Art Director
Oversees creative projects from start to finish and sets the visual style for the work.
Overview
An Art Director is a person who oversees creative projects from start to completion. Art Directors are responsible for visual styles and photographs in magazines, journals, product-packaging, cinemas and television productions. They create an overall design for a project, and they often guide those who develop an art or design.
Where they work
- Animation studios
- Television production studios
- Film production studios
- Gaming companies
- Advertising agencies
Work environment
It is not a desk job and local travelling maybe part of the job. You are likely to supervise the work of assistants or designers. You may get part-time work or contractual jobs.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You are a creative person
- You are a team player with excellent communication skills
- You have an artistic bent of mind
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete class 10 + 2 in any subject combination.
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts/B.Sc. in Graphic Design/B.A. in Fine Arts
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Diploma/Certificate courses in Graphic Design/Fine Arts
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree and follow it up with a Master of Visual Arts/Fine Arts/Graphic Design.
Forms, exams and applications
For admissions, some popular Graphic Design and Fine Arts entrance exams conducted at the institution or college level are the NID entrance exam, UCEED, the Pearl Academy entrance exam, CEED, MITID DAT, and many more. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
These courses are offered by the Departments of Fine Art/Graphic Design. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
- University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab
- Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, Gujarat
- Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka
- Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh, Punjab
- Pacific University Udaipur, Rajasthan
- Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- K L E F Deemed To Be University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Janki Devi Vocational Centre, New Delhi
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Runner
- 2Designer
- 3Storyboard Artist
- 4Assistant Art Director
- 5Art Director
- 6Creative Director
Expected income
₹45,000 – ₹91,000 per month for experienced candidates
These figures are taken from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Animator
Multimedia artist who creates designs and models that simulate movement and tell a story.
Multimedia Designer
Builds presentations of images and information for the web, television, movies and video games.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Aashrita Kamath — She has worked in a number of feature films and commercials in India and abroad. Currently, she is working as an Art Director on James Cameron's Avatar series, in production in Los Angeles. Aashrita Kamath studied Sociology at St Xavier's College in Mumbai and started working in Bollywood in the art department on feature films and commercials. Some of her notable projects in Bollywood include West is West and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. In 2011, Aashrita applied to the prestigious AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles and was accepted as one of just 14 Production Design Fellows.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 61 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3QG5VsT
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.