may need photos of the Eiffel Tower and the Egyptian Pyramids. The cost for a creative team to go to these countries for photo shoots would be very high. Stock photo companies, like the one above, save thousands.
Artists in advertising agencies design packages, magazine advertisements, billboards, brochures, newsletters, television commercials and direct mail. Art and Creative Directors contact vendors such as photographers, printshops, illustrators, and many others to assist with a campaign. Campaigns can range from a simple newspaper advertisement to a major multi-million dollar campaign.
Only the best applicants land their first job in a well known advertising firm such as Leo Burnett, J. Walter Thompson, or DDB Needham. Getting some experience in high school and at an art school or college is one way to get a leg-up on other applicants. Printed samples of your work speak volumes more than
marker or computer layouts of imaginary products.
Job titles in Advertising
-
Creative Director/Vice President
(Salary range: $40,000 - $400,000)
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary for a creative director is $89,570. This person is in charge of the
creative
portion of accounts. They must work carefully in a budget. After
brainstorming in a creative session, the creative director will usually
create fast thumbnail sketches and then pass them off to the art
director for more careful rendering. Frequently the creative director
also does some copywriting, but usually limited to slogans or
headlines. Throughout all stages of the creative process, the project
must be approved by the creative director who also works closely with
the account executive and client. This person is usually present during
crucial stages of a project such as a photo shoot or printing. Strong
computer skills are needed for this position. A good illustration of a
creative director is found in the movie Nothing in Common with
Tom Hanks playing a creative director.
-
(Salary range: $35,000 -
$100,000)
According to PayScale.com, the average salary for an art director in advertising is $47,500. This person also works within a
budget. In
smaller agencies they also manage some accounts. This person takes
conceptual ideas from the creative director and puts them into a
finished layout. Once the ideas are approved they also work closely
with production to see the project through completion. Occasionally
this person meets with clients and attends photo shoots and printing
sessions. In larger agencies they have assistants who they delegate
work to.
-
Assistant/Junior Art Director
(Salary range: $18,000 - $35,000)
This person assists the art
director. Work
that can't be done by the art director due to time constraints or isn't
"appropriate" to an art director is delegated to the assistant.
Sometimes this position is an entry level position, but usually the
gopher job is entry level in large agencies. Strong computer skills are
needed for this position.
-
Artist/Designer
(Salary range: $15,000 - $80,000)
This person does a variety of work
ranging from quick illustration, keyline, rendering layouts, creating stats,
and design. Strong computer skills are needed for this position.
-
Gopher
(go for this and go for that) (Salary range:
$10,000 - $25,000)
This person usually does the jobs
that no one else wants to do. The job is entry level and offers opportunities
for advancement and to meet many people. Job duties range from
delivery/pick-up, creating stats, clean-up, ordering supplies, taking
inventory, and rendering if you're lucky. At my former agency, the
gopher later became the creative director. This should show you the opportunity for
advancement that this job has. Strong computer skills are helpful for
this position.
-
Production Coordinator
(Salary range: $25,000 - $70,000)
This person usually acquires quotes
from
vendors on jobs. Once a competitive price is found, they work closely
with printers and other vendors to assure quality in production. Strong
computer skills are needed for this position.
-
Production Assistant
(Salary range: $18,000 - $30,000)
Assists the production coordinator.
Does
the same work but usually delegated work that the coordinator doesn't
have time for. Strong computer skills are needed for this position.
-
Freelancer
(Salary range: Hourly fee or quote)
This person is a self-employed
person frequently hired by agencies during a crunch. They do jobs that may
range from illustration, paste-up, design, and art direction.
-
Illustrator
(Salary range: $18,000 - $80,000)
This person may be a freelancer. In
large agencies, they hire an illustrator full-time to save money. This person
creates illustrations for ads, TV, brochures, etc., using a variety of
media including the computer.
-
Storyboard Artist
(Salary range: $25,000 - $80,000)
This is a deadline-heavy job. The
hours are long and frequently run into the weekend. Storyboards are created
for music videos and commercials for the screen or TV. They range in
resolution from quick renderings to marker layouts and computer comps.
This job has a high turnover rate but offers quick, easy cash and
opportunities for other jobs.
-
Layout Artist
(Salary range: $18,000 - $35,000)
Creates ads using a variety of media
from pencil, markers and computers. These ads have already been designed by
an art director.
-
Media Director
(Salary range: $25,000 - $100,000)
This person oversees production in
media. They may attend photo shoots, create PR campaigns, slide shows, video
presentations, etc.
Advertising Art Trade Journals
Advertising Art Jobs Available
Types of Advertising
- Business-to-Business:
Like the name
says,
you're
selling from one business to another business. Also called Trade
Advertising. An example of this would be point-of-sale displays,
package design, medical, etc.
- Retail: This is really deadline
oriented. It
may
consist of designing newspaper ads, B&W watercolor figure rendering
for clothing ads, inserts in stores, etc.
- Billboard: If you like working
large,
then
this is
for you. Design billboards you see along the highway.
- Consumer: You are creating ads
for
consumer
products
such as Kelloggs, General Mills, Nabisco, etc. Typically these companies
pay the most for advertising.
Advertising Agencies
There are many
advertising
agencies
on the internet. Following is only a sample of the agencies available.
If you don't see what you're looking for here, then check out Yahoo's Long List of Advertising Agencies, and Search for Agencies all over the world by name and
by country.
There are literally thousands of
advertising
agencies
and we don't have the room to list them here. We suggest using the
links above or visiting major search engines on the internet to find what
you are looking for.
Creative Directories
- Creative
Directory with a list of agencies, design studios, audio visual,
computer, media, production, photography, illustration and post
production.
- The
Art Directors Club
-connecting creative visual communications professionals from around
the world.
Telephone Book Advertising/Design
Graphic Design Studios
Freelance Art
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