| | Web Developers | Multimedia Artists and Animators |
|---|
| Degree Required | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Education Field of Study | Web design | Art, computer graphics, animation |
| Key Skills | Creativity, computer literacy, attention to detail | Artistic ability, time management, computer literacy, communication |
| Job Growth (2020-2030) | 13% (for all web developers)* | 16% (for all multimedia artists and animators)* |
| Median Salary (2020) | $77,200 (for all web developers)* | $77,700 (for all multimedia artists and animators)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A Macromedia Flash designer creates web applications using the Adobe Flash program, which is often used in website creation to enable a site's interactivity. While it was originally known as Macromedia Flash, it's more correctly known now as Adobe Flash software. Macromedia, the original software design company, was acquired by Adobe Systems in 2005 (www.adobe.com).
As an Adobe Flash designer you may be considered a graphic designer or web developer. You may work on advertising, software creation or coding. Your work may also include enriching web and CD-ROM projects. Your job duties will likely center around creating visual art and other communication materials. Most of your work will be using Adobe Flash, but you may use other products from Adobe to complement your work and assist you with projects.
What Education or Training Is Required?
Program options in this field may include a diploma in web design, an associate's degree in graphic design or Web design, or a bachelor's degree in media arts. All of these programs, regardless of length, offer you courses in Adobe Flash and other Adobe programs such as Dreamweaver, Illustrator and Photoshop. You may also take courses in programming languages, design and coding. Courses may teach design principles and offer training in the technical side of web design. Media arts and graphic design programs may focus more on creativity and design, where web design programs may be more technical in nature.
What Salary Can I Expect?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2020, the median wage for web developers was $77,200 (www.bls.gov). The bureau also noted that multimedia artists and animators made a median annual income of $77,700 at the same time.
Like multimedia artists, graphic designers typically use digital programs such as Macromedia Flash Designer to create imagery for a specific project. However, whereas multimedia artists create animated imagery, graphic designers work primarily with still graphics. They lay out text, photographs, logos, headers and other elements to create media, often for print formats such as magazines, brochures and advertisements. However, they may also work on the design and layout of a web page or an article to be released in PDF format, so their work might overlap with that of web developers.
Another career alternative is an art director, who plans and designs the layout of a multifaceted art project, such as an entire magazine or the outside packaging of a product. Some art directors also work in movie and TV production. A bachelor's degree in art or computer design will work for either of these alternative occupations, although an art director typically also needs previous experience in a related field.
