Multimedia Designer Job Description

Multimedia/new media designers build on their skills and abilities as a graphic designer by combining graphic design with animation to create computer based movies and presentations. New media designers use powerful software programmes to create the graphics and animations found in web pages, television adverts, computer games and films. A growing sector for multimedia designers is e-learning: the development of CD, DVD and Internet-based educational products that communicate their subject matter in a multimedia setting.

Work activities

• Creating multimedia products in partnership with business analysts, technical architects and software programmers
• Creating digital images for the purpose of animation
• Transferring audio/video files to be edited and manipulated digitally
• Creating artwork to be used in video games
• Creating animated sequences using computer software.

Work conditions

Travel: not a regular feature of the job.
Working hours: mainly 9 to 5 but deadlines may require additional hours to be worked.
Location: mainly in towns or cities throughout the country though freelance designers can work from home.
Opportunities for self-employment: freelance work is common.

Typical employers

• Film and TV industries
• Multimedia companies including the games industry, e-learning and web development
• Self-employed.

Career development

Career development more than likely will require frequent job movement to widen your experience and develop your portfolio. Promotion is normally to senior designer and management roles.

Salaries

Pay can rise considerably with experience and responsibility. Sometimes there is a shortage of specific software skills and salaries can rise according to supply and demand. There are no set pay scales so salaries vary according to employer, location and type of business.

Entry requirements

While entry is open to all graduates with the relevant technical and creative skills, preference will more than likely be given to those with relevant degrees.

Other relevant degree subjects

• Advertising and marketing communications
• Animation
• Art/fine art
• Communication design
• Digital media engineering
• Media arts
• Multimedia systems/web engineering
• Photography
• Visual communication and design.

Postgraduate study

A range of industry-relevant taught postgraduate programmes are on offer across colleges that offer similar programmes at undergraduate level.

Specific entry requirements

A portfolio of work including an online presence in the form of a showreel CV may be requested particularly for entry to postgraduate programmes.

Training

Mainly in-house.

Tips for applications

Gain relevant experience particularly during summer vacations. Become familiar with current industry software. Build up a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills and creativity, either with a CD-ROM, computer game or through a personal website.