The title of “creative director” is one who wears many hats, depending on who they work for and how many teammates they’re directing. Perhaps you’re already aware of the ins and outs of this job, or you’re curious to learn more (and see if it could be a fit for you).
Read on to get the details about this illustrious, industrious position and, most important of all, how to become a creative director without needing a degree.
Table of Contents
What is a Creative Director?
First and foremost, creative directors are leaders. They’re often given a concept or vision from their company or client, and it’s their job to direct their team in executing the idea. Moreover, they usually oversee a team of other creatives, such as graphic designers and writers, and ensure that all assets accurately portray the voice and/or message(s) of the brand or project they’re creating for. They could work in advertising, software development, media, beauty, and so much more. So, this is a job that certainly requires creative range!
Also, like any (quality) leader, they motivate and encourage their team to generate ideas that will elevate the overall concept, and then advocate for said ideas. To be clear, creative directors themselves likely won’t be doing all the nitty gritty work that their team will, but they can expect to be attending lots of meetings throughout the day with upper management and/or their various clients.
Do creative directors make a lot of money?
Most do make a handsome amount, salary-wise. Though it’s not the highest paying director role you’ll find, you may be happy to find that a creative director’s salary pays rather generously.
According to Glassdoor.com, the median creative director salary in the United States is $145,003. More specifically, in New York City, the annual median pay is $171,680, while it’s $173,968 in Los Angeles, and $168,267 in Chicago. (Thus, it may be fair to expect higher salaries in large metropolis cities—especially where many companies are headquartered.)
Across the pond, however, Glassdoor reports the average base pay for a creative director is quite a bit less than that of the United States. In London, it’s £87,645, then €69,158 in Paris, and €59,513 in Milan.
This considerable difference in salaries might just be chalked up to the number of corporations in the U.S. that need creative directors and a large creative team. On the other hand, there are companies and businesses where creative execution of their brand isn’t imperative to its success (think banks, real estate agencies, or law firms, for example).
How to Become a Creative Director without a Degree
Now, there will surely be instances where a degree is required to be a creative director. But it’s not always necessary.
Rest assured—there are plenty of options barring a degree to get you to the creative director role or at the very least on the right path to becoming one.
Do you need a degree to be a creative director?
In short, no, you may not need a degree (nor would you need a degree in marketing or advertising specifically). There are numerous ways to establish your credibility and become a creative director without a degree.
Further, in lieu of a degree, there are countless online courses that pertain to the knowledge and know-how that a creative director would need. Websites such as Skillshare, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Google Learning offer various types of courses and further education for those seeking to enhance their knowledge and sharpen their expertise. Not to mention, various accredited universities offer access to in-person and online classes that won’t cost the thousands of dollars most full-time students have to shell out.
What’s more is that you can also earn completion certifications from certain sites and schools as well. Upon finishing whichever course(s) you choose, some sites will even allow you to speak to others who’ve completed their programs and obtained certifications. Or, if you’ve taken a course through a university, you may even be able to speak to alumni and other faculty. So, not only will you acquire a credible certificate, but you might even begin to build your network. Thus, gaining an educational background (and all the benefits of having one) without attending a university from two to six years, which is very much within reach and doable.
(Beyond meeting the immediate criteria, though, current and future creative directors should also strive to keep learning about their ever-evolving industry and attend whatever webinars, panel discussions as well as take professional courses that they’re able.)
Can you be a creative director with no experience?
Employers will likely be looking for experience relating to the creative director industry you’re pursuing, whether it’s advertising, marketing, graphic design and so on. Perhaps you’ve held a relevant administrative role or internship position, you’ve had experience with design or copywriting, or you’ve worked under a creative director in some capacity. And if you’ve yet to work in the creative field, well, you must start somewhere. That said, look for creative director entry level jobs or internship positions pertinent to your current skill sets that will allow you to get your foot in the door. Volunteering at nonprofit organizations and helping them out with their creative projects are also a great first step to getting started on the road to becoming a creative director.
You may also need to demonstrate your ability to conceptualize a creative vision. Brands are always trying to find a way to be or stay relevant, so it could help to present some ideas to companies you’re interviewing for, or examples of how you’ve been involved in successful campaigns for other agencies. (Even if you were a project manager or marketing analyst, there’s still value to be leveraged from those positions!) So, if you don’t already have a portfolio, now is a great time to make one. And whether you choose to make your own website or fill a binder with past work, hiring managers will be able to get a better feel for your talent with some visuals.
Other credentials might include your formal or informal educational background. And as discussed above, you don’t need a college degree to be able to work your way to the top. But, of course, you can’t expect to earn the title of creative director with no knowledge (or relevant experience[s]) of what will be expected of you. Providing courses and certifications on your resume will show employers that you’ve learned from credible sources and, the key thing, know what to expect, and they can further assess whether you’re cut out for the role.
Lastly, a great way to break into any industry is through networking. You might find yourself in a right place, right time sort of situation where you’re chatting up an ad executive at a hotel lounge, or you meet someone on a plane who’s friends with a creative director. (And if you’ve yet to experience such a thing, search for networking events near you or those that are held online such as meetups.) Finding an established individual who can vouch for and/or mentor you is an invaluable asset in such a competitive field as creative director. From there, you’ll have the opportunity to meet others who also work in your field, and maybe one of them will even have a job vacancy with your name on it. After all, as the saying goes in the career world, “it’s all about who you know.”
Qualifications you need to be a creative director
Aside from a creative vision and the obvious technical qualifications in graphic design, copywriting, advertising/marketing and project management, creative directors should demonstrate leadership skills. To expand on the answer to our “What is a creative director?” section at the beginning of this article, a creative director is a leader who is open-minded (and supportive) to new ideas; have humility, empathy, and compassion for others; and is proactive about solving problems that arise. That is all to say, as a creative director and a leader, you must leave your ego at the door and remember you’re there to serve your team and take heed of their needs; their success reflects your ability to lead and direct.
So, let’s expand on leadership skills. Creative directors will have to eye multiple assets in a single day, so attention to detail is imperative. Also, they should know how to receive criticism with grace, and deliver it without being condescending or discouraging. Regardless of the field or industry, investment in those they’re directing is one of the main ingredients of being a great leader and boss in general. That is, challenging and trusting teammates with a range of different projects, lending constructive feedback where needed, leading with humbleness, and having a sense of humor (since things are bound to go wrong sometimes). Creative directors may also need to go to bat for their teammates, whether it be advocating an idea or defending a decision someone on the team made. While the creative director position demands respect and a sense of order, creative directors should also aim to be approachable. Balance is key.
And, most of all, don’t be afraid to apply to a creative direction position if you don’t fit all the criteria or qualifications listed on the job description. Assuming you invest in acquiring the proper knowledge/skills for the position and can demonstrate some sort of portfolio of work (or experiences), your confidence, tenacity, and passion alone might just surprise you—and the hiring manager.
Can You Be a Creative Director without Being (or Having Been) a Designer?
Even if you know very little about Adobe Photoshop, you can communicate to your team of designers the vision that you have in mind (and even point out their blind spots when something isn’t working). Moreover, it’s never too late to learn how to navigate the design aspect of asset creation. Curiosity or an interest in media, illustration, and art history would also serve the creative director position well from an inspiration standpoint.
Conclusion
The times may be changing from the past several decades, where many jobs require folks to have a degree in order to be qualified. Therefore, today, there are various routes that can lead to becoming a creative director.
If you’ve got the creative chops, knowledge and expertise, a portfolio of work and enough people to vouch for you, you’re already in the running. And even if you’re not quite there yet, be sure to keep adding fuel to your motivational fire through learning new skill sets and obtaining experience, big or small/entry-level or volunteer. As will all good things, it may take some time to earn the title of a creative director. But you’ll eventually get there.
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