A Career in Media...

For the last three years Ben has been working as a designer-trainer at SpeakOut. He undertook a Bachelor of Communication Design at Queensland University of Technology when the degree was brand new - it was an interesting time to be there as the lecturers and students both grappled with new media.

On completing university Ben moved to Sydney and worked with News Corporation as the Senior Designer, working on websites like CareerOne and AFL.

After a couple of years he'd had enough and went to the Kimberley region in West Australia for a two week drawing and painting course - he stayed for a year working freelance for the Kimberley Language Centre on a CD-Rom containing language learning materials for community youth. Since then it has been a mixture of SpeakOut and freelance work: more traditional graphic design as well as developing software for online businesses.

Fast Facts

Network

Create personal connections: network at art exhibitions, trade shows, software demo nights, film screenings.

Self-confidence

You are your own agent.

Potential boredom

Remember that it can be mundane: you are producing work for a client not yourself.

Flexibility

Flexible work hours, lifestyle, and location are all possible. It's easy to start up your own business, but get business advice.

World fame

There's the potential for fame and fortune.

Satisfaction

You can be a real agent for change in peoples' lives.

Satisfaction II

It's a wonderful feeling, seeing your design work on someone's kitchen bench or in stores!

Fun

It's fun creating stuff for the latest communication devices, and having the opportunity to explore different production techniques.

Get known

for a particular style, or be independent of style.

Experience/Skills Required

• A GREAT FOLIO!
• computer savvy
• able to say 'yes' a lot
• skilled at building personal relationships (many designers take their clients with them from job to job)
• willing to work overseas (plus, it may gain you entry to dream jobs here!)
• open to doing a business course (can be really worthwhile)
• a lot of companies still require a university course - some niche companies will not even give you a look in without Honours
• experience - this can be hard to get as a lot of places want you to have experience already before they will give you a chance to work - but show off, push your talent and your beautiful FOLIO!

Extras

Experiment like a mad thing while you're doing skill development (courses or whatever). It's a good chance to play across a range of situations without client constraint. Maintain the spirit of play when you're working.

Depending on your area of interest, TAFE may get you the same skills as uni. How about a TAFE course first for practical skill development, then perhaps uni for developing your creative thinking? Hmm, that is a lot of education. Maybe add a year of travel in there somewhere for sanity.

If you can demonstrate that you've got skills and talent, consider repressing the urge to go to uni - spend a month putting together a beautiful folio & try getting meetings with design/media types. Make appointments with the people you would like to be your future employers - do more then just email your work around. Go for it on your merit.

Reality Check

Ups...

• the ability to swap between freelance and company work (so your lifestyle can dictate your working style and hours)
• the possibility of making a lot of money when experienced (lots of work available now and the industry is growing)
• industry support for continuous skills-building
• choice to work in a technical role, or a creative role, or a combination of both

Downs...

• graphic design is often work for others (so it is not about your artistic vision)
• sitting in front of a computer for other creatives can become boring
• there are deadlines

Education Options: more general information

Tertiary institutions

QUT (Queensland University of Technology) offers

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
• Bachelor of Creative Industries (Interdisciplinary) - mix it up with expertise in art, architecture, writing, dance, fashion, TV, advertising or other focus areas
• Bachelor of Creative Industries Communication Design

Griffith University offers

• Bachelor of Multimedia - web/games/interactive entertainment/ advertising (Nathan or Gold Coast)
• Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Multimedia (Nathan)
• Bachelor of Design - Traditional Graphic Design (Queensland College of Art)
• Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production - Film & TV production, direction etc (Griffith Film School, South Bank)

You can pursue great skill development - specialising in multimedia, animation, hardcore information, interaction design, or a tech and creative double whammy (QUT). There is time to experiment and develop your creative personality and, increasingly, a studio-style delivery format (eg short lecture, then a tutorial on that content, then practical studio time to play).

Perhaps it takes too much time; it's a higher pressure environment then TAFE; there are lots of assignments; and it is expensive.

Vocational institutions

• Certificate 4 (basic intro, 1 year)
• Diploma (18 months)
• Diploma of Multimedia
• Advanced Diploma of Screen (Film & TV) (2 years)

To apply you will need a folio relating to the course. Requirements can change from year to year, so check the details with TAFE. For example, the Film & TV course needs a 3minute drama/animation/documentary film, a series of still photos that tell a story, and a description of the submitted work.

It's cheaper than uni, quicker then uni, good for practical skill development, and you can get into most courses on Year 10 + folio. It offers either a broad exposure to print/web/screen design through a graphic design or multimedia course or specialisation in web, print, animation or game design; and the Southbank Institute of Technology has a Diploma course especially for women!

Employers sometimes require a uni education and, importantly, you have to pay for the course up front.

Alternative Pathways

Also try...

Short Workshops in January/June/Sept holidays for about $250. Good intro to the industry, and then if you like it they offer longer more in-depth programs.

Provides excellent 12 month design/media traineeships for young people who don't fit into TAFE/Uni style. (Top support, while getting paid to pick up the skills & techniques to start a career.)

Find out about...

• Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
• Vibewire

What do you want to be?

Occupations media can lead to:
graphic designer, designer, design company manager/CEO, community support organisation worker, teacher, community cultural worker, museum curator, video/film maker, video/film technical producer, multi-disciplinary performer, games designer, media consultant!

Make sure to check out the more artist profiles section to find out how other media artists and creative industries practitioners established a career in the industry.

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Please note that the information is provided in good will only. Youth Arts Queensland and the contributors do not warrant that any of the information provided is free from errors or omission. Youth Arts Queensland and the contributor disclaim all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason.