How to Become an Art Director in Film

Co-authored by Kyle Hall

Last Updated: February 5, 2023 References Approved

On a film set, an art director is responsible for all of the artistic and visual designs used for a production. If you’re interested in becoming an art director in film, you need to possess the artistic and structural insight of an architect, an interior designer, and an artist. It will take a lot of training and experience to get there, but once you understand the ins and outs of the industry and have an impressive portfolio, you can start pursuing the big-budget roles you’re interested in.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Developing the Right Skills

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Enroll in an undergraduate art program. Having an arts degree will make it easier to get a job in the film industry. Art directors must have a broad understanding of the arts, so enroll in courses that cover a wide variety of artistic subjects. Some good places to start are:
- Courses in architecture. As an art director you’ll be responsible for designing sets, so you want to develop an understanding of construction, building, and technical drawing.
- Courses in interior design. Part of the set design you’ll do as an art director includes interior design, so you want to learn how to use props and decor to create a visually appealing aesthetic.
- Courses in theatre. Understanding how sets and props factor into a performance will help you down the road when you’re responsible for creating large-scale sets that directors and actors have to work with.
2
Watch a lot of films. Study them and take notes. Pay attention to a film’s overall aesthetic, asking yourself what you liked and didn’t like about it. Understanding how art and design can be used to fulfill a director’s vision is essential if you want to be an art director.^{[1]
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- If you liked a particular set design or artistic element of a film, look up the art director behind it and study their career.
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3
Cultivate the necessary personal skills. Practice working on a team with other people, because as an art director you’ll be responsible for managing multiple departments and film crews. Work on your time management and organizational skills, and flex your creativity whenever possible. You’ll also want to be good at budgeting and working with money.^{[2]
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- Volunteer for a local production or film company to gain experience and work on your personal skills.
- Enroll in financial literacy courses to learn about money and budgeting.
4
Get your driver’s license. Most art director positions will require you to do a lot of driving (driving to and from set, transporting supplies, driving to meet with the different crews, etc). Look up your local requirements for obtaining a driver’s license and work on getting one so it doesn't become a deal breaker down the road.^{[3]
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Go to graduate school to increase your chances of landing a job. Get your master’s in production design. A lot of aspiring art directors go this route. You’ll get advanced training in architecture, digital design, and other crucial aspects of film production that you’ll need to know to be an art director.^{[4]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Gaining Experience

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Apply for entry level art jobs. On top of your skills and training, you’ll need a lot of first-hand experience to land a job as an art director. An entry level art job is a great place to start gaining that experience. Look for any art-related job that will teach you some of the practical skills you’ll need to be an art director. There are several routes you can take:
- Apply to be an art department assistant. As an art department assistant, you’d be working in a department managed by an art director, so it’s a great opportunity to build practical experience and get a look at what your career might be like some day.^{[5]
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- Apply for a construction job with a local production or film company. A big part of being an art director is designing and building sets, so understanding how construction works will look great on your resume.^{[6]
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- Apply for a studio arts job. Having practical drawing, painting, or sculpting experience will help you get your foot in the door at an art department for a film.^{[7]
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Work your way up through the ranks. Jumping right from an entry level position to a job as an art director isn’t a realistic goal. Devote the first five or more years of your career to learning everything you can about the industry and getting promoted to different roles.^{[8]
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. government agency that collects and reports labor-related information
Go to source} Use your education and experience as leverage to get more in-depth positions working on film productions.
3
Build an impressive portfolio. Fill it with photographs of sets you’ve designed, artwork you’ve created, or other relevant experience that prospective employers will want to see. Use your portfolio to secure better jobs. Eventually, you will have a range of professional work you can use to land a job as an art director.^{[9]
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- Have both an online portfolio and a physical portfolio to show prospective employers. Search online for free portfolio websites where you can upload and display your work.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finding Work

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Network with industry insiders. Reach out to production designers or other art directors and ask them if they know of any opportunities for work. Make sure your portfolio is in great shape and show it to whoever you’re networking with.^{[10]
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Join a local or national art director’s union. Some filmmakers will only staff their art department with unionized artists. Do an online search to see if there’s a union in your area, or check if there’s a nationally-operated union you can apply to. Being part of a union will give you instant access to professionals in the industry that can help you get a job.
- Some art director’s unions have a competitive application process. Before applying, make sure your portfolio is updated and full of your best work.^{[11]
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3
Leverage your experience working in art departments for films. If you’re ready to apply for an art director position, you should have at least 5 years experience working within an art department. You’ve probably worked your way up through a variety of roles, like art department assistant, draughtsmen, and assistant art director. Use what you learned in these roles - and the portfolio pieces you've accumulated along the way - to convince a production designer or director that you’re ready to take on the title of art director.
- For example, if you know a production designer is assembling a team for a new project, and you worked as the assistant art director on their last production, you could reach out and express your interest in working as the art director on their new film.
4
Be persistent. It’s not easy to get an art director position, especially on big-budget productions. Keep networking and never stop working in the industry, even if it means taking a lower position within a film’s art department.^{[12]
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Community Q&A

Question

What can a writer looking a job as an assistant director do to land the job?

Louise Bedford

Community Answer

Make sure you have a great CV that will tick the boxes of the employer. Also, work on things that will set you apart from other candidates and make you stand out.
Question

What degrees does a film concept artist need?

Garrett

Top Answerer

There are several that could work. Fine arts, illustration, painting, animation, and visual arts are probably the best options. Associate's degrees can work as a good start, but often a Bachelor's is often the minimum required to land a real opportunity.