Mobile Designer

What a Mobile Designer Does

Phones are a lot fancier these days than they have been in the past and with millions upon millions of Americans owning smart phones, it only makes sense that there have to be individuals that create the programs and advertisements these phones use. Mobile designers, or telecommunications designers, develop the advertisements and graphics that are used on mobile devices like cellular phones. They must know about a wide range of computer design software as well as how to code in HTML, XML, Javascript, FLEX and actionscript. In addition, mobile designers need to know a good deal about the workings of cell phones, from screen resolution to operating systems. In a normal workday, these designers might create user interfaces, test product compliance, and ensure their work is visible to those with different phones, browsers and carriers. They must know their stuff not only when it comes to design and advertising but with regard to programming and technology as well.

How to Become a Mobile Designer

There is no one set career path to becoming a mobile designer, but a design degree from a university or college can be a good place to start. Choose a bachelor's degree program in graphic or web design for the best career opportunities. When possible, students should take courses that will help them not only understand computer-aided design and the suite of products offered by Adobe and Macromedia but also that teach both basic and advanced web programming. These will be essential skills for those who want to take their careers mobile. Additionally coursework in programming won't hurt either can help help make working in the industry easier. Students should try to find internships in related fields to gain practice or create and release their own mobile applications. This will help to build a bigger and better portfolio and make it easier to find work upon graduation. Graduates hoping to work in mobile design may do freelance work or find employment with corporations, businesses and gaming companies.

Career Outlook for Mobile Designers

With the explosion in popularity of phones like the iPhone and the Evo, telecommunications design is one of the fastest growing design fields out there. It's hard to pinpoint an exact job increase because this job is a relatively new entry to the list of possible careers for art and design students, yet as the telecommunications industry grows so will opportunities to work within it. With mobile applications selling in the hundreds of millions and companies scrambling to create their own apps, advertisements and websites catering to cell phone use, it's unlikely that the growth trend in this field will slow anytime soon. Like most related fields, experience and education will play a big role in finding work, as will location. Some areas simply have more developers and companies looking to take advantage of mobile design services. Salaries for mobile designers are around $52,000 a year.