Art directors held about 74,600 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most art directors were as follows:
Advertising, public relations, and related services
15%
Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers
5
Specialized design services
4
Motion picture and video industries
3
Retail trade, except motor vehicle and parts dealers, food and beverage stores, and general merchandise stores
2
About half of art directors were self-employed in 2014. Even though the majority of art directors are self-employed, they must still collaborate with designers or other staff on visual effects or marketing teams. Art directors usually work in a fast-paced office environment, and they often work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.