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Multimedia designer vs graphic designer

The differences between multimedia designers and graphic designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a multimedia designer and a graphic designer. Additionally, a multimedia designer has an average salary of $61,468, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic designer.

The top three skills for a multimedia designer include graphic design, video production and animation. The most important skills for a graphic designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Multimedia designer vs graphic designer overview

Multimedia DesignerGraphic Designer
Yearly salary$61,468$49,450
Hourly rate$29.55$23.77
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs45,32945,625
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a multimedia designer do?

A multimedia designer is responsible for creating graphic content and animations for digital platforms and media advertisements. Multimedia designers produce high-quality visual materials according to business requirements and budget limitations. They coordinate with the whole design team for the accuracy of deliverables and modifications as needed. A multimedia designer must be highly technical and creative, especially in utilizing various software applications and programs to develop graphic animations that adhere to quality standards and ensuring its appeal to the target audience.

What does a graphic designer do?

Graphic designers are visual communicators who create graphic ideas to deliver a message through art and images which inspire, inform, and motivate consumers with the use of computer software, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign or by hand. They have the ability to design stunning illustrations that are easily understood, even without a lot of thinking or based on the demand of their clients. It is very crucial to them as well to be flexible and to stay on top of the design trends. They create websites, posters, packaging, logos, advertising, and marketing materials, depending on the nature of the business.

Multimedia designer vs graphic designer salary

Multimedia designers and graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Multimedia DesignerGraphic Designer
Average salary$61,468$49,450
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $83,000Between $34,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityBellevue, WAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyAmazonMeta
Best paying industryReal EstateTechnology

Differences between multimedia designer and graphic designer education

There are a few differences between a multimedia designer and a graphic designer in terms of educational background:

Multimedia DesignerGraphic Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Multimedia designer vs graphic designer demographics

Here are the differences between multimedia designers' and graphic designers' demographics:

Multimedia DesignerGraphic Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 71.2% Female, 28.8%Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between multimedia designer and graphic designer duties and responsibilities

Multimedia designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage website redesign including copywriting and updating all website content.
  • Launch new websites using HTML5, CSS and Wordpress.
  • Assist in the development of some client websites as well as basic SEO, site linking, HTML and CSS cleanup.
  • Design and develop dynamic websites, CSS and HTML coding, optimization of graphics, illustrations, photos and web icons.
  • Create and develop the UI for an in house video CMS.
  • Pose and render characters in Maya as well as in-game tools.
  • Show more

Graphic designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead the transition from paste-up, typesetting, pasting up page layout to digital ad/page building and web printing.
  • Design new template for magazine as well as ads, flyers, brochures, and cards for a variety of events.
  • Plan the development of a social networking site website using HTML, CSS, PHP, and a WordPress management system.
  • Compose and create daily advertisements for national automotive dealerships utilizing typography and design concepts while adhering to corporate brand standards.
  • Follow style guide requirements to maintain brand integrity with specific treatments of photography, typography, graphic elements and team/sponsor/arena logos.
  • Create UI kit for the website.
  • Show more

Multimedia designer vs graphic designer skills

Common multimedia designer skills
  • Graphic Design, 9%
  • Video Production, 9%
  • Animation, 7%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Motion Graphics, 5%
  • Photography, 5%
Common graphic designer skills
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 6%
  • Typography, 5%
  • Brochures, 5%
  • Design Concepts, 5%

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