What does a Creative Director do?
Creative Directors occupy a senior position in creative industries, including advertising, arts, fashion, music, film and publishing. They develop and lead creative projects, such as advertising and branding campaigns and provide creative direction and vision from the earliest through to the final stages of a project. Some Creative Directors lead in-house marketing teams, whereas others work for advertising agencies where they have various clients. Regardless of where they work, the job of a Creative Director involves collaborating with various creatives, including Graphic Designers, Fine Artists, Copywriters, Filmmakers, Producers and Photographers.
Creative Director skills and qualifications
The job of a Creative Director involves working with people whether they’re meeting with clients, leading a team of creatives or reporting to management, so they must have excellent interpersonal skills. They also need great communication skills to effectively collaborate with others and ensure consistency across all brand touchpoints. A successful Creative Director will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- A creative mind to invent innovative concepts and campaigns
- Strong leadership to ensure that all stakeholders work towards a common brand or project vision
- Excellent time-management and organisational skills, as they often work on multiple projects simultaneously
- Staying up-to-date with the latest trends in advertising and design
- The ability to cope well under pressure
- Knowledge of relevant software programs, for instance, graphic design packages
- Good presentation skills to present effective pitches
- A solid understanding of the commercial aspects of an agency or marketing department
Creative Director experience requirements
Creative Directors typically need a solid background in advertising, marketing or design. They need an outstanding track record in leading creative teams and developing compelling concepts and campaigns. Candidates may also need to show knowledge of content marketing, relevant software packages, social media platforms, web design principles and copywriting.
Creative Director education and training requirements
Although it’s not a requirement, many Creative Directors have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, fine arts or another creative field. Candidates also sometimes hold a degree in marketing or advertising, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA). There are a variety of professional qualifications that these professionals can pursue. The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), for instance offers various marketing qualifications, such as a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Marketing.
Creative Director salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Creative Director in the UK is £59,123 per year. Salaries vary, depending on factors like location and employer.
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