What does a multimedia artist do?
Multimedia artist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real multimedia artist resumes:
- Edit video, write copy for television, radio, and web-base commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
- Work with a team to create storyboards, background art, character animation, and user interface.
- Compose educational videos using animation techniques along with audio scripts and enhance videos in response to customer issues and requests.
- Collaborate with clients to develop creative solutions for a diverse portfolio of communications and marketing projects.
- Perform PC hardware and software maintenance and upgrades.
- Illustrate weekly comics about relevant events on campus to be post in the school newspaper
- Illustrate diagrams, fact boxes, comics, and political cartoons base on stories written by the staff writers.
- Design advertisements, integrating typesetting, print preparation, color separation, and proofreading.
Multimedia artist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Multimedia Artists are proficient in Animation, Photography, and Graphic Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Artistic talent, Computer skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Multimedia Artists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Animation, 12%
Worked as 2D Artist/Designer/Animator completing a series of short animation using Flash for on-line educational curriculum.
- Photography, 11%
Edited footage, and photography based on authentic styles.
- Graphic Design, 10%
uStarted off as a Junior Graphic Designer and promoted to the senior within 6 months.
- Video Production, 10%
Directed multiple video productions for clients Designed company logos and digital graphics Integrated marketing for social media circulation Supported entrepreneurial website launches
- Adobe Premiere, 6%
Learned and used Adobe premiere pro, light room, and after effects at an advanced level within initial 6-month period.
- Video, 6%
Edited video, wrote copy for television, radio, and web-based commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
"animation," "photography," and "graphic design" are among the most common skills that multimedia artists use at work. You can find even more multimedia artist responsibilities below, including:
Artistic talent. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a multimedia artist to have is artistic talent. Their role and responsibilities require that "animators and artists should have artistic ability and a good understanding of color, texture, and light." Multimedia artists often use artistic talent in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "managed a group of experienced and talented graphic designers throughout the navteq project duration. "
Computer skills. Another essential skill to perform multimedia artist duties is computer skills. Multimedia artists responsibilities require that "many special effects artists and animators use computer programs or write programming code to do most of their work." Multimedia artists also use computer skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "produced computer animations and presentation video worked with lightwave, adobe premiere, and adobe photoshop"
Creativity. For certain multimedia artist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "creativity." The day-to-day duties of a multimedia artist rely on this skill, as "artists and animators must be able to think creatively to develop original ideas and make them come to life." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what multimedia artists do: "provide creative direction/graphic design, motion graphics, animation, and digital media production services. "
Time-management skills. Another common skill required for multimedia artist responsibilities is "time-management skills." This skill comes up in the duties of multimedia artists all the time, as "the workdays required by most studio and game design companies can be long, particularly when there are tight deadlines." An excerpt from a real multimedia artist resume shows how this skill is central to what a multimedia artist does: "created 100+ finished paintings under tight deadlines while maintaining high quality standards. "
The three companies that hire the most multimedia artists are:
- Exponent1 multimedia artists jobs
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Compare different multimedia artists
Multimedia artist vs. Freelance designer
Freelance designers are creative, independent contractors who create visual and graphic designs for their clients. They develop text and illustrated versions of brands, messages, and communications with strong visible influence with their clients. Typical activities include networking, seeking projects, and negotiating prices to their customers. They manage client proposals, develop concepts, present solutions, and ensure the timely completion of projects. Freelance visual and graphic designers are creative, self-motivated as well as result and deadline oriented.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a multimedia artist are more likely to require skills like "animation," "graphic design," "video production," and "adobe premiere." On the other hand, a job as a freelance designer requires skills like "sketch," "adobe illustrator," "website design," and "user experience." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that freelance designers earn slightly differ from multimedia artists. In particular, freelance designers are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a multimedia artist. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Multimedia artist vs. Animation director
A 3D animator specializes in designing and developing 3D animation materials, adhering to the program or project's needs. They typically work together with a team of animators and producers in studios or offices. Most of the time, their responsibilities involve performing extensive research, creating drafts and storyboards, consulting with team members and editors, and performing revisions as needed. Furthermore, as a 3D animator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that multimedia artist responsibilities requires skills like "photography," "video production," "adobe premiere," and "video." But an animation director might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "motion capture," "unity," "medical care," and "advisory boards."
Animation directors earn a higher average salary than multimedia artists. But animation directors earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $90,848. Additionally, multimedia artists earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $94,227 annually.animation directors earn similar levels of education than multimedia artists in general. They're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for multimedia artists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.
Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and Humanities, College of Central Florida
Multimedia artist vs. 3d animator
A character animator specializes in developing life-like character designs for film, television, advertisements, and video games using special animation software. Their job usually entails understanding project requirements, conducting research, developing drafts and models, adding different effects to enhance designs, presenting designs to lead animators, and performing revisions when necessary. They are also responsible for adhering to deadlines and budgets, producing reports, and solving issues and concerns. Moreover, a character animator usually works in a team setting, which requires an open and transparent line of communication for a successful workflow.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a multimedia artist is likely to be skilled in "photography," "video," "design concepts," and "web site," while a typical 3d animator is skilled in "storyboards," "visualization," "motion capture," and "game engine."
3d animators earn the highest salary when working in the media industry, where they receive an average salary of $91,109. Comparatively, multimedia artists have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $94,227.Most 3d animators achieve a similar degree level compared to multimedia artists. For example, they're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Multimedia artist vs. Character animator
Types of multimedia artist
Updated January 8, 2025
