A Career in Digital Media

Digital media encompasses everything from films and television shows to video games, Internet sites and interactive applications for handheld electronic devices. As technology continues to evolve and expand, the possibilities for creative, innovative and exciting careers keep increasing. And because digital media plays such a crucial role in global communications, the demand for well-trained professionals in the field is always high.

Whether you prefer classical animation or are intrigued by the possibilities of sound as a fine art form, a strong digital media program can help you explore your interests and prepare you for a fulfilling career.

Animation

Animators use a variety of mediums to portray characters (and environments) in motion—from traditional, pencil-and-paper animation to cutting-edge software such as After Effects, Premiere, Flipbook, Flash, Dreamweaver, Autodesk Maya, Anime Studio, Apple Shake and Pixar RenderMan.

Careers

2-D and 3-D animator character technical director/rigger digital modeler texture/lighting technical director 3-D previz artist character designer

art director mixed-media animator stop-motion animator storyboard and concept artist animation producer

Film and Television

Film and television professionals, as the names suggest, create television shows and feature films—but these fields offer many other career options as well, from advertising and corporate video production to experimental film and music videos. And filmmakers work in a variety of genres, including narrative, documentary and shorts.

Careers

executive producer producer director screenwriter director of photography editor line producer camera or Steadicam operator

videographer grip gaffer postproduction supervisor casting director location manager dolly grip unit production manager

Interactive Design and Game Development

In addition to creating both digital and non-digital games, professionals in interactive design and game development fields may work on mobile applications, Web sites and other online environments, and human/computer interaction.

Careers

game designer interaction designer level designer ui/interface designer environment designer interactive installation artist modeler/texturer interactive advertising designer physical computing artist narrative designer

experience designer Web developer/designer Flash developer instructional designer modeler/texturer technical artist mobile game/app designer social media developer

Motion Media Design

Motion media designers combine graphic design, filmmaking, animation and interactive media to create on-air promotions, advertisements, main titles for television and film, network identities and similar content.

Careers

art director broadcast designer creative director motion designer for content producers news and entertainment networks

motion graphics boutiques cable and satellite distributors advertising agencies postproduction companies new media companies in-house corporate design groups

Sound Design

Sound designers create original scores for games, films, television shows, the Internet, experimental multimedia work and other forms of digital media. They work with dialog, sound effects and Foley for a variety of release formats.

Careers

composer mix engineer music editor/supervisor supervising sound editor sound designer production mixer

boom operator dialog editor ADR recordist/mixer Foley recordist/mixer sound effects editor re-recording mixer

Visual Effects

Visual effects artists use a variety of software to generate special images, movements and other effects for films, television shows and commercials. They may create background environments, enhance live-action footage or enrich character appearance.

Careers

compositor digital artist digital effects animator digital matte painter effects programmer lighter

lighting technical director modeler pre-visualization artist technical director texture painter visual effects art director/producer

Careers in film and digital media span the globe and offer a wide array of opportunities and options. With a film and digital media degree, you can design games, create stunning visual effects for movies, compose music for television shows or bring characters to life. Explore the possibilities, find your niche and embark on an innovative, exciting career in digital media.

Editorial is provided by Monique Bos, senior writer/editor, Savannah College
of Art and Design.