So how would you like to be a successful, well-paid artist in the 21st century? This is the central appeal of a degree in design. For many years, art and design have been denigrated as fields that promise low pay and weak job prospects. But the tide is turning.

With the rapid growth of the Internet and new technologies, art and design have re-emerged with a wealth of new opportunities, elevating designers to the top of corporate hierarchies and into the heart of popular culture. This silent revolution has been largely driven by developments in graphic, interactive, and motion design.

 


Image courtesy of Torrens University Australia

 

Graphic design has always been the mainstay of the advertising industry. Designers were always and still are the unsung geniuses behind pamphlets, posters, print ads, and billboards. Now, with the popularity of social media, they are even more crucial, creating images that are posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more.

As they say, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’, and industry leaders now realize that a social media image can be far more compelling and persuasive than the print ads of old. Since marketers and advertisers made the shift to social media, designer vacancies have seen a sharp hike, promising better pay and career opportunities.

In tandem with the rise of social media is the meteoric surge in e-commerce and mobile app use. People are buying more things online and more often too, drawn in by discounts and simple convenience. Smartphone users are using their phones for everything from distraction (games) to transportation (ride apps like Uber).

These interactive spaces – whether on websites or apps – that we often take for granted must be built from scratch and in a way that is intuitive for users; therefore, interactive designers can look forward to plenty of well-paid work in the coming years, with funding coming from budding entrepreneurs and new start-ups.

 


Image courtesy of Torrens University Australia

 

Designers are also making waves in glamorous Hollywood. Once revolutionary, computer-generated imagery (CGI) is now a staple of mainstream movie-making. The phenomenal box office successes of animated and CGI-supported films unleashed a fever among movie producers and studios for more films of the same type, triggering a hiring spree for motion graphics designers that continues to this day. With skills in 2D and 3D animation, a motion graphics designer is able to exploit this trend well into the future. Being able to see and point to your work on the big screen is also an added bonus.

Beyond the aforementioned specializations, the field of design encompasses an almost endless range of opportunities, from fashion to interior design. It offers multiple paths and mediums of expression for the aspiring artist. And recognition can be swift and absolutely fulfilling.

A designer can turn into a household name overnight thanks to a single viral video or image. The advertising industry, through its constituent organizations, often gives out awards to high achievers, providing great incentive to the ambitious and the bold. Once you establish yourself as a designer, you can easily branch out to other media, freelance for prestigious clients, or even start your own design firm.

So if you’re convinced that a design degree is perfect for you, then the next step is choosing the best design school to study at. There are plenty of good choices, but Torrens University Australia stands out for its academic rigor, diversity of programs, and, most of all, collaborative links with top design institutions and industry stakeholders.

 


Image courtesy of Torrens University Australia

 

Torrens collaborates with two top design schools to provide world-class, industry-recognized courses to students. The first of these schools is the Billy Blue College of Design, which traces its origins back to the famous Sydney design agency Billy Blue Creative. Created by designers for designers, the school’s courses are meticulously developed by industry veterans with vast experience working for leading agencies. With strong industry links, students get the chance to work with top design firms through internships and work-integrated learning programs.

The other school is Media Design School, which is New Zealand’s most awarded tertiary institution for creative and digital technology qualifications. A pioneer in its own right, it was the first tertiary institution in the southern hemisphere to offer a dedicated program of study for 3D animation using industry-standard computer graphics software.

Graduates of Torrens University do well across the board. The transferrable skills imparted via a comprehensive degree from this institution ensures graduates are at the top their game long before entering the professional field, but also makes them highly employable across virtually every sector on a global scale. Aspiring artists don’t need to scale back their ambitions; they just need to believe and work hard. And they can start at Torrens University Australia.

The article is sponsored by Torrens University Australia. Torrens is the fastest growing university in Australia, offering career-focused education that is relevant to contemporary industry issues and challenges. It is a proud member of the Laureate International Universities, a leading international network of quality, innovative institutions of higher education comprised of 70 universities across 25 countries. Class sizes are small at Torrens, facilitating valuable and meaningful interaction between students and faculty. The university is committed to giving its students a global, forward-looking learning experience, and proactively engaging with industry to enhance learning outcomes. 

Feature image courtesy of Luis Llerena