art direction

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Is there paint under your fingernails? Do you tear pictures out of magazines? Did you pick the typeface for your tattoo? Maybe you're cut out to be an Art Director.

Art directors are idea generators. They dream up the concepts and visuals for any medium that tries to persuade someone to do something or buy something. These media include the internet - from banners to soceial networking and everything in between - magazine ads, video games, posters, electric billboards, TV commercials, catalogs, lemonade stands, clothing and any other medium not yet invented.

Here's how it works: first, as an art director, you get together with a copywriter and brainstorm until ideas emerge. Once the idea is approved internally in the agency, the concept is shown to the client. If the client "buys" the concept, the concept is produced. During the production process you call in a photographer to shoot the concept. Or you use an illustrator instead. Or a broadcast producer, or perhaps a digital producer. 

COURSES

SOME OF THE CLASSES YOU'LL TAKE

ADR 102 Brands & Branding
You’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that there was something vaguely suspicious about that authentic “Ronex” watch you purchased off the street. In this you’ll learn how to uncover the soul of a brand and harness its mighty power.

ADR 105 Intro to Strategy
Strategy is the plan to get what you want done, done. Smart strategic thinking is the best way to set yourself apart from other wannabe art directors and make creative directors say Wow, I wish I’d thought of that.

ADR 107 Outdoor Advertising
Perhaps the most pure of advertising mediums. Outdoor is the place where art directors can show how beautifully simple and concise they can be. Plan to get at least one portfolio-worthy campaign out of this

ADR 121 Brainstorming
In this you’ll be taught tricks and techniques that will help your brain produce an abundance of ideas. And who couldn’t use that? You’ll also learn how to block your brain’s incredible ability to reject ideas.

INSTRUCTORS

ART DIRECTION PROGRAM

Christian Alexander • Art Director,
Markham Unlimited

Pablo Almansa • Photographer

Jesús Alonso • Photographer

Niels Alzen • Creative Director, Freelance

James Allen • ACD, iChameleon Group

INTERNSHIPS

AT MIAMI AD SCHOOL

BBDO-GO, Manila, Philippines
www.bbdo-go.com

Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Boulder
www.cpbgroup.com

DDB, Budapest
http://www.ddb.hu/

PLACEMENT

WHERE OUR GRADS WORK

180, Los Angeles
20:20, London
Agency.com, San Francisco
Aimaq Rapp Stolle, Berlin
AKQA, NewYork
AKQA, SanFrancisco
Alibi, Geneva
Alma DDB, Miami
Amazon Advertising, San Francisco
American Greetings, Cleveland