University: Curtin University

Degree: Bachelor of Design, Graphic Design and Animation and Game Design

School Subjects: Mathematics Specialist, Mathematics Methods, English, Chemistry, Physics

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Introduction

Like many people, I was unsure of what path to follow after school. In my 1st sem of uni, I started with engineering at UWA, but I quickly realised it wasn’t something I was interested in pursuing. So, I changed to Design at Curtin for my 2nd sem. This change was a big improvement for me; I’ve always enjoyed art, and the work came more naturally to me. The animation and graphic majors sounded the most interesting. I thought graphic design would be a more reliable path, while animation would still be enjoyable to learn about.

Design

The general design units that every major must do are focused on academic writing, research, and basic design principles. The research units have written assignments and are a change of pace from the practical assignments of a lot of the design units. You write reports on design principles and objects, learn about industry software, and learn communication skills. They are relatively simple to grasp if you attend the lectures and seek feedback from tutors, but they can be frustrating at points when you aren’t doing any actual design work. They typically don’t take up as much time as other units, though, so they can be a nice break from big projects.

Animation

The early units in animation and game design are very simple, basically introductions to software and basic principles. They are almost all assignment-based, and as such, they can be time-consuming but offer a good low-level entry point. They offer a lot of room for personal experimentation and creativity, like designing your own characters, narratives, and environments for assignments. The 2nd-year units delve into 3D software and applications, which is quite a big step up if you are unfamiliar with software like Maya, Blender, and Unreal Engine. These units aren’t necessarily difficult but have many concepts and require a large amount of time and problem-solving. I managed to stay on top of the work, but many people got behind very quickly, so it’s important to stay on top of the weekly tasks and seek regular feedback.

Graphic Design

Like animation, these units are assignment-based. The early units start simple with projects to help teach you the software and techniques of creating visual design, while giving the theory behind it. Later units become more specific, learning about how to incorporate designs into a business setting with marketing, and having to brief clients with designs. These classes are usually tutorials in computer labs and have a lot of idea generation, research, and collaboration. The major has a nice balance between being creative and practical.

Advice to Prospective Uni Students

A Bachelor of Design is a very good option for creative people who love visual design. The contact hours are generally low, around 12 hours a week, albeit with a large amount of work at home and assignments, but still low compared to other degrees. There are rarely tests, and no exams, which is a positive and negative aspect of the degree as the assignments can build up and become a bit overwhelming.

Careers for graphic design are generally reliable, although not high-paying, and can have a lot of flexibility with freelance and online work. Animation is less reliable, with more online work available than a stable business position. My advice to people in these majors is to devote some of your time to personal projects to further your skills. These units give general knowledge, but if you have a path or passion you want to pursue more specifically, like logo design or motion graphics, then be self-directed in learning about those areas. Having a robust portfolio is very important for finding work.