• Digital media specialists work with multimedia.
• By multimedia we mean a variety of media, such as sound and graphics, computer-generated animation and video.
• The digital media specialist makes web sites, online education tools, software interfaces or the latest computer game come to life with multimedia tools.
• Digital media specialists combine a unique blend of artistic and technical in their work.

What's the work like?

• Digital media specialists are typically team members working on a product with other IT specialists. The work of a digital media specialist follows a cycle similar to that followed by computer programmers and other IT professionals. We have called this cycle the product development cycle and it includes the following steps.
• Gather User Requirements: A digital media specialist first interviews customers in order to identify their multimedia needs.
• Research Multimedia Tools: The digital media specialist also has to research what kinds of resources and tools she or he will have available to make the multimedia product.
• Storyboard Project: Next, the digital media specialist might produce a storyboard (a series of drawings or pictures) that shows customers how the product will work. This allows her to figure out if her design meets customer needs.
• Develop Product: With feedback from presenting the storyboard, the multimedia author then designs the product.
• Gather Feedback: As the product is developed, the media specialist gather feedback from customers.
• Modify Product: After testing the product and gathering feedback, the multimedia author makes changes to her product as necessary and it's ready to go!

What's it take to be a Multimedia Developer?

• Multimedia developers need to keep up on the latest technologies so that they can produce the best images and animations needed by their customers. Popular design software like Adobe's Photoshop, and Macromedia's Shockwave and Flash must be learned.
• Multimedia developers need an artist's or designer's eye in order to produce top-notch products.
• Successful multimedia developers will have good teamwork skills and communication skills.

Interested in more? Look at entry-level jobs in this field.