Mastering vs Specializing
greentooth
I often see the Specializing as a catch all recommendation for finding work in the industry, but I no longer think it's quite true. Looking over all the jobs these past months and quite a number of them, even games industry jobs, often ask for a number of different skills beyond the thing they ask for. Then, there's all the (higher paying) jobs outside the games industry that very frequently ask for a variety of skills.
I think the saying should be to master a skill before moving on to mastering other skills. Then show that mastery in your portfolio work.
Over specializing can also be a trap, as you are stuck looking for work in a specific role should the volatile games, and art, industry hits a downturn or technology changes.
What do you think?
Right now I specialize in Hard Surface art and I'm still seeking mastery in it. But I also know that once I attain a good level of mastery in it, I am for sure expanding what I can do into things like technical artist related duties.
Replies
Its still very true for finding work at the junior level, because you need to be better than the competition, and the only way for normal people to do that is to specialize.
Once you're in, being over-specialized locks you in to a certain role. You might enjoy that role when you're plugging away at your portfolio, but maybe not so much when you're doing it 40hrs a week for years, with limited (if any) creative control.