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Concept artist vs graphic designer/production

The differences between concept artists and graphic designer/productions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a concept artist, becoming a graphic designer/production takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a concept artist has an average salary of $85,713, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

The top three skills for a concept artist include storyboards, maya and animation. The most important skills for a graphic designer/production are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Concept artist vs graphic designer/production overview

Concept ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Yearly salary$85,713$48,619
Hourly rate$41.21$23.37
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs3,59695,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4038
Years of experience212

What does a concept artist do?

The job of a concept artist is to make visual representations of creatures, characters, environments, vehicles, and other artistic assets. You should know about the design and how to create one that needs to blend well with any creative project. Your typical job includes drawing or painting these creative assets and providing references for any ideas you need to illustrate. The general qualifications needed to become a successful concept artist include illustration skills, design understanding, and knowledge of Photoshop.

What does a graphic designer/production do?

A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.

Concept artist vs graphic designer/production salary

Concept artists and graphic designer/productions have different pay scales, as shown below.

Concept ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Average salary$85,713$48,619
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $130,000Between $35,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityNovato, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaMaryland
Best paying companyMetaOptimum Nutrition
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between concept artist and graphic designer/production education

There are a few differences between a concept artist and a graphic designer/production in terms of educational background:

Concept ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Concept artist vs graphic designer/production demographics

Here are the differences between concept artists' and graphic designer/productions' demographics:

Concept ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 74.3% Female, 25.7%Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.5% 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 concept artist and graphic designer/production duties and responsibilities

Concept artist example responsibilities.

  • Create many MEL scripts to help automate routine daily tasks and improve overall productivity.
  • Rig character for animation in Maya.
  • Create pitches for new and old IP.
  • Sketch concept art for an online game
  • Design & animate VFX for mobile games!
  • Prepare 3D models for production using Maya 3d.
  • Show more

Graphic designer/production example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of products; custom banners, t-shirts, satin flags, from concept to final product.
  • Manage various publications including catalogs, catalog inserts, brochures, mailers and advertising material.
  • Develop and update conference materials, including PowerPoint presentations, posters, handouts, badges, table tents, and folders.
  • Produce corporate identity systems and collateral print materials, print advertising, product/capabilities brochures, direct mail and newsletters.
  • Produce daily, weekly and monthly newsletters in both print and HTML.
  • Create cleaner HTML email templates and help others within the group improve their HTML skills.
  • Show more

Concept artist vs graphic designer/production skills

Common concept artist skills
  • Storyboards, 8%
  • Maya, 8%
  • Animation, 7%
  • Sketch, 6%
  • Art Direction, 6%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
Common graphic designer/production skills
  • Graphic Design, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 8%
  • Art Direction, 6%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Signage, 5%

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