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Design Courses
Design your Future.If you're interested in design, a course in digital design, 3D animation, game development or 3D visualisation offers not only an exciting study path with lots of variety, but also a choice of exciting careers when you've graduated.
by Chris Bell.
This article is designed to help get you thinking about those choices. And if you think you'd enjoy a future in design, you're going to be doing a lot of thinking over the next few years. Because, although the sub- jects you choose in high school are impor- tant, they can only partially prepare your mind for the study of design.
If you haven't already started, you need to get thinking creatively and document it now: . Start a scrapbook of your favourite work in different areas of design.
. Collect material for a portfolio of ideas (however incomplete or basic they seem).
. Think about design in the world around you: what do you like and what don't you like.
. Look for examples of 'good' and 'bad' design, record examples of them and make a note of what you like and don't like about them.
. Focus on your particular area of design interest and what you'll need to be good at. For instance, maths skills are important for computer games development because of the amount of programming involved, so if you hate maths, you may have to re-think a career as Battlemonkey, the pizza-fuelled gaming guru.
LEARN:
1 How to find out which design course is best for you.
2 Why it's so important to choose the right subjects at school.
3 What the various design courses offer and how much they cost.
In the meantime, here are some design courses in a selection of New Zealand schools and universities, to help you see what's on offer.
MEDIA DESIGN SCHOOL (AUCKLAND)
This is a private school that specialises in the right qualifications for jobs like 3D animator, interactive designer, graphic artist, art director, game developer and visual effects artist. Its classes are small and most students complete their qualification within one year.
Some students come back for a second year to specialise in graphic design, 3D animation, game development or 3D visualisation - sometimes after having worked for a while. For the school's undergraduate-level diploma courses you need to put together a portfolio of your creative work (such as illustrations, paintings, photography and graphic design). For the graduate diploma you need a previous university or polytechnic qualification in a related area. Your qualifications could be a diploma-level qualification from Media Design School, a university degree or a quali-fication from another institute.
"All applicants are interviewed, and students exploring study and career pathways are encouraged to visit the school for a tour and advice on the industry and how to get to where they want to be," general manager Frances Valintine says. Many schools and universities offer these tours and open days, and taking advantage of them is highly recommended. "Students planning on entering high-end creative or digital fields should retain subjects such as art, graphics, technical drawing, photography and English at high school," she says. "For more technical subjects, such as game programming, maths and science skills are essential."
Each course offered at Media Design School is specific to a career and industry, and many companies employ graduates from these courses. For example, graduates of the diploma in 3D computer animation have gone on to work as special effects artists at Weta Digital, famous for its contribution to The Lord of the Rings films, and as computer games artists at Wellington company Sidhe Interactive (see pages 27 and 47 for stories on Sidhe and Weta employees).
The diploma of visual effects and motion graphics turns out visual effects artists and special effects developers for TVNZ, TV3, the movie production company that made The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Maori Television. Finally, graphic designers who have completed the Media Design School's diploma of graphic design have gone on to work at Saatchi & Saatchi, Image Centre, eSpy magazine and McCann Erickson.
CHRISTCHURCH POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
CPIT's School of Art and Design offers degree qualifications in areas of digital media, including a graduate diploma in design 3D modelling and animation. The School of Computing offers animation and visualisation options as part of its two-year diploma in information and communications technology, but the courses are part of the second year of study. "Before they can do these courses, students will have also done courses in more general multimedia," says Chris McCarthy, programme leader at the school. At present, CPIT doesn't offer courses in game development.
A two-year ICT diploma includes graphic design and 3D animation components in the second year. To get into the ICT diploma programme, students need 55 credits in more than four subjects, including 12 credits in maths (or physics or chemistry) and 12 in English (or history, geography or economics in place of English). Students can get into CPIT's programme directly from school, says Chris. "The multimedia and web development specialisation would take students into the field of web design, web programming, multimedia design and development in a wide range of businesses, depending on the market at the time."
Some places that have employed CPIT's students with an ICT specialisation include Alchemy, Cabbage Tree Creative, CPIT and Cyclone Computers and Evanta Solutions.
The Wanganui School of Design concentrates mainly on computer graphic design and offers a three-year degree. Judy Christie, the office manager, suggests students concentrate on art, design or photography (or all three) in high school if they'd like to attend. At least 42 credits at level three or higher are needed. Students are selected on a case-by-case basis, so if you haven't been able to attain 42 credits at level three, Judy suggests a bridging course. She says students can to get into a Wanganui design course directly from school, as long as they have the minimum of 42 credits at level three or higher.
A design course at Wanganui could take you into all sorts of employment, says Judy. "We have recent graduates working at TVNZ, Saatchi & Saatchi, Dow Design, Shift and many more. Also many students recently have been starting their own design businesses or teaching." See www.newmedialab.co.nz/requirements.html.
UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO (DUNEDIN)
Otago's design for technology is a four-year honours course on which you'll learn skills ranging from computer modelling to understanding the physics involved in good design. Dr Sarah Wakes from the department of design studies recommends that students take physics and calculus in high school. "Having design is an advantage, but not necessary," she says. "Design is open to all at first-year level."
She says design for technology graduates have gone on to work for Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Interlock (Assa Abloy), Hallensteins, Frucor, Otago Museum and Dunedin City Council. "We have a work experience paper as part of the course, and students have worked in a variety of businesses from large companies to small design consultancies."
Design for Technology is mainly focused on combining industrial design, technology and business (especially innovation and entrepreneurship). There are also a number of design studies papers on offer at Otago. See www.otago.ac.nz/subjects/desi.html.
MASSEY UNIVERSITY (WELLINGTON)
A Bachelor of Design at Massey's College of Creative Arts is a four-year course, the first year focusing on broader aspects of design. The majors and professional papers are offered in years two, three and four.
Bev Williams, information technology services administration and services manager, says: "Students are advised to study subjects they can do well at and also subjects that will assist them to put a portfolio together. Most students apply from year 13.
A small number apply from year 12 on a recommendation from the school principal." Other Massey design courses include art and design, advertising, computer graphics, industrial and transport design and fashion technology. Lisa Sushames, student liaison adviser at the Wellington campus, says Massey graduates do all kinds of exciting jobs. "They work for design firms and consultancies, advertising agencies, computer and web-design firms, post-production companies, and as freelance illustrators and publication designers.
One of our graduates is currently working as a computer graphic designer in London and has worked on Babe 2, Gladiator and Harry Potter." See creative.massey.ac.nz.
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY (WELLINGTON)
VUW's brand-new digital design programme takes four years. The first year is a general foundation in 'What is design' and 'What is studio practice'. In the second, third and fourth year, you pursue your chosen field, which could be cinematics (the language of cinema), 'experience design' (using the web as a platform), virtual environments (game engines and creating navigation spaces) and PhotoGRAPHICS (digital cameras and imaging).
Students should study a wide range of subjects at school, and have an interest in movies, TV, gaming and surfing the net, says Marcia Lyons, senior lecturer and programme director. "It's very easy to get in. If you pass the first year, you automatically begin your major study interests."
Marcia reels off a long list of jobs the digital design programme could launch you into, including experience designers, multimedia artists, game developers, special effects filmmakers, cinema directors, website designers, animators, photographers, television producers and theatre designers.
Daniel Brown, deputy head of the School of Design, says students can also study for three years to get a Bachelor of Arts degree, or four years to get a Bachelor of Design degree. They aren't expected to have had any particular IT training. "We start them off really from the very basics and lead them through every issue." All students have a common first year, to give them the foundations they need to study design at an academic level.
VUW graduates work in jobs combining design and IT, such as designing film sets. "Quite a few of our students end up working for Weta Workshops," says Daniel. "New Zealand has greatly increased its design and IT basis through new corporations such as Weta Workshops that have become more and more vibrant."
UNITEC (AUCKLAND)
Unitec is an institute of technology rather than a university. Areta Wilkinson is a lecturer and programme coordinator of its Bachelor of Design course. Unitec graduates include digital animators, graphic and interior designers, jewellers, multimedia artists, object-makers, painters, photographers and product designers. The institute has 70 design staff in many different design areas, and students on the Bachelor of Design programme are encouraged to find a design industry 'mentor' - someone who can advise them and support their progress.
On the Unitec digital animation course, students also explore traditional modes of animation, including claymation, cut-outs, puppets and drawing. Animators such as Campbell McGrouther of One Glass Eye (see page 31) say such skills are particularly important, but are sometimes neglected by courses that focus more on IT and digital skills. Here, you'll also learn about the history of animation, the theory of movement, storyboarding, scriptwriting and sound editing, as well as the skills to apply them. See the design study area at www.unitec.ac.nz.
WIDE WORLD OF CHOICES
Overall, the career options following a study of design are extremely varied. There are all kinds of rewards out there if you know how to combine your love of art, computer games or web design with the right school subjects. Do some research online, take advantage of your time in high school to get creative, and start designing your own future.
Links
A Rough Guide to fees.
Work Opportunities.
Subjects to Study at School.
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