In this day and age, it can be a challenge to land that dream job. With so many people applying for the same positions, employers are looking for more from potential candidates, so having some practical industry experience can really help set you apart from the crowd; especially if you can demonstrate how the skills you gained whilst working are relevant and can be transferred to the new position.
Deakin University is a University that excels in providing students with real industry experience in a number of their courses, and one, in particular, includes Deakin’s Bachelor of Design.
With a focus on the idea that the design industry is changing rapidly, as is the profession of Communication Design, this course addresses this shift through a fresh and exciting course focusing on all facets of communication design.
From day one, students are introduced to the professional design world, learning and creating in an array of state-of-the-art facilities with industry leaders and becoming connected to industry throughout the course, with the opportunity to take part in regular exhibitions and showcases, including a final year exhibition.
As part of the degree, students take part in a collaborative industry project, exploring the practices and processes for multidisciplinary design collaboration. This sees students being divided into teams and work on real-world projects with real industry and commercial clients to resolve complex creative projects from conception to completion, ensuring graduates finish with the knowledge and skills for a successful creative career.
“It’s fantastic, it gives you real-life experience and you’re on your own, having to think on your own feet and you’re practicing how it would be outside of uni,” explains current Deakin design student Nikki, who was paired with local organisation Cottage by the Sea.
“We were given a brief regarding what our client needed or the issues that they had, then we would meet them, explain the brief and discuss expectations, and then start creating a plan and design in whatever form that might be. It’s working within the industry, with real clients and an actual real brief; you really get that real-world experience.”
The best learning outcomes are achieved by integrating theory with professional practice, because it gives students an opportunity to see what their studies look like in action.
“It’s one thing to get a brief and work on an assignment, but it’s the challenges of a real client that is so beneficial with this degree. It’s knowing what questions to ask, and coming up with a plan and bringing it back and maybe giving them something they didn’t know that they need.” Nikki says.
Not only does industry-based experience offer an opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience in a chosen field, which could bolster your chances of success in the post-graduate job market, but it also provides an opportunity for developing your networking skills, as well as personal growth and reflection, which can help fine-tune students career goals and objectives.
“I know I want to get into branding now,” reveals Nikki “That’s another really great thing; when you’re working with the clients and you get all these different jobs thrown at you, you work out what you enjoy doing and what you don’t.
“It’s also improved my confidence. I’m not scared to go and talk to a client or go see them. You know what to say or what to ask, which is a really big deal, and you know how to communicate effectively, and flesh out what they’re expecting, what it is they’re wanting, and how exactly to bring your designs forward.”
To kickstart your career in design, visit www.deakin.edu.au/design
