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Game artist vs graphic designer/production

The differences between game 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 game artist, becoming a graphic designer/production takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a game artist has an average salary of $86,932, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

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

Game artist vs graphic designer/production overview

Game ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Yearly salary$86,932$48,619
Hourly rate$41.79$23.37
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs5,04095,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4038
Years of experience212

What does a game artist do?

This individual is tasked with just one thing, and that is to create 2D or 3D art for visual elements in video games. Their task is crucial in the process of creating games. They visualize how a game will look and ensure it comes out exactly that way. They design a few preliminary sketches and develop them according to the general style of the video game. They are required to work on components like characters, textures, vehicles, colors, lighting, objects, and environment.

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.

Game artist vs graphic designer/production salary

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

Game ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Average salary$86,932$48,619
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $133,000Between $35,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityLas Vegas, NVMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaMaryland
Best paying companyAmazonOptimum Nutrition
Best paying industryStart-upTechnology

Differences between game artist and graphic designer/production education

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

Game ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Game artist vs graphic designer/production demographics

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

Game ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 70.0% Female, 30.0%Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 game artist and graphic designer/production duties and responsibilities

Game artist example responsibilities.

  • Create many MEL scripts to help automate routine daily tasks and improve overall productivity.
  • Work include background art, character design, user-interface design and art, award art, buttons and flash FX.
  • Create 3d models, and texture paintings.
  • Conceptualize the look of different levels and stages for PC games.
  • Model, rig, and texture hero and enemy characters for an untitle project.
  • Ensure that all assets fit the art style of the game and are ready for animation hand off.
  • 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

Game artist vs graphic designer/production skills

Common game artist skills
  • Animation, 15%
  • Maya, 11%
  • Sketch, 8%
  • UI, 8%
  • Unity, 7%
  • Concept Art, 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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