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Artist vs motion graphics designer

The differences between artists and motion graphics designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an artist has an average salary of $68,690, which is higher than the $62,558 average annual salary of a motion graphics designer.

The top three skills for an artist include maya, adobe photoshop and customer service. The most important skills for a motion graphics designer are animation, style frames, and cinema.

Artist vs motion graphics designer overview

ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Yearly salary$68,690$62,558
Hourly rate$33.02$30.08
Growth rate6%3%
Number of jobs3,87044,960
Job satisfaction45
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4038
Years of experience-12

What does an artist do?

An Artist specializes in creating various artworks or prose; the audience can vary from individuals or the general public. An artist's responsibility depends on the industry, company, or position where they are assigned. However, most of the time, Artists are expected to work under specific guidelines, deliver materials in a required format within an allotted time and perform revisions according to what is preferred by an editor or client. Furthermore, independent artists may work freelance and receive commissions for their craft.

What does a motion graphics designer do?

A motion graphic designer specializes in producing artworks used in television, film, and web. Their responsibilities often revolve around submitting within a deadline, attending creative meetings, collaborating with fellow designers, following directives from clients, producing trial designs, and editing them in adherence to senior designers or clients' recommendations. There are also instances when a motion graphic designer must manage documentation, address inquiries and concerns, and report to higher-ranking personnel. Furthermore, one may choose to work for a company or independently.

Artist vs motion graphics designer salary

Artists and motion graphics designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Average salary$68,690$62,558
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $110,000Between $44,000 And $87,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between artist and motion graphics designer education

There are a few differences between an artist and a motion graphics designer in terms of educational background:

ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorFine ArtsGraphic Design
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Artist vs motion graphics designer demographics

Here are the differences between artists' and motion graphics designers' demographics:

ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 45.2% Female, 54.8%Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 artist and motion graphics designer duties and responsibilities

Artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage studio workload and advise print direction to in-house and freelance cad artists.
  • Manage online product catalog using Dreamweaver.
  • Assist customers with product selection and process POS transactions.
  • Provide comparative analysis on traditional vs. Mac vs. PC production.
  • Animate in-game characters, user interface assets and particle effects.
  • Own & operate a specialize faux painting, mural and art business.
  • Show more

Motion graphics designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead team brainstorming sessions to solve creative problems.
  • Lead team of motion designers which include brainstorming, mood boards, creation of mock-ups and presentations to clients and stakeholders.
  • Train & supervise newly appoint employee in achieving realistic looking effects and help integrating the effects in compositing with cg elements.
  • Design and build interactive digital content for musicians including photography, video and custom HTML, CSS & JavaScript development.
  • Create brochures, fliers, posters, and other print materials for conferences, special events, and non-profit functions.
  • Code flash banners with XML, HTML, and ActionScript.
  • Show more

Artist vs motion graphics designer skills

Common artist skills
  • Maya, 13%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 7%
  • Photography, 7%
  • VFX, 6%
Common motion graphics designer skills
  • Animation, 23%
  • Style Frames, 15%
  • Cinema, 7%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 4%
  • Sketch, 4%
  • Video Content, 3%

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