What is Multimedia Design?
Whether it's building a corporate presence on the web or designing the new formats for interactive television, multimedia design is central to creatively engaging an audience. Multimedia Design uses information technology and computing to create animation, special effects, sound production, 3-D modelling, internet authoring, game design and more.
Why Multimedia Design at UQ?
Here are nine reasons to choose UQ for your Multimedia Design studies. From 2008, the Bachelor of Multimedia Design program is offered at the St Lucia campus, having been offered at the Ipswich campus up to and including 2007.
Thinking about a games degree? Then think about the BMultMedDes or BInfTech(Games Modelling major) at UQ. Employers are looking for well-rounded graduates with knowledge of the traditional subjects, not just the latest software packages. In September 2007, the head recruiter for a major international computer and video games developer in the UK was quoted in the Times Higher Education Supplement newspaper as saying games-only degrees are too narrow. His company tests potential recruits in maths and programming and finds that those who have studied computer science and maths to some depth do better and get the jobs. He went on to say that games degrees are not readily transferable to other industries. That's why at UQ we offer the hard-core technical skills to succeed as a games developer, but enough general skills to be able to work in any area of software development.
What will I study?
You work in a studio setting using the latest technology. You learn how to develop your ideas and make them into reality by building a portfolio of individual and team-based projects.
Courses fall into four main areas of expertise:
- Design of Digital Media - the essential skills of seeing, imagining and communicating. Students use visual thinking methods, brainstorming, user-centred thinking, media studies, form and colour, harmony, aesthetics and photography to solve problems, and construct physical prototypes as artefacts exploring design.
- Technology Skills and Digital Tools - basic programming, the nature of technology and how to creatively apply what is learnt. Using a broad range of industry-standard packages like Photoshop, Director, Lightwave, Maya, Electric Image, Dreamweaver and Final Cut Pro, students gain experience in multimedia areas such as 3D modelling, animation, web design, interaction design and audio.
- Studio - project based, collaborative work that includes workshops, guest lecturers, field trip, experiential exercises and self-directed learning. In studio, students apply what they learn in other courses, and gain three years of experience, not just three years of learning.
- Elective Stream - course choices to suit your interests and career aspirations.
What about industry experience?
Our students often undertake projects with industry based clients as part of their Studio study. For example, first year students have been involved in a project with Metro Arts. They designed and delivered technical realisations of animated sketches requested by artists. Our students have also produced interactive work for gaming, including building game engines.
Our final-year students have an opportunity to undertake research projects with significant industry partners through UQ's involvement with the Australasian Centre for Interaction Design (ACID). ACID brings together researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds to investigate new forms of human interaction with emerging technologies.
There is also an opportunity to obtain credit for industry certification courses.
What work does it lead to?
Multimedia designers are in demand within education, arts and commercial industries; in fact wherever an audience is to be engaged. Whether it's games, film, television, or the Internet, multimedia designers are at the forefront of designing the audience, user and player experience.
More information and printed prospectus
- Slides from presentations made to students relocating from Ipswich to St Lucia in 2008
- Printed prospectus incorporating Multimedia Design.
- Official program requirements and course list for BMultMedDes.
- Scholarships.
- How to apply for admission.