What does a Video Game Designer Do?

Video game designers are responsible for creating a virtual gaming world, including the storyline, artwork, and character bios. They are also in charge of determining the mission of the video game and any challenges that players encounter.

Preparation: Video Game Designer

To stand out in the competitive gaming industry, an education in computer programming will help you land a job as a video game designer. Since there are many different facets of game video game design including character development, art design, and programming, invest in an education in whichever area of game design you choose to specialize in. An education in math, animation, storyboarding, computer simulation, and computer programming, such as C++, is valuable.

Personality Profile: Video Game Designer

Video game designers need creativity, good work ethic, vision, and strong communication skills in order to thrive in the industry. As you might have guessed, a love of video games helps.

By the Numbers: Video Game Designer

• Video game designers held about 209,000 jobs in 2008.
• There are 72,600 projected job openings for video game designers over the next decade.

Video Game Designer Perks

As a video game designer, you can bring your game concepts to life for the enjoyment of countless others.

Show Me the Money: Video Game Designer Salary

Video game designers with more than 6 years of experience made an impressive $37/hour and $77,010 annually in 2008. Designers with who had between three to six years of industry experience made $57,000 while those with less than three years experience made $44,000.

To find the perfect video game designer program for you so you can launch a successful gaming career, visit My Colleges and Careers.

This weekend, Prince of Persia joins the ranks of video games turned Hollywood blockbusters along with the likes of Tombraider, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and Mortal Combat. Since video games typically lack any significant plot or character development, films based off of video games give room for lots of flexibility in the story development, but often fall short.

Prince of Persia film critics had this to say:

“It’s sort of pointless,” says Amy Biancolli with the Houston Chronicle. “Along with The Mummy, Aladdin, Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Book of Exodus, Lawrence of Arabia gets ripped off, I mean referenced, quite a bit.”

“Stop the presses,” says Dean Obeidallah with the Huffington Post, “because apparently we have all missed one big thing: The Prince of Persia was a white guy! I have a dream … that there will be a day when Hollywood makes a movie about the Middle East and actually casts Middle Eastern people in the starring roles. There are some great Middle Eastern actors out there who would bring a realism and depth to these characters that a non-Middle Eastern actor could never do.”

Did you see Prince of Persia this weekend? What is your review of Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest film? Was it worth the price of admission and popcorn?

Gemma Arterton, the female lead in Disney’s Prince of Persia movie, dazzled on the red carpet in a nude crepe georgette number from Elie Saab’s Spring 2010 collection. Known for his elegant and dreamlike evening wear utilizing soft edges and beading, this dress is right in line with Saab’s characteristic style.

If you have a knack for color, line, and design and would love to create red carpet gowns like this one, find a fashion design program in your area on My Colleges and Careers!

On Wednesday, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor spoke with ABC News about a great new learning tool for children — video games.

“They’re fabulous,” she told George Stephanopoulos this week. “And we’ve had tests done. And the students go up 20 percent in their knowledge by playing those games. It’s just incredible.”

Since middle school aged children are spending 40 hours on average in front of a screen, Justice O’Connor says, “if we can capture just part of that time, to get ‘em in front of a computer screen to play these games, they’re going to learn. [T]hey’re fun. The games are great.”

Integrating modern technology such as this into today’s teaching methods is an effective way to teach the up and coming computer-savvy generation. A free resource, both teachers and students will benefit from these educational video games.

If you’re passionate about teaching with technology or developing video games that can be used for educational purposes, visit My Colleges and Careers to find a program in your area.

What does a Web Designer Do?

A web designer designs, creates, and maintains websites on the internet for companies, organizations, and public figures. Using languages and programs such as HTML, Javascript, and Dreamweaver, web designers create memorable websites that can be used as an online resource, for promotion, and display.

Preparation: Web Designer

In order to become a web designer, people can receive training through vocational schools or an associate’s degree to gain a comprehensive understanding of computers, design, and the coding languages on which websites are built. Web designers typically require some sort of on-the-job training as well.

Personality Profile: Web Designer

The web design industry attracts people from both spectrums, with artistic and analytic thinkers represented in the field. Web design has procedures to follow but also allows for creative design opportunities as well. Anyone considering a career in web design should have an ability to cope with high stress situations, solve problems, innovate and bring new ideas to the table.

By the Numbers: Web Designer

• Web designers held about 209,000 jobs in 2008.
• There are 72,600 projected job openings for web designer over the next decade.

Web Designer Perks

Web designers enjoy independence in their work and a feeling of achievement upon completing a website that receives profitable traffic and business.

Show Me the Money: Web Designer Salary

Web designers make approximately $37/hour and $77,010 annually.

To find the perfect web design program for you so you can launch a successful web design career, visit My Colleges and Careers.

What does a Photographer Do?

A photographer captures images through a digital or SLR camera, effectively preserving memories, pictures, and stories. An understanding of camera equipment, such as shutter speeds, apertures, and lighting is highly valuable. With the development of digital cameras, many photographers are switching over to digital mediums, though a knowledge of film processing is important. Thanks to digital photo editing capabilities, photographers can edit their photos after the fact and add special effects to enhance their photographs.

Preparation: Photographer

In order to become a professional photographer, there are college photography programs that include education in equipment, lighting, composition, and design. A working knowledge of Photoshop is critical for the photographer to be able to tweak their photos. If the photographer is planning to operate their own business, it is important to develop necessary business skills, such as marketing, accounting, and sales. While some photography skills can be self learned, having the necessary qualifications helps professional photographers to stand out above the rest.

Personality Profile: Photographer

Creative and artistic individuals who have a great eye and enjoy working with people are drawn to photography. People who can provide excellent customer service, have a knack for working with technology, and skills in sales and marketing make great photographers.

By the Numbers: Photographer

• Photographers held about 152,000 jobs in 2008, with more than 50% self employed.
• Photographers with salaried jobs are employed by commercial photography studios, newspapers, magazines, and ad agencies.
• There are 48,000 projected job openings over the next decade.

Photographer Perks

Photographers can benefit from working with a variety of different people, flexible hours, and be self-employed.

Show Me the Money: Photographer Salary

Photographers make approximately $14.31/hour and $29,770 annually with the top 10% earning upwards of $62,000. Taking into consideration that photographers who are self-employed need to acquire their own photography equipment, they typically make less than photographers who are salaried.

To find the perfect photographer program for you so you can launch a successful photography career, visit My Colleges and Careers.

For people who like to travel, help others, and be independent, becoming a licensed massage therapist is a great career choice.

Known to relieve pain, stress, and aid healing, massage therapy is a non-evasive technique that compliments western medicine. With studies in the massage form of acupressure, aromatherapy, shiatsu, and reflexology, among others, massage is a fascinating area of study that integrates effective healing techniques from the east and west.

Licensed massage therapists have many opportunities to practice their art upon graduation. For individuals who like to travel, they can sign contracts with cruise ships and build their career while traveling around the world. For entrepreneurial people, licensed massage therapists can do freelance work and make good money with hourly rates starting from $65/hour on average. Massage therapy compliments other alternative healing methods such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and physical therapy, providing licensed massage therapists with the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals and benefit from frequent referral business.

Massage therapy student Rina Lang from California has always felt strongly about health and decided to invest in a massage therapy career as a stepping stone for her medical degree. Says Lang, massage therapy is a “form of healing without going through the lifetime career of a doctor. My main reason is to help people out and make good money while focusing in on my studies.”

Massage therapy is a rewarding career that enables professionals to make a positive impact in peoples’ lives and health. Thanks to accelerated learning program, you can become a licensed massage therapist in as little as one year without going through a traditional four-year university education. To start a massage therapy program, check out My Colleges and Careers to find a program in your area!

Shows like CSI are having an effect on the general public. Criminals are becoming smarter, and so are juries, according to the “CSI effect.” But because we’re accustomed to seeing a clean cut investigation leading to a quick incarceration on TV, juries are having higher expectations for evidence in the courtroom. And it’s having an effect on the criminal justice system.

The term “CSI effect” was coined in 2008 by American criminologist Monica Robbers, calling it “the phenomenon in which jurors hold unrealistic expectations of forensic evidence and investigation techniques, and have an increased interest in the discipline of forensic science.” Due to this increased interest from juries in forensic evidence, crime labs are seeing a big increase in their work load to produce evidence, and unless undeniable evidence is present, juries are hesitant to convict criminals.

But the CSI effect has positive benefits as well. In a murder trial in Virginia, the judge was asked by a juror whether tests had been done on a cigarette butt for possible DNA matches to the defendant. Because the DNA test results had not been introduced as evidence, when they were, the defendant was pardoned and released.

If the CSI effect has you itching to jump start a criminal justice career, you’re not alone. Universities across the nation that offer forensic science programs have experienced record growth by potential students interested in a career in forensic science. Classes like forensics medicine that were never well attended now have standing room only. Learn more about a criminal justice career program today!

Fashion experts say that all color is present somewhere in nature. Japanese clothing designer Issey Miyake took that to heart while designing his Spring 2009 collection. He sent his creative direct, Dai Fujiwara, on an expedition to the Amazon rainforest to capture the exact color palette of the jungle to be used in his next collection.

Fujiwara and his team took thousands of color fabric swatches into the Amazon on the color hunting expedition and tested them against the flowers, river, mud, bark, and leaves. Their method of testing a color swatch’s authenticity was this: if the color melted away when placed over nature’s backdrop, rather than calling attention to itself, it was a genuine color of the forest.

While speaking at the Design Indaba Conference, a world renown design event, Fujiwara shared with the audience his surprise in the colors they found on the color hunting expedition to the Amazon. Expecting to find bold and bright colors, the palette they discovered was softer, brimming with muted tones instead.

These pieces from the Spring 2009 Issey Miyake collection showcase the rich colors of the Amazon rainforest, reminiscent of the vines and flowing water found in the jungle they were inspired by.

The Issey Miyake Spring 2009 collection got this attention at Paris Fashion Week.

The fashion design industry is abounding with creativity, allowing designers and their teams to integrate unique and compelling ideas in their creations. If you are an artistic individual that loves color, fashion, design, and originality, consider a fashion design career today! Who knows, the next time we hear of a fashion designer doing a color hunting expedition in an exotic part of the world for their next collection, it could be led by you.

Is TV Making Criminals Smarter?

We’ve all watched shows like CSI in which we witness the crime, investigation, and evidence which leads to the conviction of the criminal, all within the hour. While not entirely realistic, investigators are beginning to wonder if watching these types of crime scene investigation shows are actually making criminals smarter.

Pittsburgh police Sgt. Paul McComb, the head of the department’s crime unit, believes TV is changing the way that criminals behave because they’ve become aware of what evidence can be connected to them through criminal investigation TV shows. “These suspects are very cognizant about what they’re doing and what evidence they’re leaving behind,” McComb says. “Most of them are already very cunning, but CSI and other shows show them how to be better.”

With rapists reportedly wearing gloves and having their victims shower to remove DNA evidence, the FBI’s calculations show that the number of rape cases being solved by the police have gone down in the last ten years. While 51.3% of rapes were solved a decade ago nationwide, in 2005 the number had decreased to 41.3%. The numbers support Sgt. McComb’s belief that TV is making criminals smarter. “When the secrets get out about how we solve crimes, the criminals change their habits.”

If criminals are becoming smarter, then law enforcement need to be as well. With over 40,000 projected job openings and faster than average growth projected for this industry over the next decade, charting a career as a police detective is an excellent choice. Be part of the solution and learn more about a criminal justice career today!