Art Editor

Typical Salary

£18,000 To £40,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

evenings occasionally

How To Become a Art Editor

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
working towards this role
applying directly

College / University

You can do a degree in:

graphic design
illustration
fine art
art and design
publishing

a foundation diploma in art and design

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could apply for a job as an assistant editor after completing a college course. Relevant subjects include:

Level 3 Diploma in Photography
Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Art and Design
Level 4 Diploma in Interactive Design and Development

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

You could get into this job by joining a magazine as a graphic designer or picture editor, then move on to become deputy art editor then editor.

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got the right skills and experience. For specialist magazines, you may have an advantage if you have a special interest or background in the publication's subject matter.

For example, an interest in science or architecture will be useful if you want to work on magazines covering those topics.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of English language
knowledge of media production and communication
the ability to read English
excellent verbal communication skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
excellent written communication skills
the ability to work well with others
to be flexible and open to change
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties may include:

laying out pages using the most suitable graphics and photographs
discussing ideas with colleagues, like journalists and editorial staff
hiring, and working with, freelance designers, illustrators and photographers
producing cover designs
setting an overall look and style for each issue
redesigning the publication to keep it up-to-date
making sure the layout of apps and digital magazines works well
managing photo shoots

Working Environment

You could work in an office or in a creative studio.

Career Path & Progression

You could become an art director, or move to advertising agency work.

You could use your experience and industry contacts to become self-employed or set up your own design agency.

Volunteering Opportunities

You should look to build up your contacts in the industry to help find paid work. You can do this by:

creating a blog or having a social media presence
building a website
designing published materials such as books, magazines, brochures, leaflets or websites for charities or student organisations

Tips & Information

Career tips

Internships can be a good way to get experience. This will help you to build a portfolio that showcases your print designs and art layout skills to employers. It will also give you a better understanding of the magazine industry.

Professional and industry bodies

You may find it useful to join the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can also find out more about working in art, publishing and other creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.