Executive Creative Director Overview

What does an Executive Creative Director do?

The job of a creative director is to lead a team that may be composed of graphic designers, artists, or other creative professionals. They would be involved in every aspect of a collaboration from the idea phase to the execution. During a project, they supervise and guide copywriters, artists, and designers to create a work, such as a website, an advertisement, or an email campaign. They report to a chief marketing officer (CMO) for major decisions and approvals, but they do most of their work independently, using their professional judgment to manage the day-to-day details of their projects.

Creative directors usually possess a bachelor's degree or higher in a background relevant to their industry. For instance, a creative director leading teams to create commercials may have a degree in marketing or graphic design. Professionals in this industry must work well under pressure as they manage diverse teams working on multiple projects under strict deadlines.

What responsibilities are common for Executive Creative Director jobs?
  • Mentor and encourage creative team members to foster a positive work environment
  • Shoulder the responsibility of the quality and completion of all work projects assigned to members of the creative team
  • Participate in and provide regular opportunities for professional development and growth to team
  • Report progress of projects at major stages of their conception, creation, and execution
  • Ensure designs and content reflect consistently and positively the brand image and company ideals
  • Work with internal and external strategic partners to create products using the most current industry best practices
  • Serve as a liaison between the marketing and creative team and between the creative team and individual clients
  • Anticipate problems that may impede a project from completing on time and implement solutions
What are the typical qualifications for Executive Creative Director jobs?
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Familiarity with a variety of software programs, such as Photoshop, InDesign, and Flash
  • Knowledge of how to develop brand identities through multi-channel marketing
  • Good comfort level interacting with high-profile clients and industry professionals
  • Evidence of participation in ongoing professional development opportunities in the areas of graphic design or social media
  • Recent hands-on experience with applying design, copy, or web best practices
  • Professional business skills, such as negotiation, project management, and leadership
  • Web design experience an advantage, especially using HTML5 and WordPress
  • Talent in presenting information concisely and accurately, with keen attention to detail
Education--
Work/Life Balance
3.8 ★
Total Pay--
Career Opportunity
3.9 ★
Avg. Experience2-4 years

How much does an Executive Creative Director make near United States?

Confident
$204,432 /yr
Total Pay
$163,481
 /yr

Base Pay

+
$40,951
 /yr

Additional Pay

$204,432

 / yr
$122K$346K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range
See More Insights

Executive Creative Director Career Path

Learn how to become an Executive Creative Director, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

Executive Creative Director

Years of Experience Distribution

0 - 1
0%
2 - 4
100%
5 - 7
0%
8+
0%
Not including years spent in education and/or training

Executive Creative Director Insights

Read what Executive Creative Director professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
Loyola University New OrleansLoyola University New Orleans
Creative Director
Apr 23, 2022

“You get to make your own schedule and the faculty are really nice and understanding.”

McCann WorldgroupMcCann Worldgroup
Associate Creative Director
Nov 22, 2021

“Friendly place but not really motivate you to grow because it is difficult to have some space to develop himself.”

PreloadedPreloaded
Senior Creative Developer
Feb 23, 2023

“Everyone I worked with had so much enthusiasm and passion for the project which was really great to see.”

BMO Financial GroupBMO Financial Group
Creative Director
Jul 19, 2023

“Being in that situation will make it hard to grow in your career and will leave you underpaid and overworked.”

Vanquish Media GroupVanquish Media Group
Creative Director
Apr 16, 2023

“Working remotely was great and I enjoyed working with few of the other team members.”

DropboxDropbox
Associate Creative Director
Sep 13, 2022

“I get a lot of ownership of my work and many opportunities to create and drive initiatives.”

Bombay Design Centre
Senior Creative Designer
Aug 2, 2022

“Seen Firing people and felt unsafe about my job and they do a lot I feel.”

WeBelieversWeBelievers
Creative Director
Jun 20, 2021

“Work Life Balance but it's because you want to achieve the best work you can do in your life”

See More

Executive Creative Director Interviews

Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of an Executive Creative Director

The most similar professions to Executive Creative Director are:
  • Design Manager
  • Interior Designer
  • Designer
  • Design Consultant

Related Careers

Design Manager
$148,993
Interior Designer
$69,702
No skills overlap
Designer
$74,832
No skills overlap
Design Consultant
$108,959
No skills overlap

Executive Creative Director Jobs