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3d artist vs designer

The differences between 3d artists and designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a 3d artist, becoming a designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a 3d artist has an average salary of $74,721, which is higher than the $66,347 average annual salary of a designer.

The top three skills for a 3d artist include animation, unity and zbrush. The most important skills for a designer are sketch, customer service, and graphic design.

3d artist vs designer overview

3D ArtistDesigner
Yearly salary$74,721$66,347
Hourly rate$35.92$31.90
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs3,97852,433
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4038
Years of experience212

What does a 3d artist do?

A 3D Artist uses complex software to develop graphics and animations for use in various media, such as video games, television shows, and multimedia presentations. They often work in teams, dividing project workloads in accordance to strengths.

What does a designer do?

A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.

3d artist vs designer salary

3d artists and designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

3D ArtistDesigner
Average salary$74,721$66,347
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $116,000Between $45,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNevadaWashington
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryUtilitiesTechnology

Differences between 3d artist and designer education

There are a few differences between a 3d artist and a designer in terms of educational background:

3D ArtistDesigner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorAnimationGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

3d artist vs designer demographics

Here are the differences between 3d artists' and designers' demographics:

3D ArtistDesigner
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 83.9% Female, 16.1%Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%13%

Differences between 3d artist and designer duties and responsibilities

3d artist example responsibilities.

  • Create many MEL scripts to help automate routine daily tasks and improve overall productivity.
  • Write tools in Maxscript, MEL, javascript, python, and vbscript to automate repetitive processes.
  • Create high poly characters, props, and environments using organic and hard surface techniques in Zbrush and Maya.
  • Generate programs for CNC punch press.
  • Help team create nodes for nuke.
  • Contract as a 3D visualization designer & animator.
  • Show more

Designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead & design all creative content stemming from apparel design to web identity.
  • Manage various PCB designs utilizing state of the art DFM techniques and comply with company standards.
  • Utilize CSS, DHTML, HTML, and JavaScript for cross browser, cross platform compatibility and consistency.
  • Develop different kinds of functions globally, locally for the development of forms using JavaScript, CSS.
  • Transform customer specifications into usable SolidWorks 3D models and assemblies from which all manufacturing are derived.
  • Process ECR's and ECO's using Windchill.
  • Show more

3d artist vs designer skills

Common 3d artist skills
  • Animation, 13%
  • Unity, 11%
  • ZBrush, 6%
  • Game Engine, 5%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 4%
  • Concept Art, 3%
Common designer skills
  • Sketch, 10%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 6%
  • CSS, 5%
  • HTML, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%

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