What Does a Visual Development Artist Do? Where Do Visual Development Artists Work? ACR Takes a Look.
| College | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia | California |
| California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach | California |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Michigan |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence | Rhode Island |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota | Florida |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | California |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago | Illinois |
| School of Visual Arts | New York | New York |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah | Georgia |
| University of Utah | Salt Lake City | Utah |
What Does a Visual Development Artist Do?
Visual development artists design and develop the look and feel of feature films, animations, videos, and other types of productions. These artists may also work in advertising, publishing, marketing, or public relations. In the animation industry, visual development artists imagine and propose ideas for what the animated world should look like based on the story, characters, and action. Visual development artists also work with character emotions to help assist with the storytelling aspect of the animated production.
Visual development artists work with creative departments to develop backgrounds, colors, lighting, environments, and props for films, animated pieces and more. They use animation, illustration, drawing, and design skills to create visuals that convey ideas about how they envision the look of the piece. Visual development artists typically work in 2D or 3D and they use programs such as Photoshop and Maya.
Where Do Visual Development Artists Work?
Visual development artists work in animation, film and video production, and game design studios, as well as web design, graphic design, and advertising and public relations firms. Visual development artists work in the rapidly growing mobile technology field as well.
What is the Job Outlook for Visual Development Artists?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide specific employment and salary information for visual development artists. However, the agency does provide information for animators and multimedia artists. Information for this industry will give visual development artists seeking employment in animation a good idea of what to expect. Employment for multimedia artists and animators is projected to grow 8% for the 2016-2026 decade. This is as fast as average for all occupations. The projected employment growth for animators and multimedia artists will be the result of increased demand for animation and more realistic visual effects in video games, movies, and television. However, job growth may be slowed by companies hiring artists and animators who work overseas for lower wages. The increasing demand for computer graphics for mobile devices may counter slow growth by creating more job opportunities in the massive mobile industry.
Despite average job growth, competition for job opportunities in animation will remain strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says, “opportunities should be best for those who have a wide range of skills or who specialize in a highly specific type of animation or effect.” Additionally, the U.S. is home to an impressive population of 73,700 multimedia artists and animators, making it one of the largest career fields in the world of art and design.
While job opportunities for animators can be found all over the U.S., five states and five industries have the highest employment levels.
States with the Highest Employment Levels for Animators
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Georgia
- Florida
Industries with the Highest Employment Levels for Animators
- Motion Picture and Video Industries
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services
- Software Publishers
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
- Other Information Services
Industries with the Highest Concentration of Employment for Animators
- Motion Picture and Video Industries
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
- Software Publishers
- Specialized Design Services
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
Within the top five states with the highest employment levels for animators, along with several others such as Illinois, Washington, and Massachusetts, are the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest levels of employment. They include:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
Other Schools to Consider:
How Much Do Visual Development Artists Make?
According to sites such as Glassdoor to SimplyHired, average national salaries for visual development artist range from $44,020 per year up to $109,724 per year. Salaries for visual development artists working at major studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Disney Interactive, and Blue Sky Studios are typically on the higher end of the pay scale. It is important to note that many visual development artists are self-employed. These individuals may make more or less than salaried employees based on the same factors mentioned earlier.
The BLS reports that median annual wage for multimedia artists and animators is $72,520. The mean annual wage is $78,230. The lowest average salary (for less than 10% of the animation population) is $40,870. The highest 10% earn more than $124,310. At $86,080, multimedia artists and animators working in the motion picture and video industries have the highest annual wage of the top five industries with the highest employment levels for animators.
- Motion Picture and Video Industries - $86,080
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services - $78,850
- Software Publishers - $85,270
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services - $73,780
- Other Information Services - $80,070
However, the top five highest paying industries for animators are:
- Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers - $99,790
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing - $90,960
- Motion Picture and Video Industries - $86,080
- Software Publishers - $85,270
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing - $83,050
It is important to note that salaries for animators also vary by experience, type and size of company, and even geographic location. For example, Connecticut-based animators average $102,630 per year—the nation’s highest average salary for this profession—while South Carolina-based artists average $36,270—the lowest salary for this profession.
In addition to Connecticut, the top five highest paying states for animators are Washington ($90,700), District of Columbia ($89,210), California ($87,960), and New York ($86,490).
The highest paying metro areas for animators are:
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT - $115,070
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $91,850
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward - $91,840
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA - $91,010
- New York-Newark-Jersey City - $87,320
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - $86,240
- Savannah, GA - $82,880
- Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA - $80,230
- Raleigh, NC - $79,070
- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL - $78,980
How Do I Become a Visual Development Artist?
The path to becoming a visual development artist begins with the right degree. Common paths include a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fine art, illustration, painting, animation, visual arts and communications, or other related field. A bachelor’s degree and experience through an internship or other support position will aspiring visual development artists land an entry-level position.
For intermediate positions, a top studio or other employer may require a minimum of two years’ professional experience, plus a bachelor’s degree or higher. For upper level positions, employers may require an advanced degree, plus three to five years’ professional experience in the industry. For all levels, advanced knowledge of the latest industry software is a must.
Which Schools Offer Programs for Aspiring Visual Development Artists?
Some of the top schools for visual development artists include:
- California Institute of the Arts, BFA Character Animation, Experimental Animation, MFA Experimental Animation, BFA, MFA, both tracks cover everything from painting and drawing to film, video, and digital imaging
- California State University-Long Beach, BFA, Option Illustration/Animation, Animation or Illustration Track
- Northern Michigan University, BFA Drawing and Painting, BFA Computer Art (Animation, Motion Graphics, and Visual Effects)
- Rhode Island School of Design, BFA Illustration, BFA Film/Animation/Video (FAV), MFA Painting
- Ringling College of Art and Design, BFA Computer Animation, Motion Design, BFA Illustration
- San Jose State University, BFA Animation/Illustration
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago, BFA, MFA Studio, Concentration Animation, BFA, MFA Painting and Drawing, Certificate Illustration
- School of Visual Arts, BFA Animation, Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects, Illustration, Cartooning; MFA Computer Arts, Concentrations Animation, Motion Graphics, Fine Art, MFA Illustration, MFA Fine Arts (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture)
- Savannah College of Art and Design, BFA, MA, MFA Animation, Minors Animation, Animated Illustration and Publication Design, BA, BFA, MA, MFA Illustration
- University of Utah, BFA Studio Painting and Drawing, MFA Studio, Drawing Minor, BA, MFA Film & Media Arts-Animation Emphasis
Awesome Animation Fact: More than 600 people worked on the brilliant animated Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. Although it had one of the largest animated production staffs ever, Beauty and the Beast still took more than three and a half years to create.