Master Digital Art Direction / Animated media
Overview of the Master’s Program in Art Direction
2 years to become an Art Director
The Master’s Program in Art Direction is designed for students who already have a foundation in graphic design or visual communication and wish to develop a comprehensive, strategic, and professional vision of the art director role. Over two years, this program enables you to refine your style, master creative responses to briefs, lead projects from concept to completion, and establish your place within today’s creative teams.
You will learn how to analyze a brief, define a strong artistic direction, coordinate multidisciplinary creative talents, and defend your creative choices to partners and clients. More than a technical specialization, this program develops a creative, critical, and responsible mindset, aligned with the profound transformations shaping creative industries, particularly those driven by the rise of artificial intelligence.
Graphic Design & AI: Master the Tools of Tomorrow
The program prepares you to integrate AI tools into your creative process with discernment: image generation, assisted design, task automation, visual data analysis, prototyping, and more.
You will learn how to leverage these technologies while maintaining full control over artistic direction, meaning, intention, and project coherence. Dedicated modules also explore the uses of AI, its ethical boundaries, its impact on creative practices, and its influence on brand visual identity.
Structured around workshops, real-world projects, and live briefs, the teaching approach mirrors the functioning of an agency: concept development, production, and client presentation. Partnerships with companies, cultural institutions, and associations reinforce this professional dynamic throughout the program.
A comprehensive core curriculum develops the transversal skills essential to art direction: graphic design, communication strategy, UX/UI, video, animation, content creation, brand ecosystems, and creative AI.
At the same time, you choose a specialization to assert a distinctive professional positioning.
The Master’s Program in Art Direction at LISAA Paris offers two pathways depending on your profile and career goals:
- Art Direction Tech, for those who wish to explore creative technologies and interactive design
- Art Direction COM 360, for profiles focused on visual communication, brand content, and graphic concept development
Two complementary tracks designed to shape art directors who are both strategic and innovative.
Upon completion of the program, you will be able to:
- Define a graphic creation project (print, digital, or multimedia)
- Conceptualize a graphic creation project (print, digital, or multimedia)
- Manage a project and lead a creative team
- Produce a print, digital, or multimedia creation project
- Develop a professional activity in art direction
91,2%
Certification success rate for the RNCP Art Director title (June 2024)*
*Success rate of the former title (RNCP 36590), replaced by the current certification
90%
Employment rate 6 months after graduation (Class of 2022)
Most recent employment data published by France Compétences for RNCP title 38942
0,2% Apprenticeship training interruption rate during the 2023–2024 academic year CFA IDAA
Interested in exploring all areas of visual creation?
This specialization trains you to design and lead comprehensive communication projects: brand identity, advertising campaigns, editorial design, digital media, packaging, and more.
You will work on complex briefs and learn how to build coherent, impactful visual systems adaptable across all platforms. From initial concept to multi-channel deployment, you will respond to the strategic needs of brands and organizations.
In a world saturated with content, brands must stand out through powerful storytelling.
This specialization teaches you to create content with strong narrative, visual, and strategic value: social media series, digital campaigns, editorial formats, social videos, and more.
You will learn to design long-term communication strategies, propose innovative formats, and align creative decisions with a coherent brand strategy. The program combines graphic creation, storytelling, content strategy, scheduling management, and platform understanding.
This program offers comprehensive immersion in the strategic management of responsible communication.
You will develop awareness campaigns, create transparent and authentic content for print and digital media, and integrate sustainability principles into every aspect of your projects.
Passionate about the power of signs, the meaning of words, and the precision of letter design?
This specialization immerses you in the demanding world of typography and graphic concept.
You will learn to design or modify typefaces, create bold layouts, and explore the relationships between text and image across diverse projects: posters, brand identities, publications, interfaces, and more.
You will develop in-depth graphic culture and refined critical perspective to design projects where every typographic detail carries meaning.
This specialization focuses on editorial creation. You will learn to design demanding graphic objects such as books, press publications, and magazines.
You will develop a creative and strategic approach aligned with contemporary market evolutions and practices, preparing you to lead innovative editorial projects.
Become an expert in the cultural and creative sector.
This specialization is designed for students passionate about cultural industries. You will respond to cultural commissions in music, film, museums, media, and more, coming from public institutions, associations, or private organizations.
A transmedia approach.
You will learn to use video, motion design, interactive animation, web development, and storytelling to address micro-publishing, cultural merchandising, and art direction challenges.
Interested in telling stories through moving images and bringing graphic concepts to life?
This specialization introduces you to the full production process of animated content, from storyboard to post-production.
You will learn industry-standard tools such as After Effects, Cinema 4D, and TVPaint, combining 2D, 3D, and sound animation to create expressive and engaging videos. Projects may range from promotional clips to broadcast design and immersive content.
This specialization explores the potential of artificial intelligence in visual and interactive creation.
AI-generated images, videos, sound, text, AR/VR/XR, motion design — students experiment with emerging tools to design innovative and immersive experiences.
The program is designed to move ideas from sketch to fully developed project, preparing students for the future of visual creation
Designed for students drawn to interface design and user journeys, this specialization trains you to create seamless, aesthetic, and functional digital experiences.
You will analyze user behavior, design information architecture, create wireframes, prototype interactive interfaces, and ensure visual coherence while respecting accessibility standards.
You will collaborate with developers, project managers, and product teams to design applications, websites, and high-value interactive systems.
This specialization trains versatile creators with expertise in motion design and animated drawing.
The program extends to visual media, with particular emphasis on animated visual experiences. You will master various techniques, from traditional craft to innovative integration of augmented reality.
With strong international ambition, LISAA Strasbourg launches, in partnership with NABA, one of Italy’s most renowned applied arts schools, an innovative double degree program with an international focus.
The two years of study are delivered in French and English.
This hybrid program combines theoretical and practical courses, merging NABA’s Learning by Doing approach with LISAA’s competency-based professional training model.
Students in the European Track complete the first year of the Master’s program (Year 4) in Strasbourg and the final year (Year 5) at NABA in Milan, internationally recognized for its design culture and teaching excellence.
They benefit from renowned professors and industry professionals and collaborate with companies and institutions on projects in digital art direction and design.
Program in Paris – Communication 360° Specialization
UE1 – Core Courses
UE1.A – Project Management
UE1.B – Prototyping & Interface Design
UE1.C – Immersive Experiences
UE1.D – Motion Design & Storytelling
UE1.E – Motion Design 360° & Advanced Production
UE1.F – Editorial Design & Typographic Culture
UE1.G – Signage & Scenography
UE2 – Theoretical and Applied Courses
UE2.A – Video Content
UE2.B – Brand Design
UE2.C – 360° Activation
UE2.D – Low Impact Design
UE3 – Professional Development
UE3.A – Business Case #1
UE3.B – Business Case #2
UE3.C – Entrepreneurship
UE3.D – Civic Engagement
UE3.E – Personal Branding
UE3.F – Final Assessment
UE1 – Core Theoretical Courses
UE1.A – Civic Engagement & Professional Development
UE1.B – Leadership
UE1.C – Commercial Pitching
UE1.D – Entrepreneurship
UE1.E – Strategy & Creative Innovation
UE1.F – Final Assessment
UE2 – Final Creative Project (Capstone Project)
UE2.A – Analysis, Research & Trend Forecasting
UE2.B – Design Thinking
UE2.C – Low-Impact Design
UE2.D – Concept Development
UE2.E – Project Management
UE2.F – Art Direction
UE2.G – Production
UE2.H – Final Assessment
UE3 – Specializations
Specialization: 360° Communication
UE3.A – Editorial Project
UE3.B – Animated Typography
UE3.C – Event Art Direction
UE3.D – Augmented Reality Poster
UE3.E – Branding & Brand Identity
UE3.F – Interactive Design
Specialization: Brand Content
UE3.A – Brand Visual Identity
UE3.B – Communication Strategy
UE3.C – Content Marketing
UE3.D – Brand Content & Video
UE3.E – Brand Strategy & Artificial Intelligence
UE3.F – Guerrilla Marketing
Specialization: Eco-Social Design
UE3.A – Responsible Communication Strategy (Eco-Site Project)
UE3.B – Digital Accessibility & Disability Awareness
UE3.C – Inclusive Design
UE3.D – Inclusive Strategy & Communication
UE3.E – Ethical & Responsible Design
UE3.F – Branding for a Sustainable Future
Specialization: Concept & Typography
UE3.A – Type Design & Specimen Creation
UE3.B – Animated Typography
UE3.C – Editorial & Magazine Design
UE3.D – Typography & Sign Systems in Space
UE3.E – Emerging Typographic Systems
UE3.F – Typographic Branding
Program in Paris – Tech Specializations
The duration of the program is identical for both the full-time track and the apprenticeship track.
UE1 – Core Courses
UE1.A – Project Management
UE1.B – Prototyping & Interface Design
UE1.C – Motion Design & Technical Storytelling
UE1.D – Editorial Design & Typographic Culture
UE2 – Theoretical & Applied Courses
UE2.A – Video Content
UE2.B – Brand Design
UE2.C – 360° Campaign Activation
UE2.D – Low-Impact Design
UE3 – Professional Development
UE3.A – Business Case #1
UE3.B – Business Case #2
UE3.C – Entrepreneurship
UE3.D – Civic Engagement
UE3.E – Personal Branding
UE3.F – Final Assessment
UE4 – Specializations
Specialization: UX/UI
UE4.A – Design Sprint Project (Design Thinking)
UE4.B – Digital Accessibility
UE4.C – Mobile Application Design
Specialization: Motion Design
UE4.A – TV Graphics & 3D Logo Modeling
UE4.B – Camera Techniques & Physics Simulation
UE4.C – Projection Mapping
Specialization: Creative AI
UE4.A – Creative AI & Concept Design
UE4.B – Motion & Generative Storytelling
UE4.C – Human + Machine: Interactive Co-Creation
The duration of the program is identical for both the full-time track and the apprenticeship track.
UE1 – Core Courses
UE1.A – Project Management
UE1.B – Prototyping & Interface Design
UE1.C – Motion Design & Technical Storytelling
UE1.D – Editorial Design & Typographic Culture
UE2 – Theoretical & Applied Courses
UE2.A – Video Content
UE2.B – Brand Design
UE2.C – 360° Campaign Activation
UE2.D – Low-Impact Design
UE3 – Professional Development
UE3.A – Business Case #1
UE3.B – Business Case #2
UE3.C – Entrepreneurship
UE3.D – Civic Engagement
UE3.E – Personal Branding
UE3.F – Final Assessment
UE4 – Specializations
Specialization: UX/UI
UE4.A – Design Sprint Project (Design Thinking)
UE4.B – Digital Accessibility
UE4.C – Mobile Application Design
Specialization: Motion Design
UE4.A – TV Graphics & 3D Logo Modeling
UE4.B – Camera Techniques & Physics Simulation
UE4.C – Projection Mapping
Specialization: Creative AI
UE4.A – Creative AI & Concept Design
UE4.B – Motion & Generative Storytelling
UE4.C – Human + Machine: Interactive Co-Creation
Program in Strasbourg
504 hours of instruction, structured into 4 Teaching Units (UE), for the first year
553 hours of instruction, structured into 4 Teaching Units (UE), for the second year
7 hours of oral assessment
UE1 – Core Technical Skills
- Project Management, Art Direction — 35 hours — 2 ECTS
- Technical Interface Design — 42 hours — 2 ECTS
- Advanced Motion Design — 42 hours — 2 ECTS
- Graphic Design and Typography — 35 hours — 2 ECTS
UE2 – Strategy and Creative Innovation
- Visual Identity — 35 hours — 3 ECTS
- Wayfinding Design — 35 hours — 3 ECTS
- Design & Eco-Design — 35 hours — 3 ECTS
- Advertising and Marketing — 35 hours — 3 ECTS
UE3 – Professional Development
- Client Project — 70 hours — 4 ECTS
- Civic Engagement — 14 hours — 1 ECTS
- Entrepreneurship — 7 hours — 1 ECTS
- Portfolio Development — 14 hours — 1 ECTS
UE4 – Specialization
- Editorial Design and Typographic Design — 35 hours — 1 ECTS
- Motion Design and Stop Motion — 35 hours — 1 ECTS
- UX/UI and Creative Coding — 35 hours — 1 ECTS
UE5 – Project Leadership and Professional Environment
- Civic Engagement — 14 hours — 1 ECTS
- Project Management — 14 hours — 1 ECTS
- Management — 28 hours — 1 ECTS
- Human Resources — 14 hours — 1 ECTS
- Advertising Media Workshop — 42 hours — 4 ECTS
- Business Proposal Development — 21 hours — 2 ECTS
UE6 – Specialization
- 360° Communication
- 2D/3D Motion Design
- UI/UX Design
- Editorial design
Total UE6 volume: 105 hours — 5 ECTS
UE7 – Final Project
- Phase 1 – Concept Development — 70 hours — 4 ECTS
- Phase 2 – Art Direction — 70 hours — 4 ECTS
- Phase 3 – Production — 70 hours — 4 ECTS
UE8 – Professional Development
- Professional Project Report — 70 hours — 1 ECTS
- Portfolio and Personal Branding — 21 hours — 1 ECTS
- Entrepreneurship — 7 hours — 1 ECTS
Program in Montpellier
Study Format:
Total duration: 504 hours, divided into 5 teaching units and 14 modules.
Study schedule: Work-study format, in accordance with the academic calendar established each year.
455 hours of on-site teaching
49 hours of FOAD (blended learning, e-learning, pedagogical events)
0 hours dedicated to recognition of prior learning
UE01 – Core Techniques
168 hours – 20 ECTS
- UE01.A – Video
- UE01.B – Motion Design
- UE01.C – Digital Environment / Web
- UE01.D – Interface Design / UI
UE02 – Creative Strategy & Innovation
147 hours – 15 ECTS
- UE02.A – Experimentation & Innovation (Multimedia Project)
- UE02.B – Identity Workshop / Branding
UE03 – Professional Development
73.5 hours – 9 ECTS
- UE03.A – Client Project
- UE03.B – Trend Research & Monitoring
UE04 – Specialization Level I
105 hours – 16 ECTS
- UE04.A – Animated Media Workshop
- UE04.B – Augmented Editorial Workshop
- UE04.C – Socially Engaged Graphic Design Workshop
UE05 – Program Organization
10.5 hours – 0 ECTS
- UE05.A – Orientation
- UE05.B – Student Council
- UE05.C – Booster Session
UE01 – Project Leadership & Professional Environment
119 hours – 14 ECTS
- UE01.A – Project Management
- UE01.B – Management & Human Resources
- UE01.C – Responsible Project Best Practices
- UE01.D – Advertising Media
- UE01.E – Commercial Proposal
UE02 – Specialization Level II
103.15 hours – 14 ECTS
- UE02.A – Animated Media Workshop
- UE02.B – Augmented Editorial Workshop
- UE02.C – Socially Engaged Graphic Design Workshop
UE03 – Final Year Project
210 hours – 20 ECTS
- UE03.A – Phase 1 – Concept Development
- UE03.B – Phase 2 – Art Direction
- UE03.C – Phase 3 – Production
UE04 – Professional Development
101.5 hours – 12 ECTS
- UE04.A – Professional Project Report
- UE04.B – Portfolio & Self-Promotion
- UE04.C – Entrepreneurship
- UE04.D – Citizenship & Diversity
UE05 – Program Organization
26.25 hours – 0 ECTS
- UE05.A – Booster Session
- UE05.B – Student Council
- UE05.C – Orientation
- UE05.D – Graphic Creation Project / Certification
- UE05.E – Case Study / Certification
- UE05.F – Professional Project / Certification
Program in Toulouse
UE01 – Core Technical Skills
162.75 hours – 20 ECTS
- UE01.A – Video
- UE01.B – Motion Design
- UE01.C – Digital Environment / Web
- UE01.D – Interface Design / UI
UE02 – Creative Strategy & Innovation
138.25 hours – 15 ECTS
- UE02.A – Experimentation & Innovation (Multimedia Project)
- UE02.B – Identity Workshop / Branding
UE03 – Professional Development
70 hours – 9 ECTS
- UE03.A – Client Project
UE04 – Specialization Level I
105 hours – 15 ECTS
- UE04.A – Animated Media Workshop
- UE04.B – Augmented Editorial Workshop
- UE04.C – Socially Engaged Graphic Design Workshop
UE05 – Civic & Contemporary Issues
17.5 hours – 1 ECTS
- UE05.A – AI & Digital Transformation
- UE05.B – Ecological Transition in My Professional Field
- UE05.C – Inclusion, Diversity & Disability
UE06 – Program Organization
10.5 hours – 0 ECTS
- UE06.A – Orientation
- UE06.B – Student Council
- UE06.C – Internship / Apprenticeship Support
UE01 – Project Leadership & Professional Environment
119 hours — 14 ECTS
- UE01.A – Project Management
- UE01.B – Management & Human Resources
- UE01.C – Responsible Project Practices
- UE01.D – Advertising Media
- UE01.E – Commercial Proposal Development
UE02 – Specialization Level II
101.5 hours — 14 ECTS
- UE02.A – Animated Media Workshop
- UE02.B – Augmented Publishing Workshop
- UE02.C – Socially Engaged Graphic Design Workshop
UE03 – Final Graduation Project
210 hours — 20 ECTS
- UE03.A – Phase 1 – Concept Development
- UE03.B – Phase 2 – Art Direction
- UE03.C – Phase 3 – Production
UE04 – Professional Development
105 hours — 12 ECTS
- UE04.A – Professional Research Report
- UE04.B – Portfolio & Personal Branding
- UE04.C – Entrepreneurship
- UE04.D – Citizenship & Diversity
UE05 – Program Organization
24.5 hours — 0 ECTS
- UE05.A – Academic Kick-off
- UE05.B – Student Life Council
- UE05.C – Internship/Apprenticeship Support
- UE05.D – Graphic Design Project / Certification
- UE05.E – Case Study / Certification
- UE05.F – Professional Project / Certification
Program in Bordeaux
UE01 – Fundamental Techniques
168 hours — 20 ECTS
- UE01.A – Video
- UE01.B – Motion Design
- UE01.C – Digital Environment / Web
- UE01.D – Interface Design / UI
UE02 – Creative Strategy & Innovation
147 hours — 15 ECTS
- UE02.A – Experimentation & Innovation (Multimedia Project)
- UE02.B – Identity Workshop / Branding
UE03 – Professional Development
73.5 hours — 9 ECTS
- UE03.A – Client Project
- UE03.B – Trend Research & Industry Monitoring
UE04 – Specialization Level I
105 hours — 16 ECTS
- UE04.A – Animated Media Workshop
- UE04.B – Augmented Publishing Workshop
- UE04.C – Socially Engaged Graphic Design Workshop
UE05 – Program Organization
10.5 hours — 0 ECTS
- UE05.A – Academic Kick-off
- UE05.B – Student Life Council
- UE05.C – Internship / Work-study Support
UE01 – Fundamental Techniques
168 hours — 20 ECTS
UE01.A – Video
UE01.B – Motion Design
UE01.C – Digital Environment / Web
UE01.D – Interface Design / UI
UE02 – Creative Strategy & Innovation
147 hours — 15 ECTS
UE02.A – Experimentation & Innovation (Multimedia Project)
UE02.B – Identity Workshop / Branding
UE03 – Professional Development
73.5 hours — 9 ECTS
- UE03.A – Client Project
- UE03.B – Trend Research & Industry Monitoring
UE04 – Specialization Level I
105 hours — 16 ECTS
- UE04.A – Animated Media Workshop
- UE04.B – Augmented Publishing Workshop
- UE04.C – Socially Engaged Graphic Design Workshop
UE05 – Program Organization
10.5 hours — 0 ECTS
- UE05.A – Academic Kick-off
- UE05.B – Student Life Council
- UE05.C – Internship / Work-study Support
Program in Rennes and Nantes
UE1 – Fundamental Techniques
- Video — 42 hours
- Motion Design — 42 hours
- Web Environment — 42 hours
- UI — 42 hours
UE2 – Creative Strategy & Innovation
- Experimentation & Innovation — 105 hours
- Communication Strategy & Social Media — 42 hours
UE3 – Professional Development
- Client Project (real client) — 70 hours
- Civic & Professional Engagement — 14 hours
UE4 – Specialization Level I
- Specialization Workshop 1 — 35 hours
- Specialization Workshop 2 — 35 hours
- Specialization Workshop 3 — 35 hours
UE5 – Project Leadership & Professional Environment
- Civic & Professional Engagement — 14 hours
- Project Management — 14 hours
- Management — 28 hours
- Human Resources — 14 hours
- Advertising Media Workshop — 42 hours
- Commercial Proposal Development — 21 hours
UE6 – Specialized Workshops
- Specialization Workshop 1 — 35 hours
- Specialization Workshop 2 — 35 hours
- Specialization Workshop 3 — 35 hours
UE7 – Final Graduation Project (PFE)
- Phase 1 – Concept Development — 70 hours
- Phase 2 – Art Direction — 70 hours
- Phase 3 – Production — 70 hours
- UE7 Assessment — 7 hours
UE8 – Professional Development
- Professional Study Report (DEP) — 70 hours
- Portfolio & Self-Promotion — 21 hours
- Entrepreneurship — 7 hours
- UE8 Assessment — 7 hours
Looking to build an international profile?
Studying in English is far more than just a language advantage. It’s a real gateway to a global career and a strong asset in an increasingly international job market.
As an added opportunity, students enrolled in Paris may pursue a dual degree with NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, one of the world’s leading design institutions.
Admission requirements
Initial program (cumulative effect)
Applicants must:
- Hold a Level 6 qualification (Bachelor’s degree / Bac+3), an equivalent diploma (including foreign qualifications), or have validated 180 ECTS credits;
- Have completed a training pathway preparing for the targeted certification with the awarding body or an approved partner institution.
Work-study program (apprenticeship or professional training contract) – 2-year program
Applicants must:
- Hold a Level 6 qualification (Bachelor’s degree / Bac+3), an equivalent diploma (including foreign qualifications), or have validated 180 ECTS credits;
- Have completed a 24-month work-study training pathway (apprenticeship or professional training contract) preparing for the targeted certification with the awarding body or an approved partner institution.
Important:
For the Motion Design specialization, students must have prior knowledge of After Effects.
Applicants who do not meet the required technical and artistic prerequisites to enter the Master’s Degree in Art Direction may complete a preparatory bridging year (Foundation Year – bridging program).
How to apply to the Master’s Degree program
Applications to LISAA are not processed through Parcoursup and remain open subject to availability until the end of September 2026.
Admission to Year 1
External candidates: submission of a CV and portfolio, followed by an oral admission interview.
Internal candidates: academic record review.
Admission to Year 2
External candidates: submission of a CV and portfolio, followed by an oral admission interview.
Important: applicants must have validated the required 60 ECTS credits to enter Year 2.
Internal candidates: academic record review.
All admission procedures are available on the dedicated page.
Tuition fees
Full details of tuition fees and additional costs are available on the dedicated page.
Access timelines
Admissions are open from October to September for an October intake. Applications are processed within a maximum of three weeks after receipt of a complete file.
Applications to LISAA are not processed through Parcoursup and remain open subject to availability until the end of September 2026.
By way of exception, enrolment may be authorised after the start of the program, subject to an assessment of the student’s ability to catch up on missed coursework, within a maximum of two months after the program start date.
The Master’s Degree in Art Direction is a two-year program designed to enable students to build, structure and deepen the creative, strategic and professional skills essential to the role of Art Director within the creative and cultural industries, while taking into account major sector transformations, particularly those related to artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The program is based on a strong core curriculum combining image culture, advanced graphic design, digital practices (motion design, UX/UI, brand content), communication strategy and the introduction of emerging tools, including those integrating artificial intelligence. This foundation enables students to address complex challenges while strengthening their creative positioning, autonomy and ability to lead teams and defend high-value concepts.
Educational objectives evolve between Year 1 and Year 2:
Year 1 focuses on strengthening graphic and methodological skills, exploring various fields of art direction, developing a critical approach to artificial intelligence in creative processes (generative design, automation, data visualisation), and working on real-life projects (teamwork, brief management, production constraints).
Year 2 allows students to refine their professional positioning through targeted specialisations (360° Communication, Brand Content, Eco-responsible Communication, Concept & Typography, Editorial and Typographic Design, Cultural and Creative Industries, Creative AI, Motion Design, UX/UI Design, European Track), developing distinctive expertise aligned with market expectations and evolving creative practices.
Throughout the program, teaching alternates between lectures, experimental workshops, intensive workshops and professional projects conducted with partners from the corporate, cultural and non-profit sectors.
This immersive dynamic develops essential transversal competencies required of an Art Director:
- Design, structure and manage complex visual communication projects
- Develop relevant creative concepts aligned with client expectations
- Integrate and coordinate multidisciplinary talents (graphic designers, developers, illustrators, motion designers, etc.)
- Deploy coherent visual identities and multi-platform communication systems
- Leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while maintaining a critical and ethical perspective
- Address environmental, social and cultural issues related to design and communication
The program also integrates a structured professional pathway including project management, team management, human resources, commercial proposals, entrepreneurial positioning, copyright law, civic awareness and understanding of major societal and technological challenges.
Through work-study opportunities, supervised real-world projects and personalised career support, the Master’s Degree in Art Direction trains creative, strategic, critical and adaptable professionals capable of evolving within a constantly changing sector and contributing to visual innovation in agencies, studios, brands or as independent professionals.
Over the two-year Master’s Degree in Art Direction, students are assessed through continuous assessment to measure their progression in acquiring artistic, technical, conceptual and professional competencies.
Assessment takes the form of:
- Project submissions (print, digital, motion, UX/UI, etc.)
- Oral presentations (project critiques and interim defenses)
- Individual and group practical assignments and professional simulations
- Workshops conducted with real clients
- Supervised development of the professional project
Work-study periods and in-company placements are also subject to pedagogical monitoring, ensuring the practical application of acquired competencies in a professional context.
Assessment Methods for Certification (RNCP No. 38942 – Art Director)
- Global Graphic Creation Project
Conducted on a real or simulated case, this project includes several deliverables:
- Creative brief (analysis of the request and issues)
- Monitoring report (artistic, cultural, technological, competitive and eco-design analysis)
- Moodboard and methodological note
- Creative dossier (ideation, artistic direction, eco-responsible proposal, visual adaptations)
- Graphic charter
- Motion design, interface design or print/web adaptations depending on the specialisation
- Commercial proposal (quotation and service presentation)
- Deliverables related to project and team management evaluation
- Professional Project Dossier
This individual dossier assesses entrepreneurial and strategic competencies:
- Definition of service offering and professional positioning
- Personal brand promotion strategy (portfolio, online presence, editorial line)
- Networking and business development strategy
- Case Study
Including:
- Team formation and management
- Project management (tools, monitoring, performance indicators)
- Resolution of encountered challenges
- Project evaluation and improvement recommendations
All deliverables must comply with best practices (accessibility, inclusion, eco-design).
A certification jury evaluates the productions based on assessment grids defined in the competency framework.
Specific accommodations may be implemented for students with disabilities upon recommendation of the disability support officer.
Validation of Individual Competency Blocks
Certification is awarded upon validation of all competency blocks.
Each competency block remains capitalizable for the entire duration of the certification.
In the case of equivalence (Recognition of Prior Learning – VAE, validation of a competency block or equivalent certification), it is the candidate’s responsibility to present this equivalence to the jury for validation.
The program is based on an active and professionalizing pedagogical approach directly inspired by agency and studio practices. It combines theoretical input, practical experimentation, real-world projects and personalised guidance.
Workshops led by industry professionals (art direction, strategy, brand content, UX/UI, motion design, etc.) are systematically assessed through project presentations.
Professional simulations, individually or in groups, are based on real client cases or fictional briefs designed to replicate professional situations (brand repositioning, identity redesign, multi-platform campaign, etc.).
Artificial intelligence is integrated into learning and creative processes. Students experiment with generative AI tools, automated prototyping and assisted production within a structured and critical framework, understanding how these technologies transform the Art Director’s role without replacing its strategic and conceptual dimension.
E-learning modules reinforce technical and cultural knowledge (software, art and design history, digital culture) and foster autonomy.
Individual and collective career support is provided by the career services department to assist students in securing work-study positions, internships or employment, and defining their professional positioning.
Professional encounters (industry talks, masterclasses and round tables) broaden students’ understanding of contemporary art direction challenges and career pathways within the creative industries.
International Exposure
Students may begin their program with a six-month international experience (study abroad or internship). This mobility may be eligible for Erasmus funding.
