Multimedia Artists and Animators

If you are interested in becoming a multimedia artist or an animator, you can start quite simply by drawing characters and landscapes. You can try copying images from games that you know or create your own characters and settings. Remember, you don't have to be high-tech right away. It's also important to familiarize yourself with the industry, so check out Web sites and publications such as Game Developer (https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms) and Animation World Magazine (https://www.awn.com/animationworld). You also might want to look for career resources on the International Game Developers Association's Web site, https://igda.org. The association also offers membership for college students. If you have friends who are interested in gaming, try creating your own game or add to a game that exists already. Local museums often offer summer art classes, and community colleges often have computer courses—check these out.

One thing many industry experts recommend is to attend conferences such as the Game Developers Conference (https://www.gdconf.com), as well as those offered by SIGGRAPH (https://www.siggraph.org). There you will be able to meet people in the business and other enthusiasts, see new games and technologies, and even attend workshops of interest to you. This is a terrific opportunity for networking and, if you are in college, you may hear of internship or job opportunities. Of course, this event can be expensive, but if your funds are limited, you may want to work as a student volunteer and pay much less.

Other ways to learn more about this career include participating in information interviews and job-shadowing experiences with multimedia artists and animators; getting involved in summer exploration programs in digital design and animation that are offered by colleges and universities; and participating in competitions that are offered by SkillsUSA, Technology Student Association, and other organizations.