Multimedia Artists and Animators fall into the Artistic Theme Code Category, according to the Strong Interest Inventory® Assessment. The Strong Interest Inventory® identifies six different categories of job types based on the interests and proclivities of professionals in a number of fields who are fulfilled within their positions. The Inventory itself first assesses job seekers’ preferences, and then uses that analysis to help them identify careers that may be a good fit for them. Careers that are part of the Artistic Theme Code generally attract free spirits who thrive in flexible work environments that not only afford them the space to be creative, but also appreciate the fruits of that creativity.

For example, Multimedia Artists and Animators are professionals who use film, video, computers, or other tools to create animations, special effects, or other visual images. Their work can be presented in any number of forms, from computer games to movies to commercials to music videos. They may also create layouts for digital or print media, like textbooks, billboards, flyers, brochures, and more. For those who work for creative companies, like film studios, the production process can be long and complex. It often includes creating basic designs, wire frames, or storyboards, and then expanding on those designs to create two- or three-dimensional images. Some designs may be very simple, while others may require that objects or characters be lifelike. Artists may need to manipulate light, color, texture, shadow, transparency, or other elements to give the illusion of motion. They may also need to apply story development and editing to script, plan, and create animated stories or short films under tight deadlines. Those who work in business, publishing, or other industries may find themselves working on shorter timelines and may be more focused on layout and presentation rather than character and object design. The process of producing a film is very different from the process of producing a textbook.

In some cases, Multimedia Artists and Animators may need to be able to present and communicate their work in meetings, or to develop brochures, web pages, promotional materials, and other visual assets for use in a variety of different forms. Some Multimedia Artists and Animators may also participate in designing the multimedia campaigns themselves, including budgeting, scheduling, designing backgrounds, and coordinating the production itself, as well as tracking and communicating progress to higher ups. The exact job responsibilities may vary across different companies.

Multimedia Artists and Animators use many different kinds of tools and technologies to create their work. Those who work in digital media need to be comfortable with Computer Aided Design, or CAD, software (e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD), and photo and video editing software (e.g., Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe InDesign, Apple File Cut Pro, etc.). Some professionals may also use object-oriented or component-oriented development software, including programming languages like C++, Python, and others. They should also be comfortable with standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) as well as scheduling and project management software. While the precise statistics are not available, most Multimedia Artists and Animators hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. In addition, they need to have strong skills with computers and electronics, design, and communication, and also need to be able to visualize detailed images and then re-create them in a digital form.

The national median Multimedia Artist and Animator Salary is just over $70,000 annually, with Connecticut leading the nation with a median just over $94,000 per year. Connecticut is closely followed by California and New York. Surprisingly, North Dakota is also higher than average, with a median of $83,000 per year. South Carolina is on the other extreme, with a median of just $66,520. That said, even in New Mexico, the top 25% earn nearly $100,000, and the top 10% earn nearly $125,000 annually. Similarly, employment is expected to rise in most states, with California, Washington, New York, Texas, and Florida alone projected to add over 3,000 new jobs in the next decade.

Below are some employment trends for Multimedia Artists and Animators:

• Multimedia Artist and Animator Salary: $34.87/hour; $72,520 annually
• Employment: 72,000 employees
• Projected growth (2018-2028): Average (4-6%)
• Projected job openings (2018-2028): 8,300

[Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections]

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• Strong Interest Inventory Realistic Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Artistic Theme Explained
• Strong Interest Inventory Investigative Theme Explained 
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References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections Onetonline.org