Careers Brief - Creative Multimedia Design FdA
Overview
The Foundation degree in Creative Multimedia Design offers you the opportunity for progression onto an Honours degree programme and direct job entry.
The last few years have seen a rapid expansion in growth and subsequent demand for trained practitioners within the interactive digital media industries, with ongoing development in technology and its applications.
As a multimedia designer or developer, you could be involved in the design of many forms of interactive media. You could be working on the development, production and management of web and other internet-based products and systems, CD-ROMs and DVD authoring, interactive and networked art, interactive TV and games design.
Job opportunities exist in a variety of sectors, including e-commerce, education, entertainment and global communications. You could be working for a large organisation, based within the IT or marketing or public relations department; within an advertising, publishing, communications, marketing or software company; a specialist multimedia production studio, or working as a freelance professional.
There are no set entry requirements for a career in digital or interactive media. However, employers are looking for an ability to learn, some relevant experience and transferable skills. A relevant degree course is the most useful training route, to demonstrate you have the right skills and produce work to show evidence of your ability.
Employers are looking for a multi-skilled practitioner with creativity and artistic flair, as well as a methodical approach and attention to detail and familiarity with relevant software. Success in your course will have given you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply technical knowledge and principles.
You will also have developed the key transferable skills and competencies which recruiters look for. Key skills such as: being adaptable and a quick learner; effective communicating; team working, in addition to working on your own initiative; analysing information and problem solving; multi-tasking and the ability to work to deadlines.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You will be able to apply for a top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degree, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Go to www.thecollege.co.uk/courses/ for information on the BA (Hons) Media Production Top-Up degree, awarded through Bournemouth University and designed as progression for this course.
Other institutions offering related Top-ups include:
The Arts University College at Bournemouth; Blackburn College; University of Brighton; University of Gloucestershire; Leeds Metropolitan University; New College Nottingham; Sheffield Hallam University; Staffordshire University.
To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college site for information on costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.
Go to the main section Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - Careers section
Go to sector sub-headings
Creative & Cultural Skills
e-skills UK - Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers website for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down 'Job sectors' and click on 'IT and information services' for 'Options with your subject'
Drop down 'Jobs' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' to use Prospects Planner
Go to Divisions 'Blitz Academy Career Advice' - careers guidance website for those interested in a career in games
GTI Media graduate careers publication - Advice by graduate career area
GTI Media publication for graduate jobs and careers advice - go to sub-heading 'careers advice'
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/multimedia.htm
University of Kent Careers Service - 'What can I do with my degree in multimedia?'
The British Interactive Media Association
BCS The Chartered Institute for IT - drop down sub-heading 'Qualifications, Training, Careers' to click on 'Careers' + 'Students'
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Government Careers Advice service
The Knowledge Online - for film, TV, video & commercials production industries
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading 'Job Families & Articles' or Quick Search by typing in job title
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/media/
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Audio-visual industries'
The Guardian newspaper online - key source for current media news and jobs
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
Government Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on side-heading 'Careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities
Intute is a free online service providing a database and access to web resources for education and research in the Creative Arts and Humanities
BECTU The Media & Entertainment Union
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for additional help and advice with making applications.
