The term multimedia describes the growing use of combining various forms of media including audio, video, text, graphics and animation for creating information rich websites, CD-ROMS and presentations among others. Multimedia in itself is a highly versatile tool that can be used for disseminating information in the most effective ways.

There are two basic types of multimedia design. They are

·Linear multimedia design and

·Non-linear multimedia design

Linear multimedia does not present the user or viewer with any form of navigational control. Thus it is not interactive. Cinema is an example of linear multimedia.

Non-Linear multimedia allows it users/viewers to control the presentation of the content. Computer based educational programs and computer games are examples of non-linear multimedia.

Multimedia rich content is used in diverse fields including –

·Education and training

·Business

·Entertainment

·Fine arts

·Medicine

·Engineering

·Scientific and Mathematical Research

The field of multimedia design offers a huge and diverse array of opportunities for individuals who would like to pursue a career in the field as well as for a variety of organizations that would like to harness the powers of multimedia for making better websites, training materials and presentations among other things. This is because multimedia content is highly versatile and can be used in many ways. It can be projected on to a screen, played on a media player, recorded as well as live multimedia presentations can be transmitted through electronic means for the targeted users to download and stream. Multimedia rich content can be used simultaneously by multiple users on an online network; it can also be used in a physical environment combined with a variety of special effects. Online multimedia design has become object oriented and data driven and allows users to personalize content in innovative ways. There are websites that allow their users to make changes in the illustrations, videos and animations without going through the trouble of reprogramming. Cutting edge video games use multimedia to provide innovative effects including simulation for players.

A career in multimedia can give significant returns in terms of monetary compensation as well as personal satisfaction. Since multimedia design is used by a huge and diverse variety of fields, there is no dearth of work for multimedia designers. Think of the number of websites in existence and there are many coming up every day. Most reputed web sites carry original material and are updated on a regular basis which ensures that multimedia designers are kept busy with fresh work. The profession of multimedia design calls for a varied mix of talents and skills, and therefore most multimedia rich projects involve teams of multimedia designers who individually specialize in different forms of media working together.

Those who have a creative bent of mind and like challenging their grey cells would derive a high degree of job satisfaction from a career in multimedia design for it entails working in dynamic environments with a variety of tools including text, audio, video, graphics and animation. As mentioned above multimedia designers generally work in collaboration - developing a web site or even a CD-ROM can be highly collaborative efforts with several designers working on different parts of the project yet ensuring that all the parts work perfectly in unison. The continuous exchange of creative and technological ideas combined with the challenge of producing high quality work can be a satisfyingly heady experience.