With this in mind, one's choice of a career in multimedia design must be well informed and carefully planned. Multimedia design at its most basic definition is a means of relaying information through a wide range of media forms. It is the combination of audio and visual communication for maximum effect.
The design jobs sphere has grown in leaps and bounds just as technology has continued to advance. If you do intend to pursue any of the many options that design careers present, you will need to combine your inherent creative skills and artistic talent with training in basic computer skills as well as up to date design software. Both of these pillars are important in forming an all rounded professional in this creative niche.
For this reason, you will need to enroll for a certificate or degree course in order to acquire or strengthen these skills. Whether you take a certificate or a degree depends on a number of factors. For example, are you someone that is already working in a design-related industry and so only need to upgrade your skills or are you fresh from high school and are looking at laying the basic foundations for any one of the many design careers? Each of these will require a different approach include a different training plan. Of course your planned budget will be an important factor too. Bottom line is academic qualification places in good stead as far as being an all rounded design professional is concerned.
It is important that your search for a college be done carefully so that by the time you select one, you will be comfortable that it offers the best match for the skills you are looking at obtaining. The college's reputation is very important even though content is just as if not more important. Aim for institutions that have a history of links to the design industry. This will be an important avenue through which you can get that internship at the end of your coursework. Online courses are also available but it is important to verify the courses before undertaking them.
Actual training includes a broad combination of arts and technology courses. Multimedia design degrees have specializations depending on one's interests and end objective. For example video and sound editing, motion graphics production, sound track production, 3D animation, website development, computer games etcetera. You will need to select an academic institution that has demonstrated ability in any one of these areas depending on which one you would want to focus on.
That said it is important to note that the requirements and demands of designer careers continue to change regularly and you must always deliberately work towards being in touch with changes in the industry. For example, even after going for training in the conventional areas listed above, over time, whatever technology or methodology you learned can be replaced by demand for skills in a newer technology. You must be versatile enough to change with the times.
