Art Directors
Machines can already do 41% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 67%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Art Directors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 41% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 21% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 67% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 53,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $114,850 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 68% for contact with people.
- Also called: Art Director, Art Supervisor, Creative Director (CD Director), Creative Manager.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound | 14% | 30% to 60% | |
| Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements | 12% | 10% to 30% | |
| Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities | 11% | 25% to 55% | |
| Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members | 11% | 55% to 85% | |
| Work with creative directors to develop design solutions | 7% | 30% to 60% | |
| Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques | 7% | 75% to 95% | |
| Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements | 7% | 82% to 97% | |
| Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing | 7% | 22% to 48% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills art directors use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Producers and Directors56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $90,360
- Event Hosts and Emcees56% of tasks by 2035
- Set and Exhibit Designers59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $75,240
- Keynote Speakers62% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Art Directors?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of art directors?
Machines can do 41% of the tasks of art directors today and 67% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 27-1011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Art Directors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/art-directors/