Game art design is an exciting, fast paced career field. Designers are responsible for the creation of the artwork seen in video games, animations, and other related computer media projects. The number of opportunities in this keep increasing as more and more movies, commercials, television programs, and computer games are created.

There are a lot of diverse skills that someone in game art design needs to have. While a background in art is not necessary, the designer should at least have strong artistic skills. Designers must be good at computers, and able to learn complex software in a short amount of time. They need to learn how to draw, and then animate, characters and interactive objects, as well as create background art. Game art designers also need to be able to create and use storyboards to tell a story.

There is a lot of work that goes into creating a video game, or other animated product. Individuals interested in a career in game art design should first have a basic understanding of how games are made, and should also have basic drawing skills. There are hundreds of schools that offer certificate or degree programs in video game design. While most of the programs are offered through technical schools, there are also many traditional colleges that also offer these programs. Most schools even offer a job placement program, helping students to get their first position in the game design field.

Someone with a degree in game art design can do much more than just create the artwork for video games. Designers can work with marketing and advertisement agencies, with animated movie studios, or even for corporations, helping to design new products. Some designers may even find a job with in different government agencies. Designers who work in the video game industry are responsible for creating characters, background art, and any of the other visual aspects seen in a video game. Game art designers may also work as video game testers, playing new games over and over to check for bugs in the visual design.

Game art design is a demanding field. Designers can expect to work long hours, especially as a product nears the final stages of completion. Even a career as a game tester is not just sitting around and playing video games all day. Testers must file reports, and communicate regularly with the other game designers. An ability to communicate clearly, work as a team, and be self-motivated is essential to being successful in game art design. It is an industry that is hard to break into, but once an individual has proven himself or herself, there is no shortage of work.