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

Once the winner is determined, trophies will go to the album’s art director and the designers, photographers and illustrators will receive a certificate.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

We’d met the summer before on his first feature film, Dementia 13, where I had assisted the art director.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

The drawings were found in an envelope marked "Dahl's drawings & odds and sods" which belonged to Ian Craig, the art director at publishing house Jonathan Cape.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 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 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