6 answers
Briana
Student
Colorado Springs, Colorado
4
Questions
Asked
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What classes should I take in highschool if I want to become a Creative Director?
I want to become a Creative Director I do lots of graphic design and enjoy business (because im in DECA) any classes or things I could do is helpful. I am a sophomore in high school as well.
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6 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1942
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Briana the best high school classes for graphic design are digital art, drawing, and digital media courses to build a foundation in design principles and software. Other helpful courses include photography, art history, and web design to provide a broader understanding of visual communication and user experience. Consider also taking classes like accounting or entrepreneurship if you aim to become a Creative Director.
Consider taking a graphic design summer course to work with cutting-edge tools, receive professional feedback and hone your skills. Spending the summer practicing your artistic skills while learning advanced design techniques. Graphic design summer classes will provide you with structured opportunities to hone your creative skills and prepare you for the kinds of work that you will do if you pursue higher education in a creative field in college. These courses will allow you to work with cutting-edge design tools and receive professional feedback on your work.
Hope this was helpful Briana
Learn the fundamentals: Take high school art and design courses to learn the basics of design principles like color theory, typography, and layout.
Build a strong portfolio: Start creating projects now, even if they are personal projects or recreations of work you admire, to showcase your skills and growth over time.
Master design software: Begin learning industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Many free resources are available online, such as YouTube videos and courses.
Get the right computer: Invest in a quality computer that can handle design software.
Consider taking a graphic design summer course to work with cutting-edge tools, receive professional feedback and hone your skills. Spending the summer practicing your artistic skills while learning advanced design techniques. Graphic design summer classes will provide you with structured opportunities to hone your creative skills and prepare you for the kinds of work that you will do if you pursue higher education in a creative field in college. These courses will allow you to work with cutting-edge design tools and receive professional feedback on your work.
Hope this was helpful Briana
Doc recommends the following next steps:
This is super helpful and I will be using this advice in the future thank you this truly means a lot to me.
Briana
Jaspreet Kaur
Digital service coordintor
1
Answer
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Updated
Jaspreet’s Answer
Loving everyone's advice! To ease into it , you could watch videos on platforms of creative directors and the day in the life of one or even if there's some that give reccomenedations! Now a days there's so much help out there on your phone may it be videos from YouTube, tiktok, Instagram or even joining clubs or groups at your school to learn more.
I agree thank you!!
Briana
Don Holland
Member Service Representative/Food Runner
244
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Briana,
There are many different classes that you can take if you want to become a creative director. I would suggest classes like English, Art history, Photography along with the Graphic Design and Business classes that you already take. These classes will all help in your development when it comes to visual arts, communication and digital skills that will be needed in order to be a creative director. Hope that this helps and best of luck to you on your journey!
There are many different classes that you can take if you want to become a creative director. I would suggest classes like English, Art history, Photography along with the Graphic Design and Business classes that you already take. These classes will all help in your development when it comes to visual arts, communication and digital skills that will be needed in order to be a creative director. Hope that this helps and best of luck to you on your journey!
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Briana
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Briana. Since you are a sophomore in high school, this is the perfect time to start building your skills and exploring classes that will help you reach your goal. First, you need to focus on art and design classes. Take classes like Graphic Design, Art, Photography, or Digital Media if your school offers them. These classes will help you learn about colors, layouts, and visual storytelling. You'll also build a portfolio of your work, which is important when applying for college or creative jobs later.
Next, you can take business and marketing classes. Since you're already in DECA, you have a great start. Creative Directors often work in advertising or marketing, so learning about branding, communication, and leadership will be very useful. Classes in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, or Business Management can teach you how to understand clients, budgets, and teamwork.
You should also strengthen your communication and writing skills. You may take English or Journalism classes. Creative Directors need to explain their ideas clearly and lead creative teams effectively. Hope this helps. All the best.
Next, you can take business and marketing classes. Since you're already in DECA, you have a great start. Creative Directors often work in advertising or marketing, so learning about branding, communication, and leadership will be very useful. Classes in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, or Business Management can teach you how to understand clients, budgets, and teamwork.
You should also strengthen your communication and writing skills. You may take English or Journalism classes. Creative Directors need to explain their ideas clearly and lead creative teams effectively. Hope this helps. All the best.
Kholoud Ghaith
Designer
4
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Kholoud’s Answer
The class stack (high school level)
Design & visual craft
Graphic Design / Digital Art (ideally with Adobe CC: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign).
Photography (composition, lighting, RAW editing).
Art Foundations (drawing, color theory, composition—your taste muscles live here).
Yearbook/Newspaper/Media Production (real deadlines, real stakeholders, real layout problems).
Film/Video Production (Premiere Pro / Final Cut; storyboards, pacing, audio basics).
Animation/Motion Graphics (After Effects if offered).
Ceramics, Painting, Sculpture (hands + materials = better spatial sense and originality).
Strategy, business, and leadership
Marketing (brand, positioning, campaigns).
Entrepreneurship (budgeting, pitching, pricing).
Accounting I (you’ll manage budgets—know your debits from credits).
AP Micro/Macroeconomics or regular Economics (how markets shape beliefs).
Business/Tech Writing or Speech/Debate (creative directors sell ideas out loud).
People, culture, and insight
AP Psychology / Psychology (audience behavior and persuasion).
Sociology (how groups signal identity—i.e., brands).
AP English Language (copy sense and argumentation).
Tech that makes you versatile
Web Design (HTML/CSS + a taste of JS; even no-code tools help you direct devs).
Computer Science Principles (logic + collaboration with engineers).
AP Statistics (measure what works; creatives who can read data win).
UX/UI (if offered; Figma literacy is gold).
Smart electives if available
Product Design / Industrial Design (systems thinking).
Architecture/CAD (spatial hierarchy—useful for set design and experiential).
Media Law & Ethics (avoids painful “we can’t use that” moments).
Design & visual craft
Graphic Design / Digital Art (ideally with Adobe CC: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign).
Photography (composition, lighting, RAW editing).
Art Foundations (drawing, color theory, composition—your taste muscles live here).
Yearbook/Newspaper/Media Production (real deadlines, real stakeholders, real layout problems).
Film/Video Production (Premiere Pro / Final Cut; storyboards, pacing, audio basics).
Animation/Motion Graphics (After Effects if offered).
Ceramics, Painting, Sculpture (hands + materials = better spatial sense and originality).
Strategy, business, and leadership
Marketing (brand, positioning, campaigns).
Entrepreneurship (budgeting, pitching, pricing).
Accounting I (you’ll manage budgets—know your debits from credits).
AP Micro/Macroeconomics or regular Economics (how markets shape beliefs).
Business/Tech Writing or Speech/Debate (creative directors sell ideas out loud).
People, culture, and insight
AP Psychology / Psychology (audience behavior and persuasion).
Sociology (how groups signal identity—i.e., brands).
AP English Language (copy sense and argumentation).
Tech that makes you versatile
Web Design (HTML/CSS + a taste of JS; even no-code tools help you direct devs).
Computer Science Principles (logic + collaboration with engineers).
AP Statistics (measure what works; creatives who can read data win).
UX/UI (if offered; Figma literacy is gold).
Smart electives if available
Product Design / Industrial Design (systems thinking).
Architecture/CAD (spatial hierarchy—useful for set design and experiential).
Media Law & Ethics (avoids painful “we can’t use that” moments).
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Briana !
It's awesome that you already know the career you want to pursue and that you have artistic talent as well. Something that you can think about for classes in High School going forward is where exactly do you want to be a Creative Director ? What niche would you like to work in ? This will determine the path you can take but you'll learn the more focused and advanced courses through college.
It's great that you belong to Distributive Education Clubs of America ! That alone is helpful to you. Through DECA you are already receiving those classroom instructions, real world business applications, and competitive events to develop your leadership, career readiness, and business skills. Stay with this program for as long as possible and it can carry over to college, too.
I would say that you should, of course, continue with any Art classes that your school offers as well as Computer Graphic skills, including video. As I've mentioned, you already have the appropriate classes and training and your guidance counselor can inform you of any new or existing classes you can take in 11th and 12th grade. You're really going to learn the bulk of what you need in college, but stay with the DECA Program as that will continually help you grow your skills for your future.
The great news is that so many places hire Creative Directors or Art Directors ! As a Creative Director, you can work in retail chain stores, companies that offer products or services, for profit or non-profit agencies, Film and Television Studios, Video production Companies, Amusement Parks, Television Stations, Web Companies, Gaming Companies, Toy Companies, Design Firms, Hospitals - the list is long. When you are ready with a portfolio and experience, you can even list yourself as a professional Creative Director on websites like Freelancer.com, SelfEmployed.com, Dribbble, Behance, Toptal and Upwork.
So for now, get an idea of the Art and Business classes that your High School offers and choose the ones that you like best, consult with your Guidance Counselor for recommendations for 11the and 12th grades, and stay with DECA because opportunities may present themselves through that program. Good college majors for the Creative Director path would be Graphic Design, Design and Visual Communication, or Communication Studies.
So keep up your good work ! I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
It's awesome that you already know the career you want to pursue and that you have artistic talent as well. Something that you can think about for classes in High School going forward is where exactly do you want to be a Creative Director ? What niche would you like to work in ? This will determine the path you can take but you'll learn the more focused and advanced courses through college.
It's great that you belong to Distributive Education Clubs of America ! That alone is helpful to you. Through DECA you are already receiving those classroom instructions, real world business applications, and competitive events to develop your leadership, career readiness, and business skills. Stay with this program for as long as possible and it can carry over to college, too.
I would say that you should, of course, continue with any Art classes that your school offers as well as Computer Graphic skills, including video. As I've mentioned, you already have the appropriate classes and training and your guidance counselor can inform you of any new or existing classes you can take in 11th and 12th grade. You're really going to learn the bulk of what you need in college, but stay with the DECA Program as that will continually help you grow your skills for your future.
The great news is that so many places hire Creative Directors or Art Directors ! As a Creative Director, you can work in retail chain stores, companies that offer products or services, for profit or non-profit agencies, Film and Television Studios, Video production Companies, Amusement Parks, Television Stations, Web Companies, Gaming Companies, Toy Companies, Design Firms, Hospitals - the list is long. When you are ready with a portfolio and experience, you can even list yourself as a professional Creative Director on websites like Freelancer.com, SelfEmployed.com, Dribbble, Behance, Toptal and Upwork.
So for now, get an idea of the Art and Business classes that your High School offers and choose the ones that you like best, consult with your Guidance Counselor for recommendations for 11the and 12th grades, and stay with DECA because opportunities may present themselves through that program. Good college majors for the Creative Director path would be Graphic Design, Design and Visual Communication, or Communication Studies.
So keep up your good work ! I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Thank you so much; this means a great deal to me. Reading this is really helping me gain more knowledge about it. In general, thank you for taking the time to give me these tips! :D
Briana
You are welcome for the advice !
Michelle M.