careers in the arts

joseph meyerhoff center for career development

interactive and graphic design

Graphic and Interactive designers can freelance on their own, work for a small to mid-size design firm, or work for a major
corporation or organization’s communications department. Staff designers within organizations may design and develop
audio-visual support for presentations, annual reports, manuals, catalogs, websites, and interactive exhibitions.
Internships are especially popular in these fast-paced fields, and are crucial to meeting important designers and staying on
top of recent technology and design trends. Our interns find our vast listings of graphic design positions very helpful, and
some are offered paid positions after graduation.
Specific titles include:
Typography Designer Cartographer
Visual Interface Designer Web Designer
Advertisting Designer Creative Director
Logo/Corporate Identity Designer Outdoor Advertisting Designer
Art Director

illustration
Many MICA alumni from a range of majors choose to pursue careers in illustration. Illustrators create work for book
jackets, picture books, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, posters, CD covers, graphic novels, corporate publications,
websites, concept art, interactive gaming, and animation. Staff as well as freelance positions working with advertising
agencies, print and web publications, and colleges or universities are just a few common options. Internships are a won-
derful way to observe and learn the differences between freelancing and staff illustration.
Specialized fields of illustration include:
Editorial Technical
Courtroom Nature
Medical Textile Pattern

environmental /product design

Every consumer venue and product has a designer, whether it’s an object, a piece of furniture, an interior space or archi-
tecture, or an entire city. Artists may work as consultants to industry, as freelance designers, or as a staff designer for an
architect or manufacturer. Designers may create models in a variety of materials. Exhibitions for conventions, museums,
schools, retail stores, corporations, and public spaces demand qualified designers, perhaps with a background in 3D
design. The exhibit designer at the National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor is an alumni, as is a Maryland State Parks
exhibit designer.
Some design job titles include: Industrial Designer
Environmental Designer Exhibit/Display Designer
Product Designer Furniture Designer
Interior Architect/Designer CAD Systems Professional
Toy Designer Package Designer
Landscape Architect Architectural Model Maker

Maryland Institute College Of Art - Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development
410-225-2420 - f 410-225-2528 - [email protected] - www.mica.edu/careerdevelopment - www.MICAnetwork.com
 careers in the arts
joseph meyerhoff center for career development

museums /galleries
Many alumni have pursued careers in museums, non-profit organizations and commercial galleries. They may specialize
in curating, art handling, conservation, exhibiting, education or arts-administration.
Job titles in this industry include:
Museum Director Program/Event Coordinator
Registrar Educator
Preparator Exhibition Designer/Coordinator
Curator Volunteer Coordinator
Conservation Specialists Gallery Owner

photography
Images are everywhere these days and high quality editorial images are in demand by marketing departments in large
corporations aw well as in the smallest boutique businesses, in industries from fashion to food to medicine.
Specific titles include:
Commercial Photographer Architectural Photographer
Product Photographer Aerial Photographer
Food Photographer Photojournalist
Fashion Photographer Medical/Forensic Photographer
Photo Editor Studio Owner

fine art
A fine artist usually maintains their own studio, which they operate as a small business. They may sell work through gal-
leries, interior designers, consultants, agents and take commissions for work as well. They may also exhibit in museums
or non-profit venues. Grants, residencies, a Masters in Fine Arts, and supplemental employment may feature into this
career path.
Your title could be:
Artist-in-Residence Muralist
Exhibiting Artist Master Printer
Public Artist/Sculptor

crafts
Many alumni have started their own businesses around the making of fine craft. Whether you are interested in glass
blowing, printmaking, furniture design, or jewelry, there are local artisans and craftspeople willing to sponsor internships
or just answer questions about establishing your own business and marketing your products.
Common craft artists are:
Ceramist Furniture Maker
Jewelry Designer Glass Craftsperson
Weaver Faux Finisher
Metalsmith Paper Maker
Woodworker/Carver Book Artist

Maryland Institute College Of Art - Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development
410-225-2420 - f 410-225-2528 - [email protected] - www.mica.edu/careerdevelopment - www.MICAnetwork.com
 careers in the arts
joseph meyerhoff center for career development

ART EDUCATION
Students interested in a career as an elementary/secondary educator often enroll in MICA’s MAT (Master of Arts
in Teaching) Program, which is a cornerstone 5th additional year to prepare MICA artists to teach K-12 grades.
Additionally, some students pursue teaching in private schools, which do not necessarily require certification. There are
recruiters who visit campus in the spring semester to assist our graduating students in being placed in such positions.
To teach at the college level, a Master of Fine Arts Degree is generally required. An MFA degree takes about 2-3
years to acquire, and you can find out about such programs in the Career Library.
Your title could be:
Art Teacher Museum Educator
College Professor Workshop Instructor
Department Chair Curriculum Writer

film and theater

Whether you are a painter, a sculptor, a fiber artist, or digital media artist, many of the skills you have aquired as a student
at MICA can be transferd to the Film, Television, and Theater Industries. These jobs are often freelance or union posi-
tions and can be an exciting way to put your talents to use, as productions are constantly changing. You may have an op-
portunity to travel with a production. Many of the small theaters around Baltimore offer internships to MICA students.
Titles in this field include:
Scenic Designer Wardrobe Designer
Lighting Designer Costume Designer
Property/Shop Technician Draper
Scenic Painter Makeup Artist
Set Construction Technician Puppet Designer
Cinemetographer Effects Specialist

textiles and fashion

Students majoring in Illustration, Drawing, Graphic Design and of course Fibers have transferred their art-making into
this field, from starting their own clothing line to development of new woven materials, to pattern design. Job titles in
this indusrty include:
Fashion Designer Textile/Fabric Designer
Fashion Illustrator Costume Designer
Draper Weaver

gaming and animation

This growing field is a natural fit for many MICA alumns with a background in 3d-design, graphic illustration and ani-
mation. These skills can be utilitzed in the gaming and commercial film industry, and in developing mobile applications.
Your tile could be:
Production Illustrator Project Manager
Game Designer/Artist Animator
Multimedia Developer Concept Artist
Title Designer Storyboard Illustrator

Maryland Institute College Of Art - Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development
410-225-2420 - f 410-225-2528 - [email protected] - www.mica.edu/careerdevelopment - www.MICAnetwork.com
 careers in the arts
joseph meyerhoff center for career development

art publications
Artists with an art history background and strong writing skills may be interested in writing for newspapers, radio, televi-
sion, magazines, and blogs. Art critics might specialize in a specific art form, serve a particular trade, or respond to the
needs of the public.
Specific titles include:
Art Writer
Art Critic
Publicist

art services
MICA alumns may find themselves in the Arts Services Industry, which can be very rewarding. Access to the arts is
increasingly difficult in tough economic times and there are several careers that bring arts to low inclome communities,
or offer people rehabilitation through the arts. Titles within the category of Arts Services could be:
Art Therapist Art Librarian
Community Art Programmer Community Artist-In-Residence
Grant Writer Educator/Instructor

Maryland Institute College Of Art - Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development
410-225-2420 - f 410-225-2528 - [email protected] - www.mica.edu/careerdevelopment - www.MICAnetwork.com