We've come a long way since our ancestors traded pitchforks for forklifts, bringing about the industrial age. For the past 40 years or so, the educated knowledge worker has ruled the marketplace. Now social theorists see the next stage of the information economy unfolding, as right-brain analysis gives way to creative, conceptual thinking. In tomorrow's economy, it's the creative class' chance to shine.
Creating your career future
Social economists like Richard Florida and Dan Pink herald the coming of a "conceptual age," in which a "creative class" of big picture thinkers rules the economy. Florida's expansive definition of the creative class comprises all those professionals in "design, education, arts, music and entertainment, whose economic function is to create new ideas, new technology and/or creative content." An estimated 38 million Americans fall into this category, or about 30 percent of the workforce. The creative class has doubled its share of the workforce since 1980, and increased ten-fold in the past century. The "core force of economic growth in our future economy," Florida expects the creative class to add ten million new jobs in the next decade.
Career training for the creative class
To prepare yourself for the next chapter of economic history, think outside the box and train for a creative class career. The following career paths define success in the conceptual age.
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Entertainment: animator
For proof that creative pursuits are driving economic growth, look no further than the entertainment industry. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the global entertainment industry will be worth two trillion dollars by 2011 -- that's a two with 12 zeros -- driven by sustained growth at a 6.4 percent compound annual growth rate. Video games are driving the entertainment bonanza, creating historic opportunity for talented animators.
Animators bring to the table both creativity and technical design skills. The sophistication of today's 3D design and animation software raises the education bar for animators. A bachelor's degree in multimedia, digital arts or graphic design is the standard qualification for an animation career.
Salary: $62,380
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Media: art director
Compiling information may be a left-brained task, but communicating it favors the right. The media sector relies on the creative class to present information in a clear, visually appealing format. Art directors oversee the design of media such as magazines, books, Web sites, and marketing materials.
Art directors typically have formal training in visual communications from an art school or college. The two-year associate degree offers a basic foundation in design principles and technology, as well as opportunities for studio practice. To accelerate your career, continue on to a bachelor's degree in the field. The four-year degree, available online, offers a more comprehensive education in visual arts as well as an opportunity to take applied courses such as project management, art direction, budgeting and finance.
Salary: $88,510
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IT: systems analyst
As basic technical jobs move overseas, the U.S. information technology sector is favoring high-level analysts and conceptual leaders. Systems analysts are the big-picture thinkers of IT, relying on creative problem-solving to develop innovative technical solutions.
The most straightforward path to a systems analyst career is still a bachelor's degree in management information systems, computer science or information science, but many employers recognize the value of a creative background. Microsoft, for example, sets aside IT internships for humanities grads with some technical training. A number of college career centers list systems analysis among the common career paths of philosophy and history majors.
Salary: $78,830
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Education: curriculum designer
It takes a visionary to develop a K-12 curriculum capable of preparing students for the challenges and demands of an unknown future. Curriculum designers push the frontier of educational development, taking advantage of evolving technologies and theories to create innovative learning programs.
A master's degree in education is the standard requirement for a career in curriculum design. The graduate-level training offers courses in educational theory and teaching methods, child development, educational technology, instructional evaluation, research methods and more. Many designers start their careers as teachers, completing a bachelor's degree and teacher training course. The M.Ed. is available online, making it a viable option for working teachers.
Salary: $59,780
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Business: marketing manager
Marketing managers rely on a broad palette of skills ranging from empathy to communication to quantitative analysis. In the quest to win market share, marketing managers research industry trends, guide product development and reach out to consumers via carefully orchestrated campaigns.
A bachelor's degree is the first step to a career in marketing as an associate or assistant. Psychology, humanities and communications fields offer increasingly popular routes into a marketing career. To advance into a marketing manager role, continue on to a M.B.A. The degree, widely available online, offers applied business training in management, finance, corporate communications and business administration.
Salary: $118,160
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Retail: product designer
Designing products that sell is becoming more of an art than a science, argues Dan Pink. "It's no longer sufficient to create a product that's merely functional," he writes. "Today it's economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical or emotionally engaging." Apple, for example, owes the success of the iPhone as much to the product's sleek, intuitive design as to its engineering.
A bachelor's degree in industrial design offers a solid start to a high tech product design career. While computer engineering programs focus on technical design, the industrial design degree emphasizes user experience and visual design training alongside technical courses.
Salary: $61,580 (varies)
Employers in every sector of the economy are recognizing the value innovative thinkers bring to commercial enterprise. As information gives way to conceptual innovation, your artistic, communication, and design skills can help you build your own future in the creative class.
