A production artist’s responsibilities include the creation and refinement of artistic assets as part of a design project. Specific responsibilities vary depending on the project, but in the past, these artists were frequently involved in ensuring proper design and layout for print advertisements and similar products. However, due to technological advancements, these responsibilities now typically entail using computers and design software to finalize the appearance and layout of digital assets. While other artists may contribute to a project, a production artist is usually in charge of finalizing work before it is published or used.
A production artist is usually part of a larger art production crew, but he or she can also be a freelancer who is responsible for all aspects of the project’s art design. This is highly dependent on the nature of the project on which he or she is working, though this artist is typically the last to complete a project. Prior to publication, much of this work was spent ensuring the proper layout and appearance of art and type on a page. A production artist could work in a variety of fields, such as advertising or illustration.
However, as technology has advanced and changed, so have the responsibilities of a production artist. He or she now usually uses computer software to review and finalize work before putting it into one of a variety of mediums. Other graphic designers and artists may work on a large piece of advertising, but the production artist usually reviews and finalizes the work before it is used commercially. He or she examines the work with graphics software to ensure there are no errors, flaws, or issues that need to be addressed before it is used.
A production artist may collaborate with others or be responsible for completing all of the work on their own. When working as part of a group of artists, this person is responsible for ensuring that the other artists’ work is completed to an acceptable standard for project use, making changes as needed. A production artist may be responsible for all aspects of a graphic design project as an independent artist who works freelance. This means he or she may collaborate with a client to develop a project’s overall vision before executing and finalizing the design.