Kendall Digital Media Blog

Author: Bill Fischer professor of Digital Media, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. Image: Kendall Digital Media student: Nate Hearn (3D model simulation of a product concept)  Copyright   The ease of digital image capture has tested copyright law like no time before. It's the wild, wild west out there and the truth is, image, video and ausio reproduction is nearly impossible to control on the internet. Many artists and designers go to great lengths to protect their own images (with copyright notices and water marks) but routinely grab images for their own use without permission or giving credit, claiming to use it only for reference or changing it to a degree where it is no longer recognizable, and this can very well be a fair case of appropriation. But of course they would not want it done with their images. Fan Art (clear copies and derivations of protected images) are rampant yet tolerated and even encouraged by major media corpo...

Author: Bill Fischer,  professor of Digital Media, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. Image: Kendall Digital Media student Steve Heneveld: still-frame from a short film.  Jobs In Digital Media  New artists and designers must balance the breadth and depth of their skills. Small studios value the creatives that can wear two, three or more hats well, where large studios can afford to have specialists with a deep tool box in a single area. Most studios that lie geographically between the East and West coasts fall into the small to mid-size category and are not usually focused in entertainment arts. If a young creative wants to work in the entertainment industry, moving to the one of the coasts should be on their to-do lists. Although there are some artists and designers serving that industry on a freelance basis from outside of those centers. Also, advertising, education, training and information media is become more enter...

Author: Bill Fischer professor of Digital Media, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. Image: Kendall Digital Media student: Sarah Fifarek (screen capture from a stop-motion animation)  Types of Employment   When choosing a Digital Media profession, it's important to consider the types of employment that are available. For instance, if a person would like a steady job, Illustration may not be the best choice, because it is typically a freelance profession. However, adding graphic/interactive design or animation skills can help one find work in game and advertising studios. They can hire full time artists and designers as they tend to have steady project backlogs. Video, Motion Graphics and Interactive designers have the most opportunities in today's marketplace. However, in all types, it's not unusual for a new professional to work freelance for a year or two, gaining professional experience and building a professional portfolio, prio...