Tutorial Exercise (Week 9)

 Referring to Chapter 8: Multimedia Skills (lecture slides), identify the typical members of a multimedia project team and describe the skills that they need in their work.  Describe several ways of categorizing the skills, for example, how each skill is related to project management, to design, to media, and to programming.  

Project Manager

Project management is essentially the co-ordination of resources towards the finishing of projects. It entails defining precisely what the multimedia product or system should be able to do, the hardware and software required, and planning the overall production and resource allocation.

Work Activities

Multimedia is the communication of information using a variety of media, for example words, sounds, images, interactive graphics, modeling and web design.

A Project Manager co-ordinates and controls the combined efforts of a team of multimedia/systems designers, programmers, writers and support personnel.

Project Managers oversee the entire running and successful completion of the project at hand. 

This involves leasing with each person involved in the completion of the project including customers or clients who may have ordered the product or service that the team is working on. The number of staff reporting to a Project Manager on a development project varies, depending on the size of the project.

The Project Manager budgets for personnel requirements and other direct costs. This cost analysis is discussed with the client company before agreement is reached and final contracts are signed.

The Project Manager has responsibility for various tasks, including: establishing clear targets and timescales to implement the requirements within budget and quality parameters; administration of the project, assessing production against targets, liaising with the client and, if necessary, refining processes.

He/she makes decisions on content, informs others and is well informed of all aspects of the project. It is up to the Project Manager to ensure design quality and consistency. Project Managers can work long hours, particularly when a deadline is approaching or problems are encountered.

The Project Manager can often be considered the producer of the multimedia product and as such the role has more in common with a video/film producer than with a Project Manager in the software industry. A Project Managers' work can be very varied and unstructured

The role of a Project Manager 

To lead the production of multimedia tools from design through to launch (including post-launch assessment as necessary).  Specifications for each project will be based on the strategic, creative and business-related requirements agreed to with the client.

This is a dynamic, challenging role in which the ideal candidate will be capable of understanding the diverse needs of our clients and work collaboratively with a team to develop innovative interactive solutions that will achieve quantifiable results for their school/business.  The ability and desire to embrace our video production capabilities and leverage their tremendous value in online, multimedia experiences is a must.  Qualified candidates will understand the dynamics and managerial needs of multimedia projects, be enthused to be part of an innovative team, and adhere to the following responsibilities:

•              Oversee internal production of multiple projects simultaneously

•              Manage design/programming personnel for each project

•              Offer creative input during discovery and design

•              Work effectively with department leadership, designers and programmers

•              Interface with clients to provide regular updates to job status, upcoming milestone, and needed approvals

•              Assist in presentation of deliverables to clients

•              Implement strategic solutions to meet client needs

•              Craft detailed business/technical specifications for projects

•              Report status and progress of projects to management/sales regularly

•              Provide clients with budget-conscious, quality-driven results

•              Achieve project goals and milestone on-time and on/under budget

•              Document all work – billable and non-billable time

Multimedia Designer

Multimedia designers are professionals who are responsible for the creation of high quality websites, products like CD's, DVD's, special effects in video games and corporate logos. The best part of this job is that it requires high level of creativity and practical knowledge, and the one having these qualities has unlimited scope for growth and career advancement. Openings for multimedia designers and their salaries are growing at a fast rate according to the experts in the industry.

Multimedia designers are professionals who can work on multiple projects such as preparation of education-related software, website designing or even video game development. They are required to work with different types of clients and hence it becomes imperative for them to interact with them personally and understand their requirements thoroughly. The actual process of designing starts after this and for completing it successfully, multimedia designers are required to work with the following professionals

• ·         Animation experts
• ·         Programming professionals
• ·         Sound engineers
• ·         Writers

Multimedia designers create videos and computer based layouts for their clients and provide good technical support or assistance to the clients. A lot of technical aspects are involved when audio or video projects are prepared for customers. They are known to co-ordinate live video projects which in itself is a big responsibility. They use their expertise in technology to deliver quality outputs. Their expertise in the creation of products like CD- ROMs and DVD's, which are very useful in mass education and entertainment is unmatchable. Their job typically requires them to work in the product development department. Some designers specialize in the preparation and delivery of print training manuals and logos for corporate. The chief multimedia designing team leader shoulders the important responsibility of distributing work among his team members and checking it for errors, also with guiding them well. Generally, professionals in this field find jobs in television stations, ad agencies and web development organizations. Having said this, most of them are seen working in the web development sector.

Interface Designer Responsibilities

Interface is the tool that allows the interaction between a system or machine and the user. Through this tool, the user is able to operate the system and perform the required functions. There are two types of interfaces: hardware and software interfaces. The main use of both these interfaces is to facilitate smooth functioning of different operations. A person who works for the designing and development of these interfaces is called interface designer, responsibilities of whom are to provide excellent interfaces for the systems, applications, or other machines.