ASSESSMENT
The arts are essential to STEAM—bringing aesthetic insight, cultural awareness, and creative expression into scientific and technical problem-solving, so solutions aren’t just functional, but meaningful and human-centered.
This guide breaks down fields, industries, and roles to help you quickly see where you fit: squarely in STEAM or STEAM-adjacent.
Drawing, painting, printmaking
Sculpture, ceramics, glass, metals/jewelry
Photography
Installation art, mixed media
Public art, mural arts
Graphic design
Communication design
Information design
Interaction design (IxD)
User experience design (UX)
User interface design (UI)
Product/industrial design
Design strategy + management
Design research
Human-centered design
Motion design + kinetic typography
Design systems
Digital art, new media art
2D/3D animation
Game art and game design
Immersive media (AR/VR/XR)
Creative coding / generative art
Digital imaging, compositing
Sound design for media
Music (performance, composition, theory)
Theatre (acting, directing, dramaturgy)
Dance (performance, choreography)
Musical theatre
Opera
Performance studies
Film studies + cinema arts
Cinematography
Editing + post-production
Documentary production
Broadcasting
Audio production
Recording arts
Podcasting (production-focused)
Creative writing (fiction, poetry, nonfiction)
Screenwriting, playwriting
Storytelling + narrative design
Technical writing
Rhetoric and composition (applied communication)
Often overlaps with Engineering.
Architecture
Interior architecture + design
Landscape architecture
Urban design
Architectural studies
Architectural technology
Exhibition/spatial design
Lighting design
Fashion design, textile design
Costume design
Fiber arts
Furniture design
Book arts
Culinary arts
Museums, galleries, cultural institutions
Performing arts organizations (theatre, symphony, dance companies)
Arts education organizations and nonprofits
Public art programs, arts councils
Graphic design studios and agencies
Branding/identity agencies
UX/UI and product design firms
Service design/innovation consultancies
Creative strategy and communications agencies
Film/TV/streaming production
Animation and VFX studios
Game studios (indie to AAA)
Music industry, recording studios
Podcast networks and audio media
Publishing (books, magazines, digital media)
Architecture + interior design firms
Landscape architecture
Urban design
Exhibit + experiential design firms
Apparel and fashion houses
Footwear + accessories
Textiles and materials innovation
Product/industrial design for consumer goods
Advertising agencies
Digital marketing studios
Content studios
Social media creative teams
Artist (studio, public, interdisciplinary)
Illustrator
Photographer
Sculptor, ceramicist, fabricator
Art educator
Graphic + visual designer
Brand + identity designer
UX/UI designer
Product (industrial) designer
Interaction designer
Service designer
Information designer
Data visualization designer
Motion designer
Design/UX researcher
Content designer (UX writing)
Design systems designer
Animator (2D/3D)
Character animator
3D artist, environment artist
VFX artist, compositor
Game designer
Narrative designer
Technical artist
Creative technologist
AR/VR experience designer
Musician, composer, conductor
Sound designer
Actor, director, stage manager
Choreographer, dancer
Scenic/lighting/costume designer
Producer, director, cinematographer
Editor, colorist
Production designer
Audio engineer, mixing/mastering engineer
Foley artist
Podcast producer
Architect
Interior designer
Landscape architect
Exhibition designer
Lighting designer
Curator
Museum educator
Conservator/restorer
Arts administrator and program manager
Whew! 😅 That's was a lot, we know. We want you to have enough information to make a strategic and informed decision. If you've determined that you're fully within STEAM or even STEAM-adjacent, we have flexible membership options to meet you where you are.