What does a digital media designer do?
A digital media designer specializes in designing and developing visual materials for advertisements, campaigns, film, television, and print using special computer programs. They typically work as a member of a design team and create materials such as images, effects, or even animation. As a digital media designer, their responsibilities include understanding and identifying project needs and requirements, developing drafts for client approval, revising designs as necessary, and maintaining records of all transactions. Moreover, a digital media designer must keep an open communication line with team members for an efficient workflow.
Digital media designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real digital media designer resumes:
- Design logos, graphics, software user interfaces, LMS templates, and manage the multi media asset library.
- Manage data migrations and SharePoint integration for corporate Intranet with external consultants.
- Develop the website using HTML and CSS.
- Develop email marketing campaigns implementing HTML and CSS, adhering to email program parameters, i.e.
- Establish corporate identity package and produce press-ready marketing collateral, including brochures, presentation folders, sales packets and direct mail.
- Conduct advanced filmmaking class for young adult Saudi women and instruct theory and production of narrative and documentary films.
- Provide general PC support to students as well as the facilitation of IP video classes, as needed.
- Contribute ideas during strategic and conceptual brainstorming meetings.
- Contribute expertise to brainstorming meetings about edit features and projects.
- Organize interactive group-projects that provide insight into the collaborative process of filmmaking.
- Spearhead user-centered design and copywriting for interactive, digital and traditional marketing.
Digital media designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Digital Media Designers are proficient in Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, and Adobe Creative Suite. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Digital Media Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Digital Marketing, 12%
Collaborated with Digital Marketing team, Creative Marketing team and Digital Platform Group to establish functional and efficient development process.
- Graphic Design, 9%
Printed Advertising Graphic Designer Layout of printed flyers and content
- Adobe Creative Suite, 8%
Utilized Adobe Creative Suite to create electronic technical renderings for 2D and 3D creative elements for prototype during floor set approval.
- Client Websites, 6%
Designed company logos as well as iconography for client websites.
- HTML, 6%
Utilized knowledge of Flash and HTML including other CS6 such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- CSS, 5%
Designed front-end layouts using XHTML/HTML5, CSS, JavaScript & Ajax as per latest W3C Web Standards for Page3 Entertainments.
Most digital media designers use their skills in "digital marketing," "graphic design," and "adobe creative suite" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential digital media designer responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a digital media designer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Digital media designers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed the responsive website using html5, css3, bootstrap, jquery, microdata and google web fonts. "
Artistic ability. Many digital media designer duties rely on artistic ability. "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers," so a digital media designer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways digital media designer responsibilities rely on artistic ability: "developed art and artistic direction for the company through design solutions. "
Communication skills. digital media designers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to digital media designer responsibilities, because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." A digital media designer resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "designed unique identities and visual communications including icon design, logo design, web advertisements, print advertisements and branding. "
Computer skills. A big part of what digital media designers do relies on "computer skills." You can see how essential it is to digital media designer responsibilities because "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical digital media designer tasks: "maintained company servers and computer systems both pc and mac and managed email systems. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a digital media designer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what digital media designers relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." How this skill relates to digital media designer duties can be seen in an example from a digital media designer resume snippet: "developed cutting-edge, creative 3d visualization and interactive media solutions including 3d content for virtual reality retailing initiatives. "
Time-management skills. While "time-management skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to digital media designer responsibilities. Much of what a digital media designer does relies on this skill, seeing as "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of digital media designers: "create motion graphics and edit footage for promotional and informational videos within project deadlines and specifications"
The three companies that hire the most digital media designers are:
- Avery Dennison2 digital media designers jobs
- Endeavor2 digital media designers jobs
- Highspot2 digital media designers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable digital media designer resume templates
Build a professional digital media designer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your digital media designer resume.
Compare different digital media designers
Digital media designer vs. Graphic design specialist
A graphic design specialist utilizes their artistic expertise in creating imagery and designs that convey a particular message. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs and goals, developing concepts and subjecting it for client approval, and revising designs as necessary. In a company setting, a graphic design specialist may work with a team, coordinating with them while sticking to budgets and deadlines. Furthermore, as a team member, it is essential to report to managers or supervisors, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, digital media designer responsibilities require skills like "digital marketing," "client websites," "video production," and "motion graphics." Meanwhile a typical graphic design specialist has skills in areas such as "integrated marketing," "brochures," "adobe illustrator," and "project management." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Graphic design specialists tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $67,457. In contrast, digital media designers make the biggest average salary, $59,322, in the start-up industry.The education levels that graphic design specialists earn slightly differ from digital media designers. In particular, graphic design specialists are 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a digital media designer. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital media designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real digital media designer resumes. While digital media designer responsibilities can utilize skills like "client websites," "video production," "html css," and "animation," graphic designers, marketing use skills like "brochures," "blog posts," "flyers," and "in-house."
Graphic designers, marketing earn a lower average salary than digital media designers. But graphic designers, marketing earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $52,640. Additionally, digital media designers earn the highest salaries in the start-up with average pay of $59,322 annually.In general, graphic designers, marketing achieve similar levels of education than digital media designers. They're 4.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for digital media designers in the next 3-5 years?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, ISU English Undergraduate Studies; Director, ISU Studio for New Media, Iowa State University
Digital media designer vs. Lead graphic designer
A lead graphic designer is responsible for creating, designing, and updating the company's visual aspects. The lead graphic designer works closely with the branding department alongside the advertising and marketing team. It is essential for the lead graphic designer must be creative, willing to think outside the box, and brave to dare novel ideas. The lead graphic designer is also responsible for leading the creative department in accomplishing assigned tasks from management.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, digital media designers are more likely to have skills like "digital marketing," "client websites," "video production," and "html css." But a lead graphic designer is more likely to have skills like "design concepts," "adobe illustrator," "project management," and "brochures."
Lead graphic designers earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $85,443. Comparatively, digital media designers have the highest earning potential in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $59,322.lead graphic designers typically earn similar educational levels compared to digital media designers. Specifically, they're 4.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Digital media designer vs. Web graphic designer
A web graphic designer specializes in the aesthetics and functionality of a web platform, software, and other applications. They are primarily responsible for building a platform that adheres to the subject's purpose and the client's preferred theme while prioritizing an easy-to-use and navigate interface. They must conduct regular testing and maintenance on the platform to ensure its efficiency and significance to the brand involved. Furthermore, a web graphic designer may work independently or work for a company, usually within a team setting.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between digital media designers and web graphic designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a digital media designer might have more use for skills like "digital marketing," "video production," "animation," and "motion graphics." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of web graphic designers require skills like "website design," "adobe illustrator," "brochures," and "flyers. "
Web graphic designers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $56,507. For comparison, digital media designers earn the highest salary in the start-up industry.The average resume of web graphic designers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to digital media designers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.Types of digital media designer
Updated January 8, 2025
