art director

American  

[ahrt di-rek-ter, dahy-] / ˈɑrt dɪˌrɛk tər, daɪ- /

noun

1. Movies, Television. the person who determines the staging requirements for a production and often designs the sets or supervises their building and dressing.

2. Also called art editor.  a person who is responsible for the selection, execution, production, etc., of graphic art for a publication, advertising agency, or the like.

3. artistic director.

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art director British  

noun

1. a person responsible for the sets and costumes in a film

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Etymology

Origin of art director

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Previously, she held art director positions at the New York Times, Quartz and Penguin Random House, among others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

“There’s a lot of anxiety around technology and the way we engage with it,” said Joseph Alessio, a designer and art director in Oakland, Calif.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

Ryman’s work was in fact an iteration of sorts, based upon years of master planning from Walt Disney and early collaborator Marvin Davis, a cinematic art director responsible for much of Disneyland’s early designs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2025

In her paper, Dr Hale chronicles terse correspondences between the museum's art director, Professor John Coolidge, and Ramsey once concerns had been raised by the duchess.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2025

In every TV Guide and Parade ad, he had his art director put a little gold box in the corner of the order coupon.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell