What Is Digital Media? Examining Opportunities in Design Technology
什么是数字媒体？考察设计技术中的机会What Is Digital Media? Examining Opportunities in Design TechnologyWhat Is Digital Media? Examining Opportunities in Design Technology

As the worlds of business, communication, and entertainment continue to embrace virtual mediums, digital media is more relevant than ever. This field, which encompasses communication through visual and virtual means, is applicable in many industries and speaks to a growing need for new ways to exchange ideas and information through compelling media.
随着商业、通信和娱乐领域继续拥抱虚拟媒介，数字媒体比以往任何时候都更加重要。该领域涵盖通过视觉和虚拟方式进行的通信，适用于许多行业，并满足了通过引人入胜的媒体交换思想和信息的新方式不断增长的需求。

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in this growing and relevant field should consider earning a bachelor’s degree in digital media.
有兴趣在这个不断增长且相关的领域谋求职业的人员应考虑获得数字媒体学士学位。

The Digital Media Association refers to digital and streaming as “the future of media content,” but exactly what is digital media? Digital media represents the union of artistic talent, creativity, and technical skill to design everything from video game animations to company websites. Because this broad field allows for many areas of specialization, digital media professionals often focus on a single area of expertise.
数字媒体协会将数字和流媒体称为“媒体内容的未来”，但数字媒体究竟是什么？数字媒体代表了艺术才能、创造力和技术技能的结合，用于设计从视频游戏动画到公司网站的所有内容。由于这个广泛的领域允许许多专业领域，数字媒体专业人员通常专注于一个专业领域。

With a wide array of applications, digital media is only becoming more relevant. A report by the World Economic Forum indicates the many benefits of digital media, including the facilitation of social interaction and civic participation, more efficient and flexible work environments, and ongoing education.
数字媒体拥有广泛的应用，其相关性只会越来越高。世界经济论坛的一份报告指出了数字媒体的诸多好处，包括促进社会互动和公民参与、提高工作环境的效率和灵活性，以及持续教育。

Digital media has become integral to day-to-day business operations. According to 2019 data from Pew Research Center, 90% of Americans use the internet, 28% of adults are nearly constantly online, and 96% of Americans own some type of cellphone.  This provides an avenue through which nonprofits, corporations, and government organizations can reach their target audience and open the door to more candid and frequent conversations.
数字媒体已成为日常业务运营中不可或缺的一部分。根据皮尤研究中心 2019 年的数据，90% 的美国人使用互联网，28% 的成年人几乎一直处于在线状态，96% 的美国人拥有某种类型的手机。这为非营利组织、公司和政府组织提供了一条途径，让他们可以接触到目标受众，并开启更坦诚、更频繁的对话。

When it comes to what digital media is for those pursuing a degree in the field, it’s about learning how to create products that are both functional and visually appealing. As a result, a typical digital media curriculum will allow students to gain a strong foundation in the following skill sets:
对于那些攻读数字媒体专业学位的人来说，数字媒体的意义在于学习如何创建既实用又赏心悦目的产品。因此，典型的数字媒体课程将让学生在以下技能方面打下坚实的基础：

In addition to these skills, graduates often develop an intimate familiarity with programming languages and tools like Adobe Suite, allowing them to create a portfolio of high-quality samples within their area of focus.
除了这些技能外，毕业生通常会深入了解编程语言和 Adobe Suite 等工具，从而能够在他们的关注领域内创建高质量的样本组合。

Because there are endless applications for digital media products, the demand for experts is experiencing an upward trend. Graduates with a degree in digital media often encounter a variety of career options. So, what can you do with a digital media degree?
由于数字媒体产品有无穷无尽的应用，对专家的需求正在经历上升趋势。拥有数字媒体学位的毕业生通常会遇到各种职业选择。那么，拥有数字媒体学位可以做什么？

When a developer creates a website, functionality is key. Developers rely on a keen understanding of coding languages to build websites that respond to a variety of devices and browsers. In addition, they take the end-user experience of the site into account, using the website should lead to a positive experience. Web designers tend to focus more on the visual aesthetic of the website, though they may also be proficient programmers.
当开发人员创建网站时，功能是关键。开发人员依靠对编码语言的深刻理解来构建响应各种设备和浏览器的网站。此外，他们还会考虑网站的最终用户体验，使用网站应该带来积极的体验。网页设计师往往更注重网站的视觉美感，尽管他们也可能是精通编程的人员。

Recent trends in web development and design indicate the value of this potential career path. A Pew Research Center report indicates that, as of 2019, 81% of Americans owned smartphones, providing them with immediate access to the internet, where they can engage with brands, purchase products, and participate in social media. Ensuring that websites and apps are eye-catching and practical is key. As more companies take their business online, the need for web developers is growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates 13% job growth in the profession between 2018 and 2028 as a direct response to an increase in consumer reliance on e-commerce and mobile devices. According to the BLS, web developers earn an annual median salary of $73,760.
最近的网络开发和设计趋势表明了这一潜在职业道路的价值。皮尤研究中心的一份报告显示，截至 2019 年，81% 的美国人拥有智能手机，这使他们可以立即访问互联网，在那里他们可以与品牌互动、购买产品并参与社交媒体。确保网站和应用程序引人注目且实用至关重要。随着越来越多的公司将业务转移到网上，对 Web 开发人员的需求也在不断增长。美国劳工统计局 (BLS) 预计，由于消费者对电子商务和移动设备的依赖性增加，该行业在 2018 年至 2028 年期间的就业增长率为 13%。根据 BLS 的数据，Web 开发人员的年收入中值为 73,760 美元。

What digital media is for branding and marketing experts is the means for identifying and representing their companies and products in the market. Digital media is integral to the success of businesses and includes the development of brand assets such as logos and color palettes, the design of promotional campaigns, and the integration of visual media into forward-facing content. This remains as important as ever in today’s digital world.
对于品牌和营销专家来说，数字媒体是识别和代表其公司和产品进入市场的手段。数字媒体对于企业的成功至关重要，包括开发品牌资产（如徽标和调色板）、设计促销活动以及将视觉媒体整合到面向未来的内容中。在当今的数字世界中，这一点仍然像以往一样重要。

Graduates interested in a career in digital branding and marketing often seek graphic design positions. New trends in color schemes, logo creation, and 3D imagery point to exciting opportunities in this field, which the BLS predicts will grow 3% between 2018 and 2028. Growth will vary by industry, with positions in computer systems and related fields growing 24%. Graphic designers earn an annual median salary of $52,110, according to the BLS. Graphic designers may also secure positions as art directors, who earn a median annual wage of $94,220 and often lead teams of graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers.
有兴趣从事数字品牌和营销职业的毕业生通常会寻求平面设计职位。色彩方案、徽标创建和 3D 图像的新趋势表明该领域存在激动人心的机会，美国劳工统计局预测该领域将在 2018 年至 2028 年间增长 3%。不同行业的增长率会有所不同，计算机系统和相关领域的职位增长率为 24%。根据美国劳工统计局的数据，平面设计师的年收入中值为 52,110 美元。平面设计师还可以担任艺术总监的职位，他们的年收入中值为 94,220 美元，并且通常领导平面设计师、插画家和摄影师团队。

Both television and film rely heavily on the skills of motion graphics experts. What is digital media for these creatives? Designers in this field develop storyboards and create animations that deliver cohesive visual effects. The advent of modern computer-generated imagery (CGI) has led to an increased demand for these digital media skills, with Comscore reporting growth in the film industry to a market value of $42.5 billion in 2019.
电视和电影都极大地依赖于动态图形专家的技能。对于这些创意人士来说，数字媒体是什么？该领域的的设计师开发故事板并创建动画，以提供连贯的视觉效果。现代计算机生成图像 (CGI) 的出现导致对这些数字媒体技能的需求增加，Comscore 报告称，2019 年电影行业的增长达到 425 亿美元的市场价值。

The gaming industry also looks to motion graphics experts to create realistic and seamless stories that are visually engaging. According to one report from SuperData, the video game industry alone was worth more than $120 billion in 2019. With gamers making use of a variety of platforms — including desktop computers, mobile devices, and consoles — there is no lack of opportunity for digital media experts who specialize in animation and motion graphics.
游戏行业也希望动态图形专家创造逼真且无缝的故事，在视觉上引人入胜。根据 SuperData 的一份报告，仅视频游戏行业在 2019 年就价值超过 1200 亿美元。随着游戏玩家使用各种平台——包括台式电脑、移动设备和游戏机——专门从事动画和动态图形的数字媒体专家不乏机会。

Motion graphics experts often seek multimedia artist or animator positions. Whether working in television, film, or video games, there is ample opportunity, with the BLS reporting the annual median salary of multimedia artists and animators as $75,270. The profession is expected to see employment growth of 4% between 2018 and 2028.
动态图形专家通常会寻找多媒体艺术家或动画师职位。无论是在电视、电影还是视频游戏中工作，都有很多机会，劳工统计局报告多媒体艺术家和动画师的年平均工资为 75,270 美元。预计该职业在 2018 年至 2028 年间就业增长率为 4%。

Art meets technology in the field of digital illustration. Whether creating posters, book jackets, fliers, or other materials, a keen eye for color, layout, and typography will go far. Digital illustrators may work with print or online media, and often integrate aspects of web design, animation, and graphic design into their work. They must be proficient with current technology and offer ample creative insight.
艺术在数字插图领域与技术相遇。无论是创建海报、书籍封面、传单还是其他材料，敏锐的色彩、布局和排版眼光都将大有帮助。数字插画家可能使用印刷或在线媒体，并且经常将网页设计、动画和图形设计的方面融入到他们的工作中。他们必须精通当前技术并提供充足的创造性见解。

Since digital illustrators can pursue careers in any number of fields, the opportunities to seek a career leveraging this skill set are numerous. Among the most common fields digital illustrators enter are marketing and web design, both of which project growth in the coming years. The BLS places the career of digital illustrators in the category of graphic designers.
由于数字插画师可以在许多领域追求职业，因此利用这一技能组寻求职业的机会很多。数字插画师进入的最常见领域包括营销和网页设计，这两个领域在未来几年都有望增长。劳工统计局将数字插画师的职业归类为平面设计师。

As employers gain a more complete understanding of what digital media is and recognize the value it brings to their organizations, those who work in this area could encounter new opportunities to advance in their careers. Aspiring designers who have a dual passion for art and technology may find that earning a degree in digital media can be a decisive step toward achieving their professional goals.
随着雇主对数字媒体的理解日益深入，并认识到其为组织带来的价值，从事该领域工作的人员可能会遇到新的职业发展机会。对艺术和技术充满双重热情的有志设计师可能会发现，获得数字媒体学位可能是实现其职业目标的决定性一步。

Discover how an online bachelor’s in digital media from Maryville University inspires students to build professional portfolios and gain hands-on experience that can be invaluable in future jobs.
了解玛丽维尔大学的在线数字媒体学士学位如何激励学生建立专业作品集并获得在未来工作中可能非常宝贵的实践经验。

Recommended Readings: 推荐读物：

Marketing in the 21st Century: How Does Digital Media Affect the Marketing Mix?
21 世纪的营销：数字媒体如何影响营销组合？

Design in the Digital Age: Must-Have Tools for Graphic Designers
数字时代的平面设计：平面设计师必备工具

A Guide to Activism in the Digital Age
数字时代行动主义指南

Sources: 来源：

Billboard, “2019 Global Box Office Revenue Hit Record $42.5B Despite 4 Percent Dip in U.S.”
Billboard，“2019 年全球票房收入创纪录达到 425 亿美元，尽管美国下降了 4%”External link:open_in_new

Digital Media Association, About DiMA
数字媒体协会，关于 DiMAExternal link:open_in_new

Pew Research Center, “10% of Americans Don’t Use the Internet. Who Are They?”
皮尤研究中心，“10% 的美国人不使用互联网。他们是谁？”External link:open_in_new

Pew Research Center, “About three-in-ten U.S. adults say they are ‘almost constantly’ online”
皮尤研究中心，“大约十分之三的美国成年人表示他们‘几乎一直’在线”External link:open_in_new

Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact SheetExternal link:open_in_new Superdata, 2019 Year In Review Digital Games and Interactive MediaExternal link:open_in_new
皮尤研究中心，移动事实表 Superdata，2019 年数字游戏和互动媒体回顾

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Art Directors
美国劳工统计局，艺术总监External link:open_in_new

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Graphic Designers
美国劳工统计局，平面设计师External link:open_in_new

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Multimedia Artists and Animators
美国劳工统计局，多媒体艺术家和动画师External link:open_in_new

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Web Developers
美国劳工统计局，网络开发人员External link:open_in_new

World Economic Forum, “Digital Media and Society — Benefits and Opportunities”
世界经济论坛，“数字媒体与社会——收益与机遇”External link:open_in_new