How to Become a Creative Director in 4 Steps

As the name suggests, a creative director is responsible for the creative direction of a project or campaign. By managing the aesthetic elements of a project, creative directors are able to create a vision for how a film, ad, or display should look and feel to the audience and bring it to fruition. If you are getting started on your journey toward becoming a creative director, you may be thinking “This sounds fun, sign me up”! Well, it is, but it's also a lot of work and that’s before you enter the position. Read on and we will answer the burning question.

How do I become a creative director?

Now that we have established a definition of creative director, the big question is how do you become a creative director? Well in order to answer that question, we have to recognize an important factor. The role of creative director is not an entry-level position, which means that becoming a creative director happens in stages. No worries though, In this post we will go over the steps that you can take to become a creative director, as well as the skills and qualities that make a good creative director. 

What are the steps to becoming a creative director?

1. Education 

While it is possible to become a creative director without a degree, most employers will be on the lookout for someone with at least a bachelor’s degree in a creative field such as marketing, graphic design, art, or fashion. Like in many managerial positions, a master’s degree can give you that competitive edge in being hired for a creative director position. Education can also go way beyond a degree. For the creative people out there, you are going to like this one! Because this is a creative position, you can learn many different art forms that will help you gain unique experiences and perspectives that can help you in the role of creative director. For example, if you learn graphic design, you will be better prepared to lead a team of graphic designers on a given project. 

2. Gain Experience 

When it comes to becoming a creative director, education is only the first step. You will need to gain professional experience in order to reach the goal of becoming a creative director. You will likely need at least half a decade of professional experience in creative and managerial positions. At this stage, it is important to have a clear vision of which field you are aiming to enter. For example, if you want to be a creative director in fashion merchandising, you can begin by gaining experience in retail display design by working in an entry-level position in a retail outlet. Each experience that you have built on top of the last experience and by working hard over time, you will reach your goal of becoming a creative director. This step is especially important for those who want to be a creative director without a degree. 

3. Build a Portfolio 

Another crucial step in becoming a creative director is to build a versatile portfolio of work that you have done over the years. Employers will be on the lookout for a portfolio that displays your talents and achievements. Your portfolio will be the visual timeline of your professional career, so it should reflect the growth and development of your skills over time, but also show a consistent quality of work. 

4. Networking 

This next step should be happening from the moment you embark on your career journey. Networking is about taking advantage of opportunities that you have to talk to other professionals that can ultimately help you gain the title of creative director. During your education, use any resources available to you such as career fairs, guest speakers, and even your peers. Get on LinkedIn and connect with other professionals. Building a network takes time so start as soon as you can. Think of every interaction as an opportunity to build your network. Networking with people who are already in the position of creative director can help you learn more about the role and see what success looks like in the position. For those of you who are more introverted, now is a great time to step outside of your comfort zone and invest in your future. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible. Networking is about long-term benefits. You may not gain something specific from every interaction you have, but you never know whom you’ll meet again or whom you will make a good impression on and where that will take you. 

Creative Director Skills & Qualifications

In your quest to learn more about becoming a creative director, you may be wondering what kind of qualities and skills you need to become a creative director. While being creative and artistic is a good start, there are many more skills that employers will want to see. Here is a list of skills and qualities that are likely to be in the job description. 

• Creativity 
• Time management 
• Team leadership
• Ability to work well with deadlines
• Knowledge of relevant trends and industry standards
• Communication skills
• Organization skills
• Resilience in the face of disapproval
  
  

Now that we have provided a clear step-by-step for how to become a creative director, we at Workamajig hope that you have gained more insight into how this information relates to you and your journey toward advancing your creative career. Don’t forget to check out our job board for exciting career opportunities in the creative industry!