ILLUSTRATION

What am I going to do in this occupation?
Illustrators need to be able to communicate deeper inner meanings with their work. They can create book covers, cd covers, posters, as well as images for magazines and other editorials both in the corporate world and in the fine arts world.

What kind of skills do I need?
Illustrators obviously need to love to draw and be very good at it. They will not only be working with graphite, but also paint, pen and ink, airbrush, charcoal, and other various mediums to get the desired effect they’re going for.

What kind of personality do I need?
They need to constantly observe life and have a strong love for drawing. They also need to be able to work on their own. They also have to be the kind of people that don’t mind getting messy and love to work with their hands. Illustrators must have a sense of colour, line and design. They must be practical and innovative.

Where can I work?
Opportunities exist in advertising agencies, design studios, printing and publishing companies and the packaging industry. They can often work alongside graphic designers who are able to add text to images for various projects.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Yes. Illustrators can open their own studios, consult as freelance artists, and even give art lessons.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
Comic Book Illustrator
Magazine Editorial Illustrator
Greeting Card Illustrator
Children’s Book Illustrator
Poster / Cover Art Illustrator

INTERIOR DESIGN

What am I going to do in this occupation?
Interior designers are the folks that develop ideas for how a specific room will look and feel. Sometimes they will work alongside the architects but mostly they deal with every other aesthetic. This means choosing everything from furniture, wall paint colors, floor materials, fabrics, light fixtures, and even wall art to make the work/living space as enjoyable as possible.

What kind of skills do I need?
Interior designers need to have a strong background in math as they will be doing a lot of measuring as well as dealing with budgets. Interior designers must have a thorough knowledge of architectural design and technical drawing, as well as construction . methods and building materials. Before the work begins, interior designers must make detailed drawings and sketches of the designs. These are presented to clients together with architectural plans and evaluations, sample boards, models, specifications, information on the material and finishes needed.

What kind of personality do I need?
Interior designers need to work in close contact with their clients and architects as well as decorators, and any other contractors who will be executing their design ideas. They also need to be able to address any problems that come up. Interior designers should also be flexible and sensitive to the
requirements and preferences of clients.

Where can I work?
Employment for interior designers may be found in interior design companies or studios, architectural practices, property developers, retail chains and groups, shop fitting companies, office furniture manufacturers, hotels, departmental stores, exhibition companies and decorating practices.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Yes. Interior designers with the necessary experience can act as consultants or do freelance work.They can also start their own interior design companies.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
Interior Decorator
Hotel Designer
Model Home Designer
Yacht Designer
Commercial Designer

FINE ARTS

What am I going to do in this occupation?
There is a wide range of jobs for fine artists. They can be anything from sculptors, to light artists, museum curators, calligraphers, and exhibit designers. They almost always work with their hands. They can do anything from screen printing, linoleum cuts, painting, installations, and deal with
various types of medium to achieve their visions. Their art is usually the least commercial and most subjective of the bunch.

What kind of skills do I need?
Fine artists need to be adventurous in using different methods to achieve their image or surrounding. They need to be very versatile, and be able to make art out of virtually anything.

What kind of personality do I need?
Fine artists need to be amazingly creative and sensitive to their surroundings.

Where can I work?
Usually, fine artists work solo. Occasionally, they may work for art galleries or museums.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Yes. Fine artists can often times open their own gallery or sell their individual pieces.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
Sculptor
Gallery Director
Installation Artist
Master Printmaker
Mixed-Media Artist

DIGITAL FILM

What am I going to do in this occupation?
Cameramen are responsible for the filming of productions. They make use of specialised equipment such as video cameras, sound equipment and lighting equipment, when shooting the various scenes. Cameramen film each scene until the director is satisfied. They also work on outside broadcast units relaying sports, news and other events. Once a film has been developed, prints are made and passed on to film editors together with the sound-tracks. It is their responsibility to edit films into logical units. Film editors work in close contact with producers and there should be a good understanding between them concerning the nature and purpose of a film. Producers are the leaders of production teams and are involved with all the aspects of film and television production. They are creative persons who use the technical facilities available, to produce the best possible visual and sound effects. Producers also decide on such details as decor, lighting and music. Production secretaries are responsible for all secretarial work during productions. They type items such as forms, scripts, schedules, letters and contracts. They are also responsible for continuity in productions and work closely with the producers.

What kind of skills do I need?
Most of the careers are very technical and involve the use of complicated electronic equipment. It is therefore very important to have a technical aptitude.

What kind of personality do I need?
Persons who want to pursue careers in film and television production must have a well-developed artistic sense and must be able to get on well with people, since these jobs involve close teamwork.

Where can I work?
Various job opportunities exist at private film companies, and video manufacturers.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Persons with the necessary experience can do work on a free-lance or contract basis.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
Cinematographer
Producer
Sound Effects Editor
Lighting Technician
Film Editor

BUSINESS OF ART

What am I going to do in this occupation?
These people will work while surrounded with other creative individuals.

What kind of skills do I need?
These people must have good math and people skills as they will be dealing with clients and fellow employees on a daily basis.

What kind of personality do I need?
These people need to be able to negotiate with others and to fully communicate concepts. They need to be very professional and organized as well.

Where can I work?
Various job opportunities exist at private film companies, and video manufacturers.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Persons with the necessary experience can do work on a free-lance or contract basis.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
Cinematographer
Producer
Sound Effects Editor
Lighting Technician
Film Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

What am I going to do in this occupation?
Photographers will usually be working alongside other companies, more specifically, their Graphic Designers and/or Art Directors. The most successful photographers can usually deal with taking photos of various subjects and don’t really limit themselves to one area.
Some photographers prefer to use traditional means of developing their work and some have converted to digital photography.

What kind of skills do I need?
Photographers need to understand good composition and when and how to bring out details. They need to have a good eye and they must understand how to use their equipment and how to problem solve if things go wrong. They also need to know how to get the desired photo
printed or developed.

What kind of personality do I need?
Photographers, like most artists, need to be able to observe their surroundings well and be creative. They need to be able to manage their time well and work under deadlines. It’s also very important that they are good dealing with people, especially their clients and models. Their business skills also need to be up to par as most photographers work solo.

Where can I work?
Photographers often do freelance work. Some can tie themselves to working with Newspapers or Magazines and even advertising agencies.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Yes. Photographers can open up their own studios easily.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
Fashion Photographer
Landscape Photographer
News Photographer
Advertising Photographer
Aerial Photography
Forensic Photography

COMPUTER ANIMATION

What am I going to do in this occupation?
Computer animators deal with everything from storyboarding, to rendering the detailed shadows on characters. They can also design entire three dimensional environments along with the textures those might have.

What kind of skills do I need?
Computer animators need to be able to draw and render real-life images successfully. They need to have a profound understanding of how a three-dimensional object functions and be able to relate that to a two-dimensional area. They also need a background in math as well as a strong background in computers. They will most likely work wtih programs such as Maya.

What kind of personality do I need?
Computer animators need to be able to focus on one project for prolonged periods of time. They need patience and a very creative imagination. They also need to be aware of their environments as well as how things move in general. It also doesn’t hurt if you’re somewhat of a perfectionist.

Where can I work?
The larger companies are Pixar, Disney, ImageWorks, and other large companies. There are of course other companies that specifically do work for businesses.

Can I work for myself in this occupation?
It’s rare. Most computer animatiors need to work for large teams or companies due to the amount of labor required to put into each piece.

More Specific Jobs in the Graphic Design Field:
2D Animator
Environment Designer
Lighting Designer
3D Character Sculptor
Texture Artist
Live-Action Animator
(Video) Game Animator