Study in Europe: A Route to Be a Creative Director

By Mia Angeline

If you are reading this, maybe the first thing that comes up in your mind is:

What is a creative director?

Why would I want to be one?

And what skills do creative director positions require?

If you think you are a creative person and have an eye for design, then this position could be for you.

First of all, creative director is a prestigious role in the advertising and marketing industries. They set the creative vision of a brand or product and implement that vision through various media. The key is to maintain a cohesive look and feel of the brand. Other than that, a creative director also set the budgets and timelines and sometimes meet up with clients.

With the title director, this position is often required to manage a team, usually consists of copywriters, graphic and web designers. Therefore, it is preferred to put in 7 to 10 years of experience before you can acquire the position.

Find more information about Erasmus+ Scholarship Programmes, here.

What kind of skills do you need?

Obviously, you need to have that spark of creativity. Knowledge in art, design history, pop culture, technology, social issues, and politics can be beneficial for a creative director. You also need a set of soft skills such as openness, humility, resolve, and wisdom.

Creative directors need a degree in graphic design, fine art or marketing, as well as practical experience.

They should have great interpersonal and managerial skills. Being up-to-date with the current issues is also relevant for the role.

Therefore, the first step you need to take is to earn a bachelor’s degree. Ehef already compiled the top 5 graphic design schools in Europe that you can check in here.

In this article, we have another list of universities offering Bachelor of Arts to become a successful creative director. Here they are in no particular order:

Find the list of scholarships to study in Europe, here.

1. Berlin International University of Applied Sciences

The Bachelor's degree programme in Graphic Design and Visual Communication in this university is fully taught in English. You will learn the A to Z in graphic design, from finding ideas to technical implementation.

You will also learn to analyze and improve ideas, with practical exercises to deal with information design across all media. Unfortunately, the school does not offer Master’s program yet.

For more information about studying in Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, click here.

2. Rome University of Fine Arts (RUFA)

Studying graphic design in RUFA means acquiring knowledge in visual communication. Other than the process of design, you will learn about elements of communication, from fonts to images, publishing, packaging, advertising, and exhibition.

Also, you will acquire knowledge in photographic language, current, and future media. If you are looking to take master’s degree, RUFA also offers Master of Arts in Graphic Arts.

For more information about studying in Rome University of Fine Arts (RUFA), click here.

Find the list of universities in Europe, here.

3. Academy of Media Arts Cologne

Located in Köln, Germany, The Academy of Media Arts Cologne is a research institute for audio-visual media. They have a unique concept in Germany that merge between art, science, and film within a single degree course.

You can enroll from the bachelor’s program in Fine Arts, master’s program to Ph.D. courses.

For more information about studying in Academy of Media Arts Cologne, click here.

4. Florence Institute of Design International (FIDI)

As the name suggests, FIDI is located in Florence, Italy, and essentially the first choice for any design related degree.

The school fortes are in graphic design, interior design, furniture design, and architecture. All courses are taught in English. The graphic design courses also contain the tradition and latest graphics software. Other than bachelor’s degree, FIDI also offers master’s program in Graphic Design.

For more information about studying in Florence Institute of Design International (FIDI), click here.

5. L’École De Design Nantes Atlantique

This school is a private art institution that promotes design as a strong economic asset and design as a practice that tackles social, economic, and environmental issues.

Situated in Nantes, L’École De Design Nantes Atlantique is the only design institution in Western France. The school also offers master’s program in Graphic and Information Design.

For more information about studying in L’École De Design Nantes Atlantique, click here.

A fine art degree is sure helpful getting your foot in the door. Upon graduation, you still need to gain experience and build your portfolio. Working in an advertising agency is recommended since you will work in a fast-paced environment and learn about client relations. You need to learn various skills including leadership and team building.

After several years as creative professionals, then it is time to move forward as a creative director.

Remember, nothing worth having comes easy – so start your preparation today!

Find more information about studying in Europe, here.