Creative Design & Media
A career in Creative Design and Media needs a creative who can combine their graphic design skills with imagination, vision and technological knowledge to produce a large range of visual media, from websites to advertising, digital imaging, animation, 2D and 3D modelling, and graphics.
Design careers in the tech world range in skill set, type, job growth, and opportunity.
Below are a few examples of Creative Design and Media careers
- Graphic designer/ Visual Designer
- User experience (UX) designer
- Multimedia Artist & Animator/ Game Designer
- Chief Design/Creative Officer or Art Director
- Advertising/Product/Packaging Designer
- Film & Video editor
- Augmented Reality Designer
What qualifications would I need?
To become integrated into a creative design role, you will need to have IT and creative skills, be able to find practical solutions to problems and excellent communication skills.
Most professional creative media designers have a foundation degree, HND or degree in graphic design or other art and design-based subject. You will also need a working knowledge of desktop design software, you can do courses in these at colleges, private training providers and through self-study.
A potential employer will be just as interested in your design skills and creative ideas as they are in your qualifications. Talent and personal contacts (networking) are very important for getting work. You will need to have an up-to-date portfolio to show potential employers what you can do.
What courses are available?
Guernsey College of Further Education
The Creative & Digital Arts course covers a variety of different fields – graphic design, 3D animation, fashion design, illustration, photography film making, textile design, model making, sculpture, painting. These courses are designed to give you a wide and varied exposure to the many different types of creative media focusing on the essential skills required for all creative industries, as well as giving you the opportunity to specialise in an area that supports your career ambitions.
University for the Creative Arts
The University for the Creative Arts offers a broad range of course options in the UK for studying in the arts by distance learning, through their distance learning college, UCA Open College of the Arts.
Through their open programme, you can study a one-off course leading to a Certificate or Diploma in Higher Education or build towards a full BA (Hons) or MA degree whenever and wherever you like and at a pace that suits you by distance.
FutureLearn
Learn online with world-class universities and industry experts and earn professional or academic accreditation through their microcredentials and longer programs.
Creative Design School International
The Creative Design School is an independent, private and professional design school originally started in the UK in 2007 and then expanded to Italy as a result in a demand throughout Europe. As their courses are delivered through their online ecampus, which has students from all over Europe plus the rest of the World, not to forget the major design cities including Milan, Rome, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff London, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong etc. You can enrol at any time of the year.
How do I find out more?
You can read up to date news articles in the Skills and Education of our website.
Creative Industries UK
The UK is a global leader in the creative industries. This website features statistics, case studies, video interviews, news and opinion pieces. They comprise the principal bodies from fashion, music, design, publishing, technology, crafts, video games, arts & culture, architecture, advertising, TV & Film, as well as government and non-government bodies who support the UK creative industries.
Opportunities in Guernsey
Job Board
Work in Guernsey's technology sector, find jobs from Digital Greenhouse members.
Careers Guernsey
Careers Guernsey offers insight into multiple stages of your learning and experience, from year 9-10 work experience placements to university and career advice.
Jobs.gg
Jobs.gg is updated often with job positions in Guernsey
Profiles
Claire 'Moxie' Mockett
Digital Creative, TPA GuernseyWhat do you do in your role?
Digital Design. Part of the TPA Design & Concept Team. Client support. Email Marketing, Design & Build.
What training have you undergone?
Self-taught, day/week courses, conferences and the everyday research and learning - It's a lifestyle really, training never ends.
What do you do on an average day?
Support clients with websites, social media and emails. Design/ Evolve / Art Direct websites and support developers, wireframe ideas, make the tea, have idea meetings and catch-ups with the Jersey office.
What skills do you need for your job?
Ability to listen and have patience, multi-task, have a sense of humour, stamina, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, ask for feedback, try new things.
What advice would you give job seekers in the same field?
If you have a portfolio or artwork - give it context. The thoughts behind what you do and your progress is interesting. Skills can be built up and developed but your mind, imagination and thoughts are unique. Build on those and don't be afraid to be different!
What would be your top tip for individuals wanting to get into the field that you work in?
Just start doing what you want to do - don't wait to be in a job or for someone to give you permission. Do projects related to something you love, build a portfolio, go online and research, talk to people. With practice comes experience, experience is what will propel you forward in your career. Confidence will come - don't be afraid to fail, it's when you learn the most. Get back up and get back to it. ALWAYS keeps a notebook with you, sketch ideas, exercise, read loads, learn an instrument, watch films & plays - keep your creative mind nurtured - and you don't need to be in front of a computer all the time to be working and researching.
Abbie Greening
Junior Website Designer, Specsavers Optical GroupWhat do you do in your role?
I create a large range of banners that sit on our Specsavers homepage and on a variety of websites, this includes producing them for the UK, ROI and Spain. I also produce a lot of social media assets such as Facebook banners, Twitter banners/images, YouTube banners & Google images which sit under our profiles across these sites.
What training have you undergone?
Google Website Designer - where I was taught in-house how to create animated banners
What skills do you need for your job?
I came into this job with a basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop (which is what I'd taught myself at school through to my A Levels), I use this everyday therefore it is my most useful skill but it also helps to have a basic knowledge of Adobe Illustrator which I use.
What would be your top tip for individuals wanting to get into the field that you work in?
Be creative. If you have applied for a job in the creative industry and are asked to come up with ideas based on a brief, then my best advice would be to think outside the box and produce a variety of ideas instead of just one. You want to be able to stand out but have a selection of options as some may work better than others. This also shows that you're open to new ideas and don't just get stuck on one trail of thought.