min magazine 2008: Hottest Launches - Art Director of the Year
Friday, November 7, 2008

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Ryan Swanson
Personal Development

What makes a good art director?
You have to have a good understanding of the changing marketplace and keep up with changing technology and be able to work on the Web as well.

Why the horizontal format for the magazine?
It’s interesting because people view more things horizontally. It’s also something that wasn’t the norm, it’s something more like a coffee-table book.

How closely do you work with the editors?
Whenever possible it is better to go through the idea behind the article with the editor, as opposed to coming in at the end. You have to conceptualize the story from the beginning. I like working closely with an editor.

Advice for fledgling designers?
Of course you need to go and learn the theory and the art theory and graphic design theory, but I would tell them to first look into what type of interests they have. They need to ask themselves what their strengths are—and what type of art director they want to be. And you need to have a deep personal commitment to the work. Also, remember to always learn from the people around you—because if you are too closed-minded and you think you know everything, you could really end up further behind than you dreamed. There are so many little, tiny parts to building a magazine map. The biggest pitfall is to think that you are too good to listen to the other people.

Do you have a mentor?
It is awful that I would say no. I have taken a certain amount from and learned from everybody that I have worked with. There are certain magazines on newsstands that I have followed and I’ve tried to aspire to.

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