What do art directors do, exactly? No one, until now, has offered a satisfying answer to this vexing question. Now, finally, Véronique Vienne and Steven Heller have written a highly informative and entertaining book, providing insight into what art direction is, and how to practice it as a profession.

Art Direction Explained, At Last! tackles the wide range of roles and environments in which art directors operate, including magazines, newspapers, advertising, corporate identity, museums, and publishing, to name a few. It looks at what to do and what not to do to become a successful art director, and how to stay creative while managing the many responsibilities and deadlines that come with the job.

Revealing case studies explore examples of unusual and innovative techniques while pre-eminent art directors art direct themselves, resulting in an impressive and often very funny collection of diverse perspectives and approaches.

Conceived as an “activity” book, full of short chapters, amusing tests and handy tips, this illustrated manual is both inspirational and educational.