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Become a Multimedia Artist & Web Designer

Are you an artist with a passion for technology? Or perhaps you're a techie with a passion for good design? Due to the Internet and new media boom, multimedia artists and Web designers are hot commodities in nearly every sector of commerce including business, education, health care and government.

Multimedia artists and Web designers are business savvy artists with a knowledge base that includes art history, illustration, painting, photography, typography, interactive media, film and video, and computer design software.

In addition to having a keen sense of color, composition and type, as a multimedia artist and Web designer, you'll need to know how to present and discuss ideas with clients, understand market research and work under tight deadlines. Your design projects might range from creating a retail Web site to developing an interactive educational product.

Web Designers are responsible for creating the look and feel of a Web site. As a Web designer, you'll need to create intuitive, user-friendly sites that communicate with your target audience. Web designers must have a strong knowledge of basic design principles, but they must also be technical experts with programming languages and design tools such as HTML, Photoshop, Illustrator and JavaScript.

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Multimedia & Web Design: Education & Training

  • A college-level education in fine art, graphic arts, computer arts, computer science, special effects or animation is critical due to the highly technical nature of the job.
  • Web designers and multimedia artists are expected to have a strong knowledge base of computer applications and languages such as JavaScript, ASP, HTML/XHTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Illustrator and Flash.
  • An impressive design portfolio is a key requirement for advancing your career.

Multimedia & Web Design: Salaries

Salaries for multimedia and Web designers vary depending on experience and reputation in this competitive field.

  • Web designers with about 2-4 year experience earn an average of $65,176.
  • Web designers with 4-6 years experience earn an average of $90,497.

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Multimedia & Web Design: Career Spotlight

Dustin Hunter
Job Title: Web Designer, Self-employed
Years in Field: 10 years

How did you get into Web design?

I've been doing Web design for 10 years but I've been involved in graphic design and drawing forever. I'm a traditional artist - drawing, painting and photography. I didn't know about computers until my mother opened a computer store. She needed a Web site, so I sat down and figured out how to do Web site design. From there I started picking up little jobs and started my own business this year.

I have a basic knowledge of HTML, but I don't do Flash, fancy animation or scripting. I do some work in Javascript, but I mostly incorporate my classic artistic abilities into Web design. I create sites that are simple, so that any computer can download them. I try to make each Web site look like an original piece of art. Read more.

Multimedia & Web Design: Related Areas

Animation
Game Design
Graphic Design
Photography
Visual Effects