iceman19330
asked on
Alternative Job Titles - Art Director
A friend of mine works for a large company who has certain beliefs about the word "Director" being in a title, so they have resisted giving her the title of Art Director. She has finally pushed to where they are examining alternatives to Art Director. Does anyone have suggestions as to what describes an Art Director, but without the word "Director" in it. Yes we have already showed them that Art Director is pretty much industry standard term for what my friends has been doing for them for the past 3 years, but they cant get past "Director".
ASKER
Thats been the battle for the past 3 years.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
Create a free account to see this answer
Signing up is free and takes 30 seconds. No credit card required.
Designer
Creative Designer
Artist - debatable if there is no fine art training
Graphic Artist
Production Artist
Project Manager
Before we get too far, does this person actually have other people working in subordinate or supporting positions? For instance, are there photographers, illustrators, copywriters who work FOR or in concert to this employee? That's a big distinction.
A one-man-band does not have a director. She may be doing the task work of an AD, but if there is no-one to direct, it would be hard to use the title.
Outside vendors qualify as support staff. So, freelances, pre-press house, typesetters, editorial content providers, etc. must be "directed" in order to produce the final project.
In the same manner, a Stage Manager or Stage Director may be a single person with no subordinates, but directs the actions and allocations of financial resources. This merits the title.
Has your friend consulted with GAG (Graphic Artists Guild)? I'm sure they see this issue all the time.
Creative Designer
Artist - debatable if there is no fine art training
Graphic Artist
Production Artist
Project Manager
Before we get too far, does this person actually have other people working in subordinate or supporting positions? For instance, are there photographers, illustrators, copywriters who work FOR or in concert to this employee? That's a big distinction.
A one-man-band does not have a director. She may be doing the task work of an AD, but if there is no-one to direct, it would be hard to use the title.
Outside vendors qualify as support staff. So, freelances, pre-press house, typesetters, editorial content providers, etc. must be "directed" in order to produce the final project.
In the same manner, a Stage Manager or Stage Director may be a single person with no subordinates, but directs the actions and allocations of financial resources. This merits the title.
Has your friend consulted with GAG (Graphic Artists Guild)? I'm sure they see this issue all the time.
ASKER
Right now she has a jr graphic designer and a graphic desiger plus several dotted line subordinates in other depts as well as several subcontractors. I dont think that she has called AGIA or GAG in the area to see what they suggest. Its just so odd, the company I work for has 5 AD and 2 Sr ADs.
Names are a sticking point for some people. I ran production for a magazine and two book projects. The publisher wouldn't give me the title "Production Manager" because I did not have a college degree.
He said that the title "Manager" required a college degree as a minimum entry point.
It didn't matter that I managed the production, edited copy, managed ad traffic...I didn't have a BA, so no title.
Funny, I sat on a corporate Board of Directors without as many problems. At that same company I used the titles Production Manager and Art Director.
Unfortunately, titles are granted by the employer. Think of the military...you can't call your own rank or rate. It is bestowed upon you by those senior to you after attaining certain arbitrary and non-arbitrary standards. Demanding it usually doesn't make it happen.
GAG job listings and/or ethical guidelines (pricing guidelines) may help. My old copy is packed up in a box somewhere in the garage. It's probably so old that it lists lead type and stone chiseling. If I can find it, I'll look through some titles.
He said that the title "Manager" required a college degree as a minimum entry point.
It didn't matter that I managed the production, edited copy, managed ad traffic...I didn't have a BA, so no title.
Funny, I sat on a corporate Board of Directors without as many problems. At that same company I used the titles Production Manager and Art Director.
Unfortunately, titles are granted by the employer. Think of the military...you can't call your own rank or rate. It is bestowed upon you by those senior to you after attaining certain arbitrary and non-arbitrary standards. Demanding it usually doesn't make it happen.
GAG job listings and/or ethical guidelines (pricing guidelines) may help. My old copy is packed up in a box somewhere in the garage. It's probably so old that it lists lead type and stone chiseling. If I can find it, I'll look through some titles.
art specialist
dean of art
here are 15-20 different synonyms for director
http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/director
dean of art
here are 15-20 different synonyms for director
http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/director
Have your friend tell the 'large company' HR nazis to extract themselves from how work gets done, and take a flying hike.