Careers

Career Opportunities in Multimedia Computing

Multimedia includes a variety of formats including animation, game design, web content, art design, graphic design, video, music and presentation. Essentially, multimedia encompasses anything involving text, graphic art, video, music and animation. These are usually computer-generated and are creative, catchy, memorable, and will try to appeal to multiple senses. The purpose of multimedia is to produce content for entertainment, presentation or advertising.

1. Qualifications

   • Because multimedia careers deal with appealing to large audiences, those looking to work in the field should have qualities of creativity, innovation and artistic talent. But strong communication skills are also important. Multimedia professionals often have vibrant personalities and lots of charisma, and can work well with others. These types of skills often help with work, aside from the usual skills obtained through learning, like mathematical and analytical skills, and others obtained through degrees.

   Employment

   • The skills and abilities needed vary from job to job. While a graphic designer may need computer skills, mathematics and programming, a multimedia planner might focus more on management skills, marketing and execution of tasks. Other types of work might involve knowing what customers want and creating presentations for them, producing sound, animation or video, and knowing how to use computer programs like Flash, Dreamweaver and Photoshop.

   Specializations

   • Because multimedia is a broad term encompassing many fields, students often specialize. Animation fields can include visual design, 2D animation, 3D animation, web content, music production, sound and lighting effects, interactive and interface design and motion. Related fields include publishing, marketing, business advertising and others.

   Education

   • There are many multimedia degrees available through colleges and universities. These programs usually focus on computer science and aesthetics, giving students the skills needed to use advanced programs to create content, but also helping them refine the artistic talent often needed to create. Language is also important in order to build the communication skills necessary to deal with customers. Those in programming fields learn advanced mathematics and computation.

   Work Experience

   • Workers usually begin in entry level positions as assistants. They may do copying and proofing, but can work their way up by demonstrating responsibility. Work environments are usually office settings with flexible hours. However, when deadlines near, the hours can also change dramatically, with workers staying late to finish the different elements and aspects of a project. Because of the stress of some projects, energetic, self-disciplined and charismatic individuals will more likely do better than others.