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Multimedia designer vs lead designer

The differences between multimedia designers and lead 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 lead designer. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, which is higher than the $61,468 average annual salary of a multimedia designer.

The top three skills for a multimedia designer include graphic design, video production and animation. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.

Multimedia designer vs lead designer overview

Multimedia DesignerLead Designer
Yearly salary$61,468$110,001
Hourly rate$29.55$52.89
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs45,32945,423
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
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 lead designer do?

A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.

Multimedia designer vs lead designer salary

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

Multimedia DesignerLead Designer
Average salary$61,468$110,001
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $83,000Between $78,000 And $154,000
Highest paying CityBellevue, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonAirbnb
Best paying industryReal EstateStart-up

Differences between multimedia designer and lead designer education

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

Multimedia DesignerLead Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Multimedia designer vs lead designer demographics

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

Multimedia DesignerLead Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 71.2% Female, 28.8%Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8%
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 lead 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

Lead designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead development of HTML5, CSS3 and mobile platform prototypes.
  • Lead team in fit meetings and collaborate with TD on sketch updates.
  • Lead & design all creative content stemming from apparel design to web identity.
  • Prepare HTML, CSS and JavaScript coding guides and best practices, and implement, enforce through peer code reviews.
  • Provide expertise skills in CSS, dynamic HTML, java script, and Java development languages.
  • Develop interactive UI features, database schema design, security module design and development.
  • Show more

Multimedia designer vs lead designer skills

Common multimedia designer skills
  • Graphic Design, 9%
  • Video Production, 9%
  • Animation, 7%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Motion Graphics, 5%
  • Photography, 5%
Common lead designer skills
  • Sketch, 14%
  • User Experience, 6%
  • Architecture, 5%
  • UI, 5%
  • Design Solutions, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%

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