The process to develop a good design needs critical, rational, methodical and valuable analytical skills to accomplish. Cultural and cognitive psychology is put into consideration so that the message is understood within a culture or a specific age group and gender, says Chaity Tan
A student who wants to enroll for visual communication should know the art of using visual, images and texts to communicate or convey a message to the audience. Graphic and multimedia design is a part and parcel of this visual communication as both express their concept and implication through visuals. Professionals in this field try to use visuals to connect with their audience convincingly.
Graphic Design and Multimedia
Graphic design deals with print primarily, such as annual reports, advertisements, logo design, magazine production, packaging, brochure design and so on. One of the skills that a graphic designers should acquire is to have a good layout skill and judgment. Multimedia, on the other hand, concentrates more on software where they can apply their knowledge on web design, video editing, etc. As multimedia is an offspring of graphic design, it too needs to have a good layout sense and the understanding of the basic design elements. It’s essential for multimedia students to study and examine design fundamentals as well before they advance to explore software knowledge.
Many people don’t consider design as a highly regarded education, particularly in Asia, because people assume that it’s less academic compared to other professions. This notion is misunderstood. Design does have scholarly value. It is different but it isn’t any less significant if we observe in detail. Design is unique and rare. It requires talent just like a good surgeon or accountant needs.
Graphic and multimedia design allows students to be creative and creativity is valuable because design requires problem solving skills to achieve a unique expectation. Students will get to learn and see things in different perspectives when a design problem is given to them. Such analysis helps to develop new ideas and invention.
The design process
When you shop in a shopping mall, what makes you choose between items that have different appearances or brand names but the same function or utilityIJ Do you decide on purely aesthetic grounds, or because one offers something specialIJ Or because your choice has been influenced by a successful marketing campaignIJ At home, in the street and at work you are surrounded by designed objects that you seem to take for granted, yet which are more significant in our daily lives than you perhaps realise.
While people take granted of the visuals they are surrounded by every day, graphic design students are the ones who contemplate how and why the consumers buys certain products and brands. The ability to comprehend consumers’ needs suggest that a good designer doesn’t just put together images and texts on a packaging box. The placement of font, colours and pictures are all well examined and evaluated before a design is put on visuals. Since designs are usually packaged as a popular culture, many people don’t take the career seriously. But these days, product designers and multimedia players are paid handsomely.
The process to develop a good design in reality needs critical, rational, methodical and valuable analytical skills to accomplish. A good design does not appear suddenly. Cultural and cognitive psychology is put into consideration so that the message is understood within a culture.
Job opportunity
Students who take up graphic design as their major will have a lot of opportunities to work in an advertising agency where they get to design ads for various brands. They may also be involved in the production of magazine photo shoots for some fashion or product brands. Graphic designers can also opt for packaging career.
Multimedia students will be able to take up a profession as a web designer and perform studio work that involves video editing and photography. Whichever title the students get in the future, it’s crucial that they receive quality training that can help them develop a good eye for detail and a good intellect for design problem solving skills.
Both multimedia and graphic design students will be taught to predict the design problems they would face. When an idea is conceived, a problem will also occur along the way. Having a good learning attitude is important for students when they are hunting for jobs.
The writer is lecturer and programme co-ordinator at Raffles Millennium International