To become an advertising art director you need to have excellent design skills, creative ideas and experience in marketing and advertising. A portfolio of work is also required by most employers.

Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA Level 2 art, art history, technical drawing, English, and maths is recommended.

New advertising art directors gain their skills on the job and learn from those working in more senior roles.

Some training courses are offered by the advertising industry.

Advertising art directors must keep up with current trends and issues, and with what is happening in the advertising and marketing industries. They can do this by signing up for email updates from relevant publications and companies, and attending seminars and events.

Useful experience for advertising art directors includes:

• work as a graphic designer or artist
• any art or design work or courses
• advertising or marketing work
• work in the publishing or print industries
• typographical work.