Creative digial media course CAO help pls

vixy

i'm interested in doin the creative digital media course because it sounds very interesting. im very interested in design and animation ect, so wud dat be the course for me?
and i also dont know which to put first on my CAO for the course at ITT or ITB so if anybody knows which is more suitable, has any info on this or recomendations could u please let mo knnow . thanks a lot

pikachucheeks

I do that course, I'm in 3rd year

If you like multimedia things, that's one of the big course modules. We do things like learning to use various software ; Flash, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator etc... and our assignments (making interactive websites, movie sequences) are based around those programmes.

Pretty fun! - and it's all based on industry-standards, so it's very relevant to skills you'll need in the future, for a career in media.

vixy

thanks a lot it sounds great. do u know what future careers are available?

Zillah

vixy wrote: »

i'm interested in doin the creative digital media course because it sounds very interesting. im very interested in design and animation ect, so wud dat be the course for me?
and i also dont know which to put first on my CAO for the course at ITT or ITB so if anybody knows which is more suitable, has any info on this or recomendations could u please let mo knnow . thanks a lot

u will fit rite in

Jean is gonna love her.

pikachucheeks

vixy wrote: »

thanks a lot it sounds great. do u know what future careers are available?

Pretty much anything and everything ; People go on to work in TV, Advertising, Radio, Multimedia, Design...

It's a broad media course, covers loads of different areas

Zillah

One piece of advice I'd give you for day 1 is to specialise. The one big flaw with the course is that it is too broad. You'll walk out the door being able to do loads of things quite well but there won't really be anything you can say "I am fully trained for this". So even if the course choices don't let you specialise, do so on your own time. By second year you should be deciding what career you want to get out of it and put as much of your own time into it as you can. Really like TV? Get out there shooting a movie on the weekend. Like animation? Have some animation projects going on the side.

vixy

who's jean? ha
oh ok thanks very much this is really helpfull. so what your sayin is know exactly what i want to do and research etc? is it possible to get your degree and get nowhere? thanks a mill. is it a friendly course

sineadw

vixy wrote: »

is it possible to get your degree and get nowhere?

Absolutely. Same goes for any degree though...

It *is* a friendly course I just arrived into 3rd year out of nowhere and I'm feeling I fit already.

As far as design an animation go? Coming from a background(ish) in both it doesn't seem strong on either to be honest. Its a broad degree. I did 2 years in Ballyfermot and we concentrated more on both, even though it was just a HND. Sounds like you might want more of a multimedia degree - I'd say Glasnevin or Dun Laoire might be better suited.


Zillah - didn't know you went to ITT

unreggd

I wanna apply online from Oz, should it be ok?

was anyone called in for interview, or asked for a portfolio????

pikachucheeks

unreggd wrote: »

I wanna apply online from Oz, should it be ok?

was anyone called in for interview, or asked for a portfolio????

Are you applying through the CAO?
If so, there's no interview or portfolio needed.

If you're a mature student, then interview is the protocol, as far as I know

vixy

so if the course doesnt do animation and atuff does it do graphics and dat or is it more media based? awwwwwwww

Misa-san

vixy wrote: »

so if the course doesnt do animation and atuff does it do graphics and dat or is it more media based? awwwwwwww

It's a bit of both. If you can, come along on the open day on the 19th of this month and you can talk to people who work on the course. Or track myself or pikachucheeks down and badger us

unreggd

Howaya's!

So Im applyin for CDM atm to start next September, but really wanna get it as I dont wanna do any other courses really...

I got 370 in the leavin, so im within their 300-400 range

Do they let extra people in?

Also, Im looking to do a broad media course, but specialise in Photography; by choosing all Photography-related electives, and using the facilities in my own time

What kind of Darkroom facilities are there, and do u get full/much access to them?

And what way do the subject choices work out as per this table


Thanks in advance!

Misa-san

Ah talking about this course is something I do A LOT! And the first thing I do is point out that table.
There's a small mistake - which is it's a choice between "Language" and "AV Technology" (and remember - the top line is 1st year, semester 1)

The only subject choices you make for the first 2 years is your language (french or german) or AV Tech. You do every module that's listed there; writing, graphic design, film studies, all of it. The year is split between photography and radio. So half the class do photography up until christmas and then they switch for radio/audio. It's like that for 1st and 2nd year. In 3rd (where I am now) you choose between Photography and Radio/Audio (I'm a photography girl myself).

1st year photography is 35mm film based. You do not however develope them yourself. 2nd year is "Digital" in a way in that you shoot on 35mm film, but scan into the computer to work on in Photoshop and then print it on Inkjet printers.

The photography facilities are as follows:

Computer lab - inc. colour-calibrated monitors, the latest edition of Photoshop and other software, and 3 photo printers (1 large inkjet printer and 2 smaller printer - these can only be accessed by a lecturer)

Photography studio: complete with lights, reflectors, back drops and computer. Only accessible for booking by 3rd years however, but photography class is generally held there.

Darkrooms: There is one left, it's a black and white one and it is SMALL. Tiny! The colour dark room is now offices. It can fit about 6 people (if they know eachother). It it not part of the photography course to use this facility anymore however upon special request for use as part of projects it is used. 4th years, to the best of my knowledge, use it more. I think if interest is expressed in using it in class it's brought in, I have it on good authority that it is not on the course anymore.

The Photography society have managed to gain access to the darkroom, the access is some-what limited, but it's access. We will hopefully be able to use it for personal work. The computer lab is open to media students to use the scanners and computers, but they cannot print without a lecturer there, and only for class work. Again, the Photography society are aiming to work around that by offering to buy extra ink or paper. But I don't know how much we can accomplish.

ANYWAY

With 370 you should be fine. The course has not gone above 320 or so in recent years, so I'd be pretty confident in you getting it. I wouldn't rely soley on one course though, I don't know what you mean by "extra people" but when the course is full - it's full. It's a small course as it is, to allow for the facilities and how practical it is - and with the places for mature students set aside, space is tight.
There are a few courses around Dublin offering very similar things as this one, it may be worth looking into them too as back-up plans.

Hope my rant helped! Any more questions? :P I do this quite a bit

unreggd

Arigato gozaimasu Misa-san

Sounds good. A bit disappointing about the use of facilities though, i really wanted to get stuck into photography from the get go

Do you still recommend it for someone wanting to specialise in photography? Can the lecturers be paid off for use of Studios etc :P ??

Yeah still lookin for similar courses

By extras I meant some courses say 30 places, but take on 40 people, but I guess they'd need to be more strict here with a resource-based course

Whats the timetable like? How many hours a week r u in? How early etc?


Cheers

Zillah

unreggd wrote: »

Do you still recommend it for someone wanting to specialise in photography? Can the lecturers be paid off for use of Studios etc :P ??

Even in fourth year, photography will only be one of several (5/6? I don't really remember) classes that you are doing. You get pretty much free access to cameras and PCs with photoshop and you can do loads of work on the side if you like, but "specialise" is not a word that applies to this course much.

Whats the timetable like? How many hours a week r u in? How early etc?

Class time is quite light, I remember it being in the region of 15-20 hours lecture time per week. Lots of ongoing projects though so you have to spend quite a lot of time working on those outside of class. I was rarely in earlier than 10, and many days I wouldn't have a class until the afternoon.

Which is nice.

Misa-san

Zillah wrote: »

I was rarely in earlier than 10, and many days I wouldn't have a class until the afternoon.

Which is nice.

There's more and more 9 o'clocks now though! Early - I can't say. Every course has a 9 o'clock start or two. They're sticking it to us.
But class time is pretty light, you'll average between 18 and 20 hours - but there is on-going work, projects to do in your own time.

It's not a dedicated photography course, all the electives aside, you won't ever be focusing on it and only it - you'll have other subjects that need just as much attention.

The facilities are there to use, but only to a certain extent. You can't print your own work unfortunately because the cost of ink and paper is far too much to justify giving students the run of the place. Course work and course work only. But computers you can use, and the scanners. Going to a photo developement place n printing digital is pretty handy rather than getting whole rolls of stuff done. The Photography society are looking to get into these facilities for more personal work though. But it has yet to be seen as to what can be achieved.

I would recommend the course, even if you do want to specialise in photography. The cinematography element of film ties in really well, and it's a good cross over (many cinematographers are artists and/or photographers) and the design elements really adds to it - can turn your photos into posters or learn about typography and other design elements.

I have no problem with specialised courses, and I'd consider doing one myself when I graduate, but I also think it's a very limited degree whereas you would come out of this course with a broader skill-set.

unreggd

Misa-san wrote: »

I would recommend the course, even if you do want to specialise in photography. The cinematography element of film ties in really well, and it's a good cross over (many cinematographers are artists and/or photographers) and the design elements really adds to it - can turn your photos into posters or learn about typography and other design elements.

I have no problem with specialised courses, and I'd consider doing one myself when I graduate, but I also think it's a very limited degree whereas you would come out of this course with a broader skill-set.

That's me alright!

I wudnt wanna do the degree as its too theory/history-heavy
And I wanna be able to do Cinematography too

Basically, I really wanna do this course, but I wanna be qualified for photography with more than the equivalent of a PLC cert

Will prob go on to do a Masters too, so that could be more Photography-based

Anyways, hopefully im there in September! Cheers for the info

Misa-san

No worries! It's what I do (literally)

But yeah, you wouldn't come out as a "Qualified Photographer" but if it was something you wanted to persure you'd have a great basis for an additional degree. Would probably only take a year or two.

See ya in September!

unreggd

Zillah wrote: »

Even in fourth year, photography will only be one of several (5/6? I don't really remember) classes that you are doing. You get pretty much free access to cameras and PCs with photoshop and you can do loads of work on the side if you like, but "specialise" is not a word that applies to this course much

By specialise I meant do photography in my own time, on the side, using college facilities like the dark room and studio
I understand the course itself is broad


Thanks guys!!!

Misa-san

unreggd wrote: »

...using college facilities like the dark room and studio...

Yeah you can do that no prob - to an extent anyway. Not nearly as much as you'd like though :P If I had my way I'd be in there every other day!

unreggd

Misa-san wrote: »

If I had my way I'd be in there every other day!

Snap!

sineadw

Ah sure what's a 'qualified' photographer anyway? Means doodly squat in real-world terms. How many of the pros do you know from the photography forum have a degree in it - even a broad one?

It's a great course Hopefully see you in September.

unreggd

Yer photos are only RAPPIH!

unreggd

I'm back!

So CAO is done since January with CDM at the top [woop woop]

Question about 4 year

How many of the electives do you choose from the 8 highlighted in the PDF?

Misa-san

Woah. Getting pretty ahead of yourself there.

Out of those 4, you'll have already chosen between photography and audio subjects the year before, so all that's left is to choose between production or Multimedia.

They're split over the two semesters; so it's not 8 altogether, it's 4 and 4 - and you'll be doing 2 out of each per semester.

Did cover what you were asking?

unreggd

Watcha mean ahead of meself? :P

Yeah, I'll be choosing Photography, so its 2 from this list:

*Digital Media Production
*Advanced Digital Media Production

*Interactive Media: 3D Modelling
*Interactive Media: Project

Is it any 2, or would I have to pick the 2 Media Prods, or interactive media?

Cheers!

Misa-san

No it's not any two. If you pick "Media Production" you study that for the year. So Digital Medie Prod the first semester and Adv. Digital Media the next semester.


Dude, I'm in 3rd year and only started thinking about it recently. But hey, good to have an idea of what you want to get out of the course before going into it.

unreggd

Haha, yeah, I plan things wayyyy to far in advance

But spose its better than never plannin anything!

Think thats everything sussed though, cheers!

Now just have to wait til August :rolleyes:

arigato!

Misa-san

Just wait. In a month or two there will be a lovely shiny site dedicated to the course filling you in on anything and everything you need to know.

(you so can't tell that I'm biased coz I'm working on it ...)

spikeprint

This course is my number one choice. Have been interviewed already and it went well, so fingers crossed!! It looks deadly and I really want to get in.

unreggd

Did u apply as a mature student ?

red_ice

I just found out today that i've been accepted into year 3 in september. Im coming from BCFE's digital media course and im ecstatic! How many people are in each year? I've a feeling im going to get lost in the place.

What areas does interactive design/development focus on?

also, whats the story with getting into a sports society?

unreggd

red_ice wrote: »

I just found out today that i've been accepted into year 3 in september. Im coming from BCFE's digital media course and im ecstatic! How many people are in each year? I've a feeling im going to get lost in the place.

What areas does interactive design/development focus on?

also, whats the story with getting into a sports society?

Congrats

Did the Ballyer course have a lot of Theory?

Thats the only thing puttin me off this degree

red_ice

unreggd wrote: »

Congrats

Did the Ballyer course have a lot of Theory?

Thats the only thing puttin me off this degree

Thanks!

There were no exams, however it was continual assessment. Personally, i found the work easy, and i got it finished long before it was due. Then again, there were some very important lessons i learned there regarding working with other people and organizational skills. I learned alot about 3d and design for corporate and web.

Theory shouldn't be something to put you off an interest.

Misa-san

Hey red_ice, congrats on getting in.

I'm going into 4th year myself, there'd be in or around 30 or less people in each year. You'll know everyone by name and work with most of them at some point. People are pretty laid back, it's a cool course, there's some really cool people in it. Lecturers are dead sound too. I know some people going into third year, I'll be sure to tell em to steal your lunch money

And don't worry about getting lost, it's all in one building. Room numbers on all the doors, and aside from the media lab and radio studio all the CDM classes are downstairs. Will you be in for the first year introduction and orientation? I should hopefully be working them so grab me if you've got any questions.

Interactive design/developement focus on a primary goal of a building a website and some motion graphics as an intro movie to the site and a second class project.

red_ice

Misa-san wrote: »

Will you be in for the first year introduction and orientation? I should hopefully be working them so grab me if you've got any questions.

Interactive design/developement focus on a primary goal of a building a website and some motion graphics as an intro movie to the site and a second class project.

Thanks misa!

When is the orientation? All the info i have is from marian (nice lady), "if you dont hear from us by the first of september, give me a call".

Misa-san

red_ice wrote: »

Thanks misa!

When is the orientation? All the info i have is from marian (nice lady), "if you dont hear from us by the first of september, give me a call".

Orientation is in September, yeah, sometime in the first few weeks it's really handy, I think they do try to include everyone who's incoming, it's the best way to introduce everyone to the system. But yeah, you'll either hear from them or you should hound them. And then hound me on the day

red_ice

will you have your "im misa-san from boards.ie" badge on?

Misa-san

red_ice wrote: »

will you have your "im misa-san from boards.ie" badge on?

Something like that. You'll find me I'm sure - that's if I get the job! Haha

Just heard word the inductions will be running from the 2nd of September onwards, so you know to call if they forget to contact you before then!

red_ice

grand!

Dundalk1990

I have it as my first choice, hoping to get 300 points in my fetac, not sure if itl be enough. I haven't been called for an interview tho? is that just for mature students ye?

Misa-san

I wouldn't worry. There were people getting calls the day before induction! Don't give up hope - there's still plenty time

DualBladez

yeah plenty of time!

Misa-san

Yeah don't sweat and good luck!

spikeprint

I applied as a mature student alright. Have the points for the Leaving Cert and Fetac as well, so I'm confident. Anyone know what the story with a language is?

Misa-san

Generally (unless something has drasticly changed) language is Fresh it German or you can take AV Technology instead. They don't make that very clear in the syllabus "graph". I hate that thing. Anyone who met me at the RDS this year got one with my drawings in it ... fixing it, of course.

spikeprint

So I don't have to do a language? I was hoping for Spanish if I did. I studied French and German and I still speak more Spanish than both of those combined.

Misa-san

No, you don't have to take a language. But unfortunately Spanish isn't on offer. Maybe ask, because European Studies do take it and it's in conjunction with them the language is taught, but more than likely it's French, German or AV Tech. That's how it's been for the last few years.

spikeprint

Got accepted this morning, so happy days! Thanks for the info, I think it will be AV technology for me.

Misa-san

Congratulations! See you during inductions! :P