Bachelor of Arts (Visual Communication) majoring in Multimedia Design

Multimedia Design is an exciting career choice if you have a broad interest in media production and web design, love technology and have the creative passion of an artist. It will allow you to work in a wide range of media including print, web and broadcast as an artist/designer.

The multimedia design industry is very fluid. Our syllabus is constantly evolving, not only in response to the technology itself, but also to evolving nature of the industry.

As a multimedia design graduate your higher skills will include graphic design, interface design, and information design. Your practical skills will include web design, basic game production, CD-ROM/DVD creation, animation and compositing.

Companies also often create other media like print and video. People in this area may find themselves working on a number of aspects of one project. For example, a client may want brochures, a web site, a Powerpoint presentation and a video to promote a new product. Multimedia designers have to be aware of the requirements of a variety of mediums.

This major will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to work in this dynamic and exciting industry. With a sound knowledge of the basic principles associated with multimedia design and production, you’ll also be ideally placed to benefit from and market your own special talents.

Are you an Australian student currently in Year 12? Apply for a scholarship to study a design bachelor degree of your choice.

Careers

Careers are less defined in this area. People tend to build a set of skills that allow them to take on a number of different roles that change from project to project. Below are some of the roles required in the production of a multimedia project:

Multimedia Designers assess a client’s needs and creat appropriate solutions by applying:

• Functional design i.e deciding what technologies are best used

• Interaction/interface design. i.e. making web site easy and pleasurable to use

• Information design. i.e. making large amounts of information useful and understandable.

Web Designer - The name applied to the multimedia designer when they work specifically on the web

Interactive learning creator - Specialist who creates multimedia designed to teach people

Visual or graphic designer - Creates the graphics used in multimedia applications and content

Programmer or coder - Writes computer instructions that make things happen

Content creators - These people create, or adapt media, to be played within the strict limitations of any number of platforms. The specialist media creation includes:

• Simple text and images (see graphic designer)

• Video

• Animation

• Virtual worlds

• Games

• New media creator A term applied to those who create games, interactive web sites or streaming media.

The rewards

This is largely a freelance-based industry in which rewards vary greatly, from $25 ph for a graduate to well over $100 for a top flight designer. For salaries it is about a $30,000 pa starting point, $60,000 for a mid point, with senior designers able to command salaries over $100,000.

Course Outline

The Bachelor of Arts (Visual Communication) Degree (majoring in Multimedia Design) is 3 years full time.

Semester 1
Graphic Design and Communication
Graphic Design and Multimedia Studio
Computing for Design
Ideas and Thought

Semester 2
Applied Graphics and Imaging
Online and Offline Multimedia Environments
Drawing, Design Principles and Colour Theory
Visual Communication

Semester 3
Digital Media and Design
Information and Interface Design
History of Visual Communication
Elective

Semester 4
Advanced Motion Graphics
Game On
Design Meaning and Culture
Elective
Associate Degree Exit point

Semester 5
New Media and Interactive Environments
Major Project (Part 1)
Business Communication
Elective

Semester 6
Industry Experience
Major Project (Part 2)

Course Outline & Subject Descriptions (PDF)

For information about fees, intake dates, entry requirements and application procedure, go to the Apply section.

See the Before you start section for:

• information about budgeting for your course
• student handbook
• forms
• and other important information