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is this the right career for you?
Are you creative? Would you like to design logos and packaging? Are you fascinated by the world of advertising and promotion? Do you enjoy multimedia? What about websites? Interactive media and animated images? Then this is the career for you.
what do graphic designers do?
They design:
- company logos
- packaging
- promotional literature
- advertisements for TV
- advertisements for magazines and newspapers
- branding
- corporate identities
- environmental graphics
- Interactive multimedia
- web design are all included in this career.
True Graphic Designers are concerned with the marketing of goods, services and information and the influencing of public opinion. Perhaps Graphic Design would be better termed Visual Communication. Visit Wikipedia for a more detailed definition.
what is multimedia?
Multimedia (also called Digital Communication, New Media, Digital Media Arts, Design for Convergence Technologies, Digital Design...) is the integration (or convergence) of:
- sound/audio,
- video/moving image
- motion graphics
- text
- still image/graphics
- data
- interactive interface
Multimedia is used primarily in education, entertainment and commerce (both for information and for marketing). There are three main facets to a career in Multimedia:
- internet / web design
- interactive media: CD-ROM / DVD
- motion graphics: 2D / 3D animation
how long is the course?
You will study for three years to earn your Bachelor of Design degree or diploma with Inscape Design College.
how is the course (syllabus) structured?
- the course format is integrated and hands-on where theory is learned through lectures, tutorials and research;
- our students work on real and realistic projects each year, specifically aimed at developing creative and technical skills and preparing them for the real world of the design professional;
- students are trained on the computer programs used in the print and digital industry;
- students are exposed to the world of design through visits to advertising agencies, design studios, multimedia studios, repro. houses and printers;
- practicing design professionals are also invited to give talks on industry-related issues;
- many designers have their own studios; we teach you how to start and run your own design business profitably.
where is the course offered?
This course is offered in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. See our contacts page for addresses and maps.
what will I be able to do when I graduate?
You will
- be able to design: take a brief, research, plan, conceptualise, produce mock-ups, get the jobs repro-ready, go to print OR upload the job to the web or burn it to disk;
- have developed your aesthetic awareness and your practical skills to enable you to communicate your design ideas and solutions in a professional manner;
- understand how to use photography in graphic design and multimedia;
- know the relationship between design and the reprographics and print industry;
- be competent in manual execution of designs and layouts;
- be proficient in the use of the computer as an invaluable design tool for print publishing, digital illustration, OR interactive multimedia and web design applications;
- be prepared for a stimulating and rewarding career in a design studio, ad agency or in-house art department; and
- know how to start and operate your own studio with confidence.
are there work opportunities after graduation?
- our graduates work for graphic design studios and advertising agencies;
- they work on below-the-line design, media production, product launches and presentations;
- packaging, printing and publishing companies also employ many graphic designers, as do in-house art departments in large corporations;
- there are positions in online publishing, digital illustration, multimedia houses, film & video studios locally and overseas (see examples of their work on our portfolio page);
- and you are, of course, also more than qualified to work as a freelance print or multimedia designer.
what are the entry requirements?
Because this is a SAQA registered Bachelor of Design degree or diploma, you will need:
I did not take Visual Arts at school, can I still study Graphic Design?
Sure you can. We offer a Design Foundation course if you did not take Visual Arts in Grade 12.
how do I apply?
- Download the Gauteng or Western Cape Selection Application Form,
- Complete ALL of the questions - (Yes, we know, lots of research. This is important to know whether this is the right career for you, and whether you are right for it),
- If you DID take Visual Arts in Grade 12:
- Choose six (6) drawings out of your art portfolio (these drawings must demonstrate your artistic ability, and should preferably be pen or pencil drawings),
- If you did NOT take Visual Arts in Grade 12:
- Go to page three (3) of the selection application form and do the drawings as per the instructions there,
- Send us your forms WITH your drawings: fax them to 011 447 7054, email them to study@inscape.co.za, or drop them off personally at one of our campusses,
- We will look at your selection application form and drawings and assess your suitability for the course that you have chosen,
- If everything is in order, we will invite you to attend a personalised interview at the college.
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