Media Designers: who they are, what they do, and how to become one

Who they are and what they do

A Media Designer is a professional who deals with technology, creativity, and communication. Endowed with a great innovative spirit, this professional creates eye-catching multimedia content to promote commercial products and services.

Who they are and what they do

A Media Designer is a creative professional who tells stories and conveys targeted messages through the design and production of digital content, including graphics, sound, video, and animation.

They work on visual communication projects for different types of media, including websites, apps, advertising, and social media, creating engaging experiences. Their ability to combine visual and sound elements in an original and innovative manner makes them an essential component of any modern communication strategy.

Media Designers are also intricately involved in the creation of user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX), with the goal of developing interactive solutions that will improve usability and engagement of apps and games. This role requires an in-depth understanding of users’ needs, to translate them into functional and visually appealing designs, making navigation pleasant and intuitive.

Role and responsibility

The Media Designer’s job begins with a thorough analysis and understanding of the customer’s requirements, in order to lay out the specific objectives of the project by identifying its needs and target audience. This planning phase is crucial to ensure that the final product is aesthetically pleasing and functional and consistent with the requirements.

The ability to manipulate and combine advanced graphic design and video editing software tools also allows Designesr to create interactive content ranging from static graphics and animated videos to interactive infographics and elements of augmented reality.

Media Designers work closely with a multidisciplinary team, which may include Graphic Designers, Web Developers, SEO Specialists, Copywriters, and film-makers. This collaboration is essential for ensuring that all aspects of the media project are consistent and optimised for the various distribution channels, such as press, social media, websites and video sharing platforms.

Through a mix of creativity, technical skills, and strategic expertise, this professional figure plays a key brand communication role on the digital landscape, rendering the messages visually impactful to leave a lasting impression.

Career and salary

Media Designers are employed by communication agencies, design studios, and media production companies. They can also opt to begin their careers as freelancers, and collaborate with multiple companies. Specific training and good practical preparation are important for succeeding and standing out as competent figures in this field.

Due to the ever evolving field of digital technologies and the increasing demand for engaging visual content, there are more and more career opportunities in the field of multimedia design. Salaries vary depending on the field of activity and level of experience, and increase over time.

IED Open Day - September 2025

Skills and training

A Media Designer should have a good combination of technical, artistic, and communication skills.

The essential skills required of a Media Designer include mastery of design and editing software, such as Adobe Creative Suite and video editing software, and an in-depth understanding of the principles of visual and interactive design. As well as technical skills, these professional figures should also have excellent communication skills to translate the customer’s requirements into effective creative solutions.

Training in this field can include degrees or diplomas in multimedia design or visual communication, which provide both practical skills and a theoretical foundation that will prepare the students to successfully navigate the world of Media Design.

In a world where technological developments mean constant professional updating, continuous learning is key to remaining competitive in the market.

The Media Designer training course at IED offers an interdisciplinary approach, which combines media design with skills in other related fields, such as graphic design, programming, and digital marketing. Thanks to an educational approach based on both theory and practice, supported by workshops and actual projects, the students gain the skills needed to excel in a variety of fields, from app and game design, to the creation of digital advertising campaigns, and the development of innovative social media solutions.

How to become a Media Designer

With an approach that balances theory and practice, IED prepares its students to enter the job market with all the skills and knowledge needed to meet the challenges of today’s digital market.

If you are looking to pursue a career in multimedia design and become a successful Media Designer, explore the training options offered by IED, and start your career in visual communication today!

Discover some projects of the Interaction Design and User Experience area students

Interaction Design and User Experience

Cagliari

Final projects / thesis projects
Baldo - An Experiential Game to Discover Sardinia’s Villages

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

Didactic projects
Heliopolis

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Dove si scontrano le pietre

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Soundain

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Blackout

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Atherea

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Athena

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
al-halqa

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Lēthē

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
La Camera dell’Ozio

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Plenilunio

Product and Service Design

Milan

Didactic projects
Moleskine

Product and Service Design

Milan

Didactic projects
Manetti and Roberts

Product and Service Design

Milan

Didactic projects
TVS

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

Mosaic of Strength

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

FOR.MA
Various mobile phones with the Marbem health app for Brazilian sailors, an IED Barcelona project.

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Final projects / thesis projects
Marbem – Wellness in Maritime
Building with a sign advertising the YapTrap app

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Final projects / thesis projects
YapTrap

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Rome

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
NEFIM  IED Barcelona - Estudiante: Noemi Gangi

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Final projects / thesis projects
NEFIM
MindJourney  IED Barcelona - Estudiante: Petra Ballerini

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Final projects / thesis projects
MindJourney

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Echo

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Per-Severance

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Unabducted

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Luce d’Abissi - Abyss’ Light

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Fragile Melody

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Hunter

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Strawberry Cake

Interaction Design and User Experience

Cagliari

Special projects
Orgosolo's Branding and Visual Identity

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Didactic projects
HARVEST

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Didactic projects
Origo
“Tomorrow’s dream” IED Barcelona – Estudiante: Ksenia Gecse 2024 NFT diseñado para los Premios GrausTIC 2024

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Tomorrow’s dream

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

Final projects / thesis projects
Urban Secrets

Product and Service Design

Rome

Final projects / thesis projects
Groovery

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

Final projects / thesis projects
Humanity

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

Final projects / thesis projects
Code Glyphs

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Rome

Final projects / thesis projects
Derive

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

Final projects / thesis projects
Heroes - The series

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Thesis Project with Nexi Group - Master in User Experience Design | IED Milano

Product and Service Design

Milan

Master's Program in Design – Innovation, Strategy and Product - Graduation Day 2023 | IED Milano

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

AMPHIBIA

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

YOROI

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

Alice nella Città

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

reSOUND

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Rome

MACHINES

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

COLOSSEUM ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Rome

Mira

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

Computer Generated Memories

Visual and Interactive Arts

Rome

Storie intorno al fuoco

Product and Service Design

Milan

IED Thesis Project: Raf Point as your cocoon

Product and Service Design

Milan

Didactic projects
IED x FIRING: Outside The Box

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Rome

Artifex

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Insectstein

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
A Spiky Situation

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Drifting Littering

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Follow The Solitude

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Intrusi ad Alta Quota

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Mecha Buff

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Risveglio

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Besa - Resti Spezzati

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Take off from home

Product and Service Design

Milan

BLOOM The inclusive travel website
MUTEK  IED Barcelona – Estudiantes: Anastasia Lapotko, Nisan Baskin, Mine Surger, Myriam Chamoun  Thomas Butzke, Sidhasila Nayak

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Final projects / thesis projects
MUTEK

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
ARIA - Sound Design and CG Animation Thesis Project

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Fenrir

Product and Service Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
SOS TRAVEL

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Wayward

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
The Darkest Night

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
NOT sleeping beauty

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

2020+20

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
C'erano una volta i Tang Bing

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Eden

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Alarith

Interaction Design and User Experience

Barcelona

Sono

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Nest05

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
HOAX

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Echoes From Cryo

Animation, 3D and Game Design

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
Seeds of Eternity

Interaction Design and User Experience

Cagliari

RESHAPE

Interaction Design and User Experience

Cagliari

MUSEY

Interaction Design and User Experience

Cagliari

ENCHANTED SUN

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

Noia (boredom) - Sound and Video Design Thesis Project

Video, Cinema and Sound Design

Milan

LA GAZZA LADRA (The magpie) - Sound and Video Design Thesis Project

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

Hybe

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

AURORA

Interaction Design and User Experience

Milan

IED x NeN

Creative and Art Direction

Rome

STICKY MIND

Creative and Art Direction

Rome

SITUATION

Creative and Art Direction

Rome

PARKLI

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

Unlock Museum

Interaction Design and User Experience

Rome

MOONGAZE

Product and Service Design

Milan

IED for Vitasnella

Product and Service Design

Milan

IED for Tequila Clase Azul

Product and Service Design

Milan

IED Final Project - Design innovation, strategy and product

Product and Service Design

Milan

STEM KITS

Visual and Interactive Arts

Barcelona

I AM YOU