Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist designs multimedia software, which uses text, sound, graphics and pictures, for a wide variety of purposes.

The Work

You could be:

• Conceptualizing, researching, designing, and developing material in accordance with a brief from a client


• integrating graphics, animation, sound and video technology into software applications


• producing interactive learning materials for an educational organisation


• producing advertising or promotional material for a commercial company


• producing reference packages such as encyclopaedias for a publishing firm


• developing virtual reality simulations and other computer games for a software development company


• working as part of a team, with (depending on the nature of the project) scientists, teachers, artists, technologists, exhibit designers, media professionals, project managers, graphic designers, writers, video technologists, animators and sound engineers


• developing multimedia projects onto CDs or DVDs and writing the computer programs


• testing the program to find and fix any bugs, then demonstrating the product to your client.

Conditions

• You will work from an office or studio.


• You will usually work normal office hours from Monday to Friday, but you might sometimes have to work evenings or weekends to meet deadlines.


• You might have to travel to meet clients from different organisations and possibly have to spend overnights away from home.

Getting In

• Most entrants have a degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in a subject such as multimedia computing, multimedia technology, multimedia design, interactive media, computer science or software engineering. You should check that the course content is suitable for the multimedia career you want to enter.
• There are also specialist postgraduate multimedia courses for computer graduates.


• If you have a degree in a non-computing subject you could take a specialist postgraduate conversion course.
• For entry to an HND course you normally need 1-2 Highers plus some Standard grades. For entry to a degree course you need 3-5 Highers.
• You might be able to move into multimedia work from other computing jobs with relevant experience in programming, web or software development or graphic design.


• You need to have evidence of your creativity such as a portfolio of multimedia work or your own interactive website.


• You might be able to get in without a degree or HND if you have an exceptionally good portfolio of work.
• Employers often look for specific skills such as Adobe Flash, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Action Script, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Adobe Design Center video workshop HTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

What Does It Take?

You need to have:

• good computer programming skills


• skills in graphic and audio technology


• creativity and artistic flair with an eye for colour and shape


• vision to develop ideas to achieve what the client wants


• good communication skills to exchange ideas with colleagues and explain projects to clients
• up-to-date knowledge of developments in computer software.

• work accurately under pressure, and meet deadlines
• understand what other specialists do


• work well in small project teams.

Training

• Most training is on the job through short courses.


• You can take short courses, run by manufacturers, in different types of design software, to fill gaps in your knowledge and to keep up-to-date with more advanced packages.


• This is a fast moving industry and you must be willing to learn new programming languages and technologies.


• You can work towards professional qualifications in multimedia related subjects through organisations such as The British Computer Society.

Getting On

• With experience, you could become a project manager, with responsibility for running and organising multimedia projects.


• You could work freelance and contract services out to relevant organisations.
• You could move into other areas of information technology.


• You may be able to work abroad.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

More Information

There is a need for more women to go into computing and IT work, particularly at higher levels.

In 2007, the number of women in IT was 16 per cent of the total IT workforce, down from 22 per cent ten years ago (latest data available).
This is at present an expanding area of work and prospects are good.

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.