Creativity is crucial in all art and design occupations. People in this field must have an eye for color and detail, a sense of balance and proportion, an appreciation for beauty, and a desire to create. They mix knowledge with artistic ability. Designers focus on a specific area of design such as cars or websites. The deciding factor in getting a job in art or design is a good portfolio with examples of your best work.

Multimedia Artists and Animators - These workers create movie “magic.” Through their imagination, creativity, and skill, they can create anything from flaming office buildings and earthquakes to talking animals and three-dimensional digital characters. Multimedia artists not only need a good imagination, but also must be equal parts carpenter, plumber, electrician, and electronics expert. They must be familiar with many ways of achieving a desired special effect. Animators and artists visualize and create characters, sceneries, and worlds. They can work in 2D and 3D models, depending on the need of the project. Computer skills are very important in this field, as animation and visual effects now rely heavily on computer technology.

Artist - Artists create art and sell their work through private galleries or art dealers. Some teach art classes or work in art galleries. Artists usually work alone on a freelance or commission basis and may find it difficult to earn a living solely by selling their artwork. Many work in a job that is unrelated to their art. Artists may specialize in one or two art forms such as painting, sculpting, or illustrating. Although formal training is not strictly necessary for artists, many colleges and universities offer degree programs in the fine arts, art history, and studio art.

Fashion Designer - Fashion designers help create the billions of dresses, suits, shoes, and other clothing and accessories purchased every year by consumers. Designers study fashion trends, sketch designs of clothing and accessories, select colors and fabrics, and oversee the final production of their designs. Clothing designers create and help produce men's, women's, and children's apparel, including casual wear, suits, sportswear, formalwear, outerwear, maternity, and intimate apparel. Footwear designers help create and produce different styles of shoes and boots. Accessory designers help create and produce items such as handbags, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, and eyewear, which add the finishing touches to an outfit. Some fashion designers specialize in clothing, footwear, or accessory design, but others create designs in all three fashion categories. Computer-aided design (CAD) is increasingly being used in the fashion design industry. Although most designers initially sketch designs by hand, a growing number also translate these hand sketches to the computer. CAD allows designers to view designs of clothing on virtual models and in various colors and shapes, thus saving time by requiring fewer adjustments of prototypes and samples later. Fashion designers are knowledgeable about textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, and fashion trends. They must have a strong sense of the esthetic—an eye for color and detail, a sense of balance and proportion, and an appreciation for beauty. In addition to creativity, fashion designers also need to have sewing and patternmaking skills. Basic coursework includes color, textiles, sewing and tailoring, pattern making, fashion history, computer-aided design (CAD), and design of different types of clothing. Coursework in human anatomy, mathematics, and psychology also is useful. Some fashion designers combine a fashion design degree with a business, marketing, or fashion merchandising degree. Fashion designers usually get their training through summer internships or by working in retail.

Jewelry Designer - Jewelry designers create rings, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry out of metal, gemstones, and other materials. Handtools are needed to make the jewelry, and the work requires attention to detail. Nowadays, computers are often used to design the pieces. Lasers are also used for delicate work. The precise and delicate nature of jewelry work requires finger and hand dexterity, good hand-eye coordination, patience and concentration. Artistic ability and fashion consciousness are major assets. Jewelers’ skills usually are learned in vocational or technical schools, through correspondence courses, or informally on the job. Art and design schools also offer programs that can lead to a degree of fine arts in jewelry design. Many jewelry designers are self-employed.

Furniture Designer - Designing furniture takes creativity and originality as well as an ability to work with various tools to create an item just as planned. In most cases a furniture designer will start with a concept for a new design of furniture or an improvement on an existing design. He or she is then able to use a variety of tools including lathes, various saws, carving tools, jointer and sanders to create a wooden frame. After the frame is completed the designer may have an upholsterer add cushions or backing to the wooden frame or it may stay as an elegant piece of wood furniture. Those furniture designers and builders who complete the whole project themselves will spend many hours in the crafting and building of the project depending on the size of the item. A furniture designer may be self-employed, work for a small furniture manufacturing company, or work for a large manufacturer. Some furniture designers and builders work with other materials such as various metals, plastics, bamboo, rattan and wicker. Furniture designers and builders may or may not enroll in apprenticeship programs or have formal design training. But most will have some training in woodworking skills including cabinet making, finishing carpentry, or woodworking.

Graphic Artist - Graphic artists (also known as graphic designers) use their artistic design skills to help businesses sell their products or services. They often use computers to make new images, design packaging and product brochures. Graphic artists design newspapers and other publications. Graphic artists may also plan the layout of software and websites or produce the credits that appear before and after television shows and movies. Graphic designers must demonstrate artistic ability, visual art skills, and creative thinking. Academic training in art and design is a necessity. Courses in computer science are also recommended. Evidence of appropriate talent and skill, displayed in an artist’s portfolio, is an important factor used by art and design directors and clients when selecting a graphic artist. Well-established freelance graphic artists can earn much more than salaried artists do.

Computer Game Designer - Since game environments and graphics have become so complex, artists and animators have become as crucial to game design as the programmers. Exactly what skills you need can greatly differ by the career path which you desire to pursue, whether it is in Production, Design, Programming, Art, or Sound. For example, you might design elements such as characters, levels, puzzles, or backgrounds. On the technical side, you will have to know programming, coding, and testing. But most importantly, computer game designers must come up with unique and original ideas. You need the creativity to have a vision, understand what will make a game fun, and follow through to make a great experience.

Web Designer - Web designers develop websites for small businesses and large companies of all kinds. The majority of web designers are self-employed. They must stay on top of the current technology, as well as have a good graphic design background. Web designers use computer software to do their jobs. They might learn to use many different types of software. Web designers can make a website by typing direct instructions in HTML or some other programming language. In addition to computer-related classes, technical writing, marketing, and communications courses will be helpful for this career.

Photographer - Photographers use cameras to take pictures that help tell a story or record an object or event. They often specialize in a specific field such as portraits or landscapes. There are also scientific photographers who often must have some knowledge of biology, chemistry, engineering or medicine. News photographers, called photojournalists, photograph newsworthy people and events for newspapers and other publications. Photographers need a “good eye,” imagination and creativity, as well as a good technical understanding of photography. Entry-level positions in photojournalism, or in industrial, scientific, or technical photography are likely to require a degree in journalism or photography, with additional courses in the specific field being photographed, such as art or chemistry. Photographers may start out as assistants to experienced photographers. Photographers are often self-employed and set their own hours. Some may have to travel or work long and irregular hours.

Sculptor - see Artist

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