What does a layout artist do?
Layout artist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real layout artist resumes:
- Manage online product catalog using Dreamweaver.
- Typeset and design display advertisements for shopper newspaper.
- Proofread advertisements for accuracy before sending to book building.
- Utilize motion graphic and animation skills to release promotional content.
- Used basic animation to imply motion and placement of animate dinosaur.
- Produce retail ads and circulars, including product illustration and typesetting.
- Utilize a variety of creative media including illustration, photography and digital design to convey ideas beautifully and intelligently.
- Prepare materials, create and design dance costumes.
- Design sets, costumes, exhibits and lighting for a wide variety of productions and museums.
- Create online stores and sell artwork through Zazzle, Etsy, and Cafepress.
Layout artist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Layout Artists are proficient in Animation, Adobe Photoshop, and Maya. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Computer skills.
We break down the percentage of Layout Artists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Animation, 17%
Used basic animation to imply motion and placement of animated dinosaur.
- Adobe Photoshop, 14%
Scanned and cropped photos utilizing Adobe PhotoShop.
- Maya, 13%
Conceptualized and developed terrain models using Maya and partnered with director and animators to correspond and produce effective shots.
- Adobe Illustrator, 11%
Produced 10-15 layouts per day in Adobe Illustrator, according to customer design requests.
- Graphic Design, 5%
Constructed advertising circulars through graphic design operations.
- Adobe Indesign, 5%
Prepare and layout copy for Newspaper Company using Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress.
Common skills that a layout artist uses to do their job include "animation," "adobe photoshop," and "maya." You can find details on the most important layout artist responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a layout artist to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what layout artists do because "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." Additionally, a layout artist resume shows how layout artists use analytical skills: "work tight deadlines and log productivity into in-house database. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling layout artist duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." According to a layout artist resume, here's how layout artists can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "acted as lead graphic artist and managed the team's workloads and communication within other departments. "
Computer skills. This is an important skill for layout artists to perform their duties. For an example of how layout artist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a layout artist: "accumulated knowledge for the deadline filing system and typesetting computers. ".
Time-management skills. layout artist responsibilities often require "time-management skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." This resume example shows what layout artists do with time-management skills on a typical day: "created layout concepts for posters, video boxes, dvd covers and catalogs in fast-paced deadline-driven environment. "
Artistic ability. Another crucial skill for a layout artist to carry out their responsibilities is "artistic ability." A big part of what layout artists relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." How this skill relates to layout artist duties can be seen in an example from a layout artist resume snippet: "career objective dynamic graphic designer with advanced artistic and production accomplishments, seeking to leverage these strengths and further promote skills. "
Creativity. Lastly, "creativity" is an important element of what a layout artist does. Layout artist responsibilities require this skill because "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." This resume example highlights how layout artist duties rely on this skill: "inventoried and cleaned up thousands of graphics for weekly circular using adobe photoshop and illustrator. "
The three companies that hire the most layout artists are:
- Scanline VFX4 layout artists jobs
- International Paper2 layout artists jobs
- The Walt Disney Company1 layout artists jobs
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Compare different layout artists
Layout artist vs. Designer
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a layout artist are more likely to require skills like "animation," "maya," "motion capture," and "concept art." On the other hand, a job as a designer requires skills like "sketch," "customer service," "css," and "html." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Designers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,754. In contrast, layout artists make the biggest average salary, $71,330, in the media industry.The education levels that designers earn slightly differ from layout artists. In particular, designers are 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a layout artist. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Layout artist vs. Owner & designer
Owners/designers are responsible for the overall creation of their designs, including the marketing campaigns to boost their brand image, and hiring people to help them execute the production for desired results. They also reach out to potential clients to offer their services, negotiate contract terms and payments, and work within the clients' specifications and timeframe. Owners/designers must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially on enforcing critical business decisions that would define the owner's strategies and market performance.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that layout artist responsibilities requires skills like "animation," "maya," "motion capture," and "adobe indesign." But an owner & designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "website design," "jewelry," and "art shows."
Owner & designers earn similar levels of education than layout artists in general. They're 4.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for layout artists in the next 3-5 years?
Paul Molnar
Associate Professor of Theatre, Independence Community College
Layout artist vs. Design director
A design director spearheads and oversees design projects in a company or organization. They typically have the authority to lead the creative and design teams, make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities, set goals and schedules, manage budgets and resources, and direct the project's cycle from planning to execution. They also coordinate with clients and solve issues when any arise. Additionally, a design director leads and encourages teams to reach goals, all while implementing standards and policies, developing new ones when necessary.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from layout artist resumes include skills like "adobe photoshop," "maya," "adobe illustrator," and "motion capture," whereas a design director is more likely to list skills in "sketch," "human centered design," "product design," and "user experience. "
Design directors earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $155,570. Comparatively, layout artists have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $71,330.design directors typically earn higher educational levels compared to layout artists. Specifically, they're 8.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Layout artist vs. Web designer
A web designer is a creative professional responsible for creating and redesigning the content and layout of websites. Web designers are required to meet clients and users to discuss the needs and goals of their clients. To create graphics, colors, and fonts, web designers usually use HTML coding to alter the website's layout. Web designers must build their portfolio by taking on unique projects for themselves and the people they know.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between layout artists and web designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a layout artist might have more use for skills like "animation," "maya," "motion capture," and "adobe indesign." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of web designers require skills like "html," "css," "wordpress," and "html css. "
In general, web designers earn the most working in the internet industry, with an average salary of $81,039. The highest-paying industry for a layout artist is the media industry.The average resume of web designers showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to layout artists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 5.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.Types of layout artist
Updated January 8, 2025
