Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
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About Digital Media
You'll become
Average Salaries
Digital Media workers may earn between $44,000 and $102,000 per year
Shape the way we see the world and build cutting-edge skills for an emerging new industry by studying a digital media course.
Play a key role in the way we experience the world and engage with ideas by working in the exciting area of digital media. An emerging industry, digital media employs designers, artists and producers who work at the intersection of technology and design, producing exciting and stimulating media for the new technology world. If you have big ideas, a creative appetite and the desire to make an impact, a career in digital media is for you.
By completing a digital media course, you’ll build the critical skills, personal insights and theoretical knowledge required to turn your natural curiosity and creativity into an enriching career in media and design. Practical and modern, a digital media course will teach you the technical skills required to work in the field, grounded in a deep contextual understanding of the contemporary trends, challenges and opportunities facing media producers in the modern environment.
You’ll learn to identify emerging trends and new creative markets, and build the skills required to produce a range of written, visual and audio media to help people engage. You’ll learn how to manage projects and media teams, and build a diverse design management skillset that will adapt as your career progresses.
You may study a digital media course as certificate or diploma course or as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. You may choose to work as a web or graphic designer, in multimedia production, or in communications, using your creative skills and insights to develop compelling media that engage, challenge and excite people.
Exciting, unexpected and dynamic, a career in digital media is a unique opportunity to develop your artistic vision, shape your style and build the portfolio of creative work you need to start a career with a competitive edge. If you’re curious about technology, have a head for innovation, and want to use your creative skills in the new media world, start today by studying a digital media course.
What do digital media graduates do?
You may work in a range of design, media production and communication roles after completing a digital media course, and as a result, the tasks you’ll perform will depend on your specific role. However, as a designer or creative producer, you can generally expect to be responsible for designing visual communications materials, including producing graphics, illustrations, animations and videos. You may work in-house for a creative agency or other business, or work freelance as an independent designer, which will affect the nature and scope of your day-to-day responsibilities.
As a designer, you can expect to perform tasks like:
- Consulting with clients and stakeholders, to determine the objectives and constraints of a design brief;
- Researching and analysing assignment communications requirements and selecting appropriate design medium and tools;
- Reviewing references and researching creative elements;
- Producing sketches, illustrations, diagrams and layouts to communicate design concepts;
- Providing informed advice on use of composition, light, colour, patterns and trends in design to clients and stakeholders;
- Detailing and documenting a selected design for production;
- Supervising or carrying out the design in the chosen media; and
- Managing the execution of design projects, including managing and briefing staff, and managing budgets and other resources.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
After completing a digital media course, you’ll be qualified to work in visual communication, animation, digital video, visual effects, web and interactive media, user experience design and learning communication.
After completing a digital media course, you may seek employment as a:
- Marketing Manager
- Communications Coordinator
- Corporate Communications Executive
- Communications Manager
- Public Relations Consultant
- Digital Media Coordinator
- Producer
- Freelance Writer
- Communications Officer
- Communications and Events Coordinator
- Digital Marketing and Communications Officer
- Publicity Officer
- Digital Marketer
- Public Relations Officer
- Digital Media Assistant
- Marketing and Communications Officer
- Online Editor
- Digital Communication Manager
- Communication Engagement Officer
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Is digital media right for you?
You’ll enjoy working in digital media if you:
- Are creative
- Can express yourself well
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are curious about the world
- Like using technology
- Can work independently
- Are proactive and enterprising
- Are a natural leader
- Enjoy detailed work
- Have excellent organisational and project management skills
- Enjoy problem-solving and testing
- Work well with people
- Are patient and empathetic
- Enjoy new ideas and opportunities
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports that both the digital media and design industries are relatively large and growing sectors in Australia.
The multimedia production industry currently employs approximately 10,300 people and has been growing modestly for the past decade. Job Outlook expects that growth to continue, predicting that approximately 10,600 people will be employed in digital media production roles in Australia by 2020.
Similarly, Job Outloook states that approximately 46,500 people in Australia are employed as graphic designers, and predicts the industry to continue growing. By 2020, the graphic design industry in Australia will employ approximately 53,300 people. While the industry has contracted slightly over the last few years, it is expected to grow strongly over the next decade.
While the size of the design profession indicates roles are available in most areas of Australia, Job Outlook notes that the sector is concentrated in New South Wales, with approximately 45 per cent of all designers working in the state.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that digital media specialists in Australia can expect to earn between $44,000 and $102,000 per year, with an average annual salary of $64,000.
According to PayScale, graphic designers can expect to earn a salary between $39,000 and $68,000 per year, with an average industry salary of approximately $51,000 per year. While a positive relationship exists between experience and earning capacity, PayScale notes that entry-level designers can still earn a competitive average salary of approximately $47,000 per year.