Job Description of an Advertising Artist
Advertising artist design and create the visual components of an advertisement or marketing campaign. As part of the creative or art department at an advertising agency, an artist may also be called a graphic designer. Advancement in the field is often to a position as an art director, who oversees artists, copywriters and other members of the creative department.
Advertising Artist Job Description
Artists who work for print or digital media outlets, advertising agencies or marketing firms use their talents for design, layout, color and composition to produce artwork that will be used in advertisements. Artists employ their knowledge of visual communication concepts to imagine and execute artwork that will conform to the client's needs and engage consumers. Advertising artists utilize a wide variety of media and styles to meet the creative goals of the agency.
Because they are producing artwork for clients and businesses, advertising artists and graphic designers need to have the creativity and vision to interpret the desires of the customer. As such, they meet with clients to establish creative goals for the product, brand or campaign, discussing ideas and making changes as needed.
Collaborating with the client and agency staff, they set budgets for production, and work with art directors to monitor the progress of each account or project. Often using computers and a variety of design software, an advertising artist makes sketches, layouts, paste-ups or other visual representations of their artwork for presentation to clients, carefully deciding the size, arrangement and design of all components of text and pictures.
Career Information for Advertising Artists
Advancement
Artist or graphic designers working for an advertising agency usually hold a 4-year degree in graphic design or fine arts and has gained entry-level employment through the development of a portfolio that showcases artistic talent and range. Artists can generally pursue art director positions with a few years of job experience. Art directors guide an advertising agency's creative team in all stages of project execution by coordinating staff, managing accounts and using their expertise to satisfy clients.
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expected average job growth for artists and graphic designers between 2008 and 2018, with the best opportunities for individuals whose talents include multimedia, digital and interactive design technology needed for a wide variety of new media applications (www.bls.gov). The BLS also noted that large talent pool will increase competition for jobs.
For art directors, the BLS recommended business or art management education as a means of increasing employability, and noted that downturns in the publishing industry may shift more art director positions to the advertising field.
Salary
According to 2010 BLS salary figures, artists as a broad category earned an annual average yearly salary of $61,760. In the same year, graphic designers averaged $48,140 each year, while art directors earned an average annual salary of $94,100.
Related to Job Description of an Advertising Artist
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Career Information for a Degree in Public Relations or Advertising
Degree programs in public relations and advertising prepare students for a diverse career field, with opportunities to...
Salary and Career Info for an Advertising Agent
Advertising agents sell commercial time or space to interested parties. They also help their clients develop...
Advertising and Public Relations Masters Programs
Students interested in careers in promotions might choose to earn a master's degree in advertising or public relations...
Online Advertising Degree Program Overviews
Advertising professionals help businesses sell and promote their products. For individuals who can't attend school...
Online Advertising Bachelor's Degree Program Information
- Become a Bridal Makeup Artist: Step-by-Step Career Guide
- Top Schools for Public Relations and Advertising
- Fashion Advertiser: Employment Information for Students Considering a Career in Fashion Advertising
- Top Master's Degree Program in Health Care Management - Columbus, OH
- Top School for Office Administration Degrees - New York, NY
- Best School for a Degree in Criminal Justice - Arlington, VA
- Top Ranked School for a Degree in Marketing - Colorado Springs, CO
9 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applications from Texas residents
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
- Colorado (3)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (4)
- Illinois (8)
- Indiana (2)
- Kentucky (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- New Jersey (3)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (2)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (7)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
-
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (2 campuses)
- California (5)
- Colorado (1)
- Florida (4)
- Georgia (2)
- Illinois (3)
- Indiana (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (1)
- North Carolina (2)
- Nevada (1)
- Ohio (1)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (5)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Master
-
- Master in Graphic Design
- Master in Visual Arts
-
- Master in Design & Media Management
-
-
Bachelor
-
- Bachelor in Advertising Design
- BS in Advertising - Internet Marketing
- Bachelor - Advertising
-
- Bachelor in Illustration
- BA in Graphic & Web Design
-
-
Associate
-
- Associate in Advertising
- Associate in Visual Merchandising
- Associate in Graphic Design
-
- Associates in Industrial Design
- AA in Graphic & Web Design
-
-
Non-Degree
-
- Diploma in Advertising Design
- Certificate in Portrait Photography
- Certificate in Studio Photography
-
- Diploma in Commercial Photography
- Certificate in Digital Design
- Diploma in Digital Design
-
-
School locations:
- Alabama (1 campus)
- Arkansas (1 campus)
- Arizona (1)
- California (5)
- Colorado (1)
- Florida (2)
- Georgia (3)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (3)
- Indiana (2)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maryland (2)
- Michigan (5)
- Missouri (3)
- North Carolina (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (3)
- Ohio (7)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (6)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (3)
- Texas (1)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
- West Virginia (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
-
Associate
-
- Associate in Graphic Communications and Design
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Distance Learning Programs
-
Non-Degree
-
- Career Diploma in Artist: Comprehensive
-
- Certificate - Undergraduate in Graphic Design
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Associate
Other Schools:
-
School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Advertising and Commercial Design
- General Visual Communications Design
- Graphic Design
- Illustration and Drawing
- Industrial Design
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
