5 Careers that Bridge TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS

By Hannah Peeler

echnology and the arts are often considered to be on opposite ends of the spectrum from each other. Because of this, many people think they have to choose one or the other when they pick their career path. If you are a technology wiz and love the creativity of working with the arts, check out these five careers that bridge technology and the arts, creating the best of both worlds!

Audio Engineer

If you love music but don’t necessarily have the vocal skills to win The Voice , there are other ways you can take your passion for music and turn it into a career, like becoming an audio engineer. Audio engineers use technology to record, produce, or mix an audio in order to make it the most aesthetically pleasing version of itself. Some specific career paths in audio engineering include:

• Working directly with singers in a recording studio

• Creating and manipulating audio for video games

• Managing the sound systems at live events, like concerts or plays

Interior Designer

Interior design is a great field for those who have an eye for taking a space and making it unique, and a knack for working with computers. The benefit of being an interior designer in today’s technology-focused world is you don’t even have to see a room in person to be able to redesign it.

Interior designers are able to combine art and technology by using online sketching apps, virtual staging tools, and 3D modeling tools in order to take a space and make it look completely new.

In interior design, you can pick a niche to specialize in, like working exclusively with kitchens by helping clients choose the best layout, cabinets, and appliances for the size and aesthetics of their space. Or you could become an entrepreneur by creating your own interior design business and helping people in your community create their dream living or work space.

Production Designer

If you have dreamed of working in Hollywood but don’t want to be the face on the screen, look no further than a career as a production designer. As a production designer, you are the one in charge of making the set of a movie, tv show, or play look authentic. The production designer is in charge of more than just the props behind the actors; they also help with costume design, lighting, camera angles, and much more that is often overlooked by viewers. Production designers often utilize similar technological tools as interior designers to help stage their vision.

Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are the minds behind the ads you see on Instagram, the flyers you look at for upcoming festivals, and the brochures you read for summer programs. Graphic designers communicate ideas using decorative elements that create an impact on their viewers. The rise of social media in the last decade has given graphic designers a whole new playing field, but they aren’t limited to working in social media. Graphic designers are utilized in almost every industry and some common jobs include:

• Label or logo designers

• Advertising/marketing designers

• Product packaging designers

Urban Planner

Urban planners take the art of architecture and combine it with technology in order to make our cities more efficient for public use. One big way urban planners use technology is by using virtual reality. Virtual reality helps them visualize different urban designs to see what will be the best use of the city’s space. Urban planners are instrumental in our society because they have the ability to take into effect big issues like rapid population growth, lack of public transportation, and climate change in order to make our cities a better place.

These jobs are just the tip of the iceberg of careers that combine technology and the arts. If none of these careers are what you’re looking for, don’t get discouraged! There are plenty of careers out there; keep researching and you will be sure to find your dream job that bridges technology and the arts.