A multimedia artist and animator creates visual and special effects using computers or other electronic tools for animation in video games, movies, commercials, music videos, and other media. These animators are up-to-date in the latest technology and will design, develop, test, and create new applications to do their job.
Watch a Video:
Interview with a Multimedia Artist
Interviewee: Stacey
Title: Multimedia Artist
What education or training prepared you for your career?
I began learning multimedia as a hobby, teaching myself software and tools on my own which later sparked my interest in pursuing this as a career.
How did you get your start in your career?
While I was learning multimedia, I created personal projects using the software and code to develop websites and games for family members and friends. I also reached out to non-profit organizations offering volunteer work for any marketing or web development work. After I had enough experience and a portfolio to show my work, I began applying for jobs.
What qualities should a person possess going into this career field?
Need to have a strong desire to learn new things on their own. The field is fast-paced and constantly changing which requires someone who can easily adapt to that.
What do you like most about your career field?
I love the creative aspect and the collaboration with other teammates. It is also great to learn about different topics while I am creating the course. For example, I was learning CPR and Emergency Management Training while building a course for the medical industry.
What do you find challenging about your career field?
Keeping up with trends and knowing what direction technology is headed. The skills and experience I have today may not be applicable 5 years from now.
What advice would you give people considering your career field?
Learn the basics (HTML, CSS, Photoshop, etc.) on your own. There is a large amount of free online tutorials to learn. If you find it difficult to learn on your own or not motivated, then this is not the right field for you, because you will constantly be learning and researching new technology on your own during your entire career. Also, it’s a good idea to learn the technology on your own while getting a degree in a different field that is closely related to your career such as a degree in Business Management or Instructional Design to make yourself more valuable to a company with more job offers.
[End Interview]
How to Become a Multimedia Artist
A multimedia artist and animator usually needs a bachelor’s degree in art or a related field. They would need to have strong technical skills for this job and an employer usually wants several years of experience in a similar background. In order to be competitive in this market one should have an impressive portfolio with their best work in graphics, art and any achievement that would apply to this job.
Job Description of a Multimedia Artist
A multimedia artist and animator creatively designs images, two-dimensional and three-dimensional, illustrating a process or objects in motion. They would use modeling programs or computer animation to achieve the images. The designing process uses complex animation and design that would be used for commercials, music videos or game video’s, as well as, the special effects for movies or animation.
In the creative process a multimedia artist and animator would have the talent and expertise to manipulate light, shadow, color, texture and other skills to give the images a lifelike appearance. They may edit animation to create storyboards and direct and edit the story development. Other areas of this career field is the design and creation of labels, direct mail and also developing multimedia presentations, briefings, web pages or technical illustrations among other specific parts of the job.
A multimedia artist and animator would need to be skilled in software and hand drawing techniques, scripting, planning and maintaining or implementing control systems. They need to be able to scan, typeset, and produce film negatives and digital camera-ready art. A knowledge background in graphics and graphic tablets, development environment software and other technology would be expected. Having a knowledge in fine arts, communications and media and design are needed as well. A multimedia artist and animator would speak clearly, listen attentively and be able to manage their time especially when under deadline restrictions.
Multimedia Artist Career Video Transcript
Multimedia artists and animators turn ideas and sketches into heroes, villains, and monsters. They create visual wonders for your favorite television shows, movies, and video games. Multimedia artists and animators conduct research to design characters and settings for a story, and then develop storyboards that map out major scenes. They bring creativity and artistic skill to the drawing board or they may use computer-generated images to develop digital models of their ideas.
Teamwork is essential, as each animator works on part of a project that must fit seamlessly with others’ work. Feedback is shared frequently between animators, game designers, directors, and clients. Working together under deadline can create stress, but often brings the team’s vision together. These artists usually specialize in animation video games, develop visual effects for movies, or create computer-generated images for television. About half of multimedia artists and animators are self-employed, while others work for the motion picture and video industries, or in scientific and technical settings.
Most work regular hours, but may work nights and weekends when deadlines demand it. A bachelor’s degree in art or computer graphics is crucial for building both the skills and the portfolio necessary to enter the field. Multimedia artists and animators bring the fantastic and dreamlike alive and make them unforgettable.
Article Citations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Multimedia Artists and Animators.
National Center for O*NET Development. 27-1014.00. O*NET OnLine.
The career video is in the public domain from the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
