Course overview
Things that excite a graphic designer:
Visual communication, the idea of being able to communicate without words, drawing, creating, social media, movies, typography, animation, brands. Graphic designers use their skills to convey emotion, meaning and understanding through visual elements.
What is Graphic Design?
Graphic Designers create meaningful, relevant and captivating visual messages. Their ability to persuade, sell and brand for their clients, never forgetting ethical, legal and consumer needs, is crucial to the world’s economic landscape. Graphic designers work with and create typography, visual imagery and photography. Further studies provide opportunities to explore; interactive design, motion graphics, 3D design and animation, branding, advertising, social media, information design and art direction.
- Annual enrolments in March, July and November.
Careers
The Graphic Design industry operates at various levels from entry level 'Mac Operator' or Entry Level Designer to a Mid-Level Designer, Senior Designer and ultimately a Creative Director. An entry level designer is expected to use page layout software with a high level of proficiency making changes to a senior designers creations. A mid-level designer has 3-5 years experience and will be allowed more freedom to engage in custom designed projects. Senior designers would guide junior designers due to their experience. A creative Director has many years experience, will manage teams of designers, develop solutions from concept and implement through the design team.
Graphic Designers tend to split into print and digital specialisations. Print would include packaging design as well as below the line advertising and applications. Advertising and Branding stretches across print and digital media and is primarily interested in the image of an organization or individual. A designer focused in the marketing field provides solutions aimed at increasing sales and brand awareness through campaign development and strategies. Print publication design has become less popular since the inception of the digital world, however, there is still a need for layout designers in this sector. Logo design and illustrators are of the most niche specialisations in the graphic design industry. These individuals focus on the technical construction and thinking behind visual communication in their respective areas. Digital applications include front end web designers, user interaction designers and user experience designers. These are extremely specialised fields that require further study at a graduate and post graduate level.