Career as a Visualizer

Visualization has recently emerged as a buzzing career option in the Indian job scenario, since it is an integral part of the advertising industry, which, in turn, is relatively new yet booming rapidly in India. The basic job of a visualizer in an ad agency is to provide shape to ideas which are the brainchild of copywriters. This creative artist, along with a team of art directors, extracts all the new ideas and thoughts to give a final form to an advertisement copy. Visualizers are those significant elements in an advertising agency who bestow the apt face and body to an advertising message. Career opportunities as a visualizer in India are unlimited since the communication revolution is at its peak currently. The increasing number of advertising agencies and media houses offer a wide spectrum of employment opportunities for a visualizer in India.

Course Details
Until now, there are no courses designed specifically for visualizers in India, though many reputed institutes have included visualization as a subject in their curriculum. Also, there are no specific educational qualifications required to become a visualizer. All one needs is ample creativity and an aesthetic mind. Visualizing is a part of BFA (Applied Art) course at most colleges and institutes. One can learn visualization aesthetics by applying to BFA (Applied Arts) immediately after completing their higher secondary. As an alternate, graduates in the relevant field can opt for MFA (Applied Arts). Along with aesthetics, a visualizer should be proficient in photo editing software and video editing software like Adobe Photoshop, ACDSee, Lightroom, Adobe Premier, Blender etc.

Career Prospects
There are enormous opportunities present in the job market for a skilled visualizer. One can enter art houses, television production houses, interior designing, fashion houses, advertising agencies, media houses, the list is endless. Visualizers are highly in demand in public sector units as well and can also easily get into government organizations, like Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
There are a number of reputed institutes which offer courses in applied arts. Some such institutes include: College of Art, Delhi; Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai; College of Art, Chandigarh; Government College of Art & Crafts, Kolkata; College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow; Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai; and Kala Bhavan, West Bengal.

Remuneration
Though renowned advertising agencies prefer visualizers with a minimum experience of 3-5 years, but beginners can easily get salaries anywhere ranging from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. Experience and salary increase simultaneously. A skilled and experienced visualizer can easily fetch a monthly salary of Rs. 50,000 - Rs. 60,000.