Multimedia Designer Job Description
Multimedia designers are the creative minds behind advertisements, informational videos, and many other types of content you come across online or while watching television. They combine text, audio, animation, photography, and video to create informational and impactful content. The advertising and marketing industry employs multimedia designers to create innovative marketing campaigns designed to entice the digital native. The video game industry relies on multimedia designers to build functional animated worlds. Multimedia designers are also employed by film and television companies that focus on animation, as well as computer-generated special effects. Most multimedia designers work in an office setting, but the atmosphere tends to be more casual in an office of creatives than it is in an office of accountants. Those who work in animation, video games, or special effects often spend a fair amount of time in a digital studio setting. Their work is often project-based, so their work hours vary based on project load and deadline proximity.
The role of multimedia designer doesn’t fall under a strict hierarchy. They typically work on projects with other multimedia designers, with the most-senior person serving as the team leader. According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for multimedia artists and animators, which includes multimedia designers, is set to rise 10 percent through 2026.
Multimedia Designer Duties and Responsibilities
Many steps are needed to take a creative idea from conception to finished product. We analyzed multimedia designer job descriptions to come up with a list of the most important multimedia designer duties and responsibilities:
Create Project Mock-Ups Based on Project Scope
The project mock-up is the multimedia designer’s blueprint. Designing it usually involves brainstorming sessions with other multimedia designers to decide upon the creative direction of a given project.
Use Computer Programs to Create Animation, Audio, and Visual Effects
Multimedia designers spend most of their time using the tools found in the Adobe Creative Suite. In the animation and video game industries, this includes mapping the movements of real people into animated characters.
Perform Edits Based on Feedback from Stakeholders
In the creative process, the first version of something often varies significantly from the final version.
Conduct Research to Create Accurate Animations
When multimedia designers are responsible for animating a person or animal, they conduct several hours of meticulous research to make body movements and facial expressions as accurate as possible.
Meet with Project Stakeholders
Multimedia designers are in constant communication with the decision makers within their company or the clients they service directly.
Multimedia Designer Skills
Multimedia designers are tech-savvy creative people with artistic vision who are passionate about making a living from their creative work. They are good listeners, able to accept criticism and apply feedback. Multimedia designers work well under pressure, thriving in a deadline-driven environment. The following are some of the skills necessary to find a job as a multimedia designer:
- Creating graphics, animations, and special effects, as well as editing photos, audio, and video using Adobe Creative Suite
- Collaborating with other multimedia designers to brainstorm creative concepts
- Drawing storyboards for advertisements, video games, television shows, or movies
- Using active listening skills and constructive criticism to fine-tune their work
- Prioritizing tasks based on deadline proximity
Multimedia Designer Tools of the Trade
Multimedia designers use a variety of tools in their work. Some of those include:
- Adobe Creative Suite – includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Flash, Dreamweaver and several other programs that collectively help multimedia designers create a finished product
- Project mock-ups –the multimedia designer’s blueprint
Multimedia Designer Education and Training
Most multimedia designers have a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics, animation, or fine art. During their studies, they learn how to use various types of software, the principles of design, and typography. Their coursework usually involves projects to help develop their portfolio, which is more important than a résumé for multimedia designers.
Multimedia Designer Salary
According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for multimedia artists and animators, which includes multimedia designers, is $65,300. Those in the top 10 percent make above $115,960, while those in the bottom 10 percent make below $38,520.
Multimedia Designer Resources
If you’re a creative and think you would be suited for a career as a multimedia designer, check out the list of resources below.
American Institute of Graphic Arts – The American Institute of Graphic Arts boasts more than 70 chapters nationwide with more than 25,000 members. Chapter meetings provide great networking opportunities for both aspiring and practicing multimedia designers.
Graphic Artists Guild – The Graphic Artists Guild is a growing national organization that currently has a chapter for each region of the country. It has a tool and resource list, as well as a bunch of webinars, designed to help members hone their skills.
Design for How People Learn – Much of the multimedia on the market is designed with learning in mind. This book breaks down how our brains learn and suggests techniques to incorporate this into multimedia design.
Multimedia: Making it Work – This all-inclusive reference book covers everything a multimedia designer needs to know. Each area is accompanied by helpful graphics and case studies designed with the learner in mind.
Multimedia Designer Resume Help
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