A creative director oversees the overall design of a product, project or campaign and ensures brand consistency across all assets. Depending on the industry and scope of the role, this can be anything from visual merchandising at a clothing store to copywriting for an advertising campaign. Creative directors are often tasked with managing teams, which may include designers, copywriters, photographers and videographers, or other professionals in the creative field. They are responsible for the day-to-day running of projects and providing feedback to team members.
In a more hands-on role, a creative director can be involved in the actual production of a project. They can help source talent, set up shooting schedules and coordinate production meetings with clients or managers. They will also work with other departments, such as marketing or PR, to ensure that all materials created for a campaign are on brand.
Becoming a creative director takes years of professional experience in the creative field. Most people start their careers as designers, copywriters or photographers and build a portfolio of work before moving up into management roles. Creative directors need to be able to master multiple skills and have the ability to inspire and nurture their team members.
If you want to be a creative director, it is important to understand what types of projects you enjoy most and the kind of aesthetic that you are drawn to. It is also a good idea to continue consuming design inspiration, whether that is following the work of incredible visual artists on Instagram or spending time in your local library committing all of the architecture of your city to memory.