How to Contact Art Directors
Apart from submitting to companies, you also contact art directors directly. In most companies, art directors are in charge of the design team and are responsible for hiring freelance illustrators. They’re the people I usually work with directly on a project, giving me the design brief and guiding me through the entire process. Of course, sometimes I may work with an editor or designer depending on the project, but for simplicity, I’m going to use the catch-all phrase art director here.
The benefit of contacting art directors directly is that it’s more personal, you have direct communication, and you can bypass companies that don’t have submission pages on their websites.
However, this method can be a little more tricky—it requires more research to find the right contacts, but it can be worth the effort.
Here are some ways to contact art directors.
Meeting Art Directors in Person
One of the best ways to make a personal connection with an art director is to meet them in person. You can exchange business cards, and it’s a more direct and memorable interaction. You can meet art directors at various industry events, like comic conventions, literary conferences, or trade shows.
The event you attend depends on the type of work you’re looking for. For example, as a children’s illustrator, I tend to focus on events like New York Comic Con, TCAF, and Lightbox Expo, since these conventions cater to my style and industry. But other events like ICON, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Surtex, and ELCAF are great options for making connections with art directors.
At these events, publishers and art directors often have booths for the company. You can exchange business cards and sometimes even participate in portfolio reviews—an excellent opportunity to receive feedback and get your work in front of an art director. If portfolio reviews aren’t available, you might still be able to find business cards at their booth or ask the team about contacting the art director later.
Contacting Art Directors via Email
Art directors typically don’t make their email addresses public.
So, how do you find their email?
Start with the Company Website:
If there's a company you want to work with, visit their website and check the Contact or About page. Look for any mention of the team, and if you're lucky, you might find an art director’s name and email address listed.
Guessing the Email Format:
If you don’t find the email directly, you can usually figure out the email format based on other contacts at the company. For example, if you find the email for a finance person, like john.doe@coolmagazine.com, you can assume the art director’s email will be in a similar format. Let’s say the art director’s name is Kelly Kapoor; you could try kelly.kapoor@coolmagazine.com or variations like kkapoor@coolmagazine.com.
Using LinkedIn or Google:
If you don’t have the email yet, try searching the company’s name followed by “art director” on Google or LinkedIn. You can often find their profile and potentially contact information there.
Books & Magazines:
A trick I used in editorial illustration was going to a bookstore and combing through the magazine section. Magazines that use illustrations often list their editorial team near the table of contents. From there, you can find the art director’s name, and sometimes even an email address, and follow up accordingly.
Interviews or Podcasts:
Another way to find an art director’s email is by searching for their name in interviews or podcasts. Often, they’ll mention their email address or other contact info in these features.
Ask Your Network:
Finally, don’t forget to ask your peers. Other artists aren’t your competition—they’re your community. If someone you know has worked with a certain art director, they might be open to sharing that information, or recommending you for an opportunity.
Writing the Email to an Art Director
Once you have the art director’s contact info, it’s time to send an email. When reaching out to an art director, there are a few things you want to keep in mind to make your email stand out.
Personalize Your Approach:
It’s extremely obvious if you have copy-pasted the same text to a million people, so make sure this feels personal. Include any relevant details, such as if you’ve met them at a convention or if you were referred to them by someone. Mention why you specifically want to work with them (if they have created any of your favorite books for example.)Confidence is Key:
Don’t start your email by saying things like “Sorry to bother you” or “I’m just an amateur artist.” Be confident in your abilities—after all, if you don’t believe in yourself, why would they? This applies to both your email and your online presence.Keep It Short and Sweet:
Art directors are busy and receive tons of emails every week, so keep your message concise and to the point. Include a link to your portfolio, and let them know you’re available for freelance work.Propose a Follow-up:
You can propose a phone call or Zoom meeting if you’ve already met the art director or have some form of mutual interest (e.g., via social media). However, for cold emailing, I’d suggest keeping it simple and saving the “call proposal” for a more established relationship.
Social Media as a Tool for Connecting
Social media is another great way to connect with art directors. Platforms like Bluesky and LinkedIn are where art directors often post job opportunities and call for submissions. Follow art directors, interact with their posts, and share your own work. If an art director notices you, they might follow you back, and that’s a great way to stay on their radar.
Be Professional:
While social media allows for more casual interactions, always maintain professionalism. Avoid DMing art directors unless they’ve indicated it’s okay, and never contact them through personal channels. Keep your interactions respectful and relevant.
Contacting art directors is a key part of growing your freelance career, but it does take time and effort. If you’re not getting responses right away, don’t get discouraged—it’s all part of the process. Keep refining your portfolio and your outreach approach, and try again in a few months!
