Advice up-skilling into the Digital Design Industry

duffman90210

I graduated 3 years ago with a B.A. in Music and French. Since then I have been teaching English in France and now in Japan.

I've finally worked out the area I want to get into. I know that I don't want to have the same job for 20 years rather, I'd like to have a few different jobs in the digital design realm. Web-design, usability designer, front-end design, graphic design etc etc

At first I found a number of courses in Ireland, for example UCC and UL's Interactive Media courses. Then I looked further afield and found a great course right here in Tokyo.

Unfortunately, it's rather expensive and I'm really struggling to decide if it's worth taking out a hefty (20k) loan to do the two year masters.

The best alternative I've found is the one-year Creative Digital Media masters in DIT.

I'd really appreciate if anybody with experience in the industry could take a look at the outline of the two courses in the links below and let me know their opinions.

From what I've heard from those on the Keio University course, the classes will get you a start in a few different areas but it's up to you to really push forward with the knowledge, acquiring more skills as you do your real project. I guess the fact that it's two years and there's an industry-coordinated project involved is a real attraction. As is the fact that there's the possibility of an internship as well as the experience of studying in a foreign country.

However, I want to make sure it's worth the pricetag.

Thanks in advance to anybody that pitches in with their 2cents.

http://www.dit.ie/postgrad/programmes/dt540bmscincreativedigitalmedia/

http://www.kmd.keio.ac.jp/en/admissions/curriculum.html

InTheTrees

I looked at the DIT course and it seems okay I guess.

It seems a very short time for all these specialisations they're proposing to train you in.

"The Masters in Creative Digital Media provides a thorough grounding in the core skills and knowledge of digital media technologies and offers specialist production techniques dedicated to the specific needs of the digital media industry. "

To be honest it seems more like a Foundation course in Digital Media. But maybe thats what you need? What area of Digital Media interests you?

duffman90210

Yeah, it definitely seems like a foundation course, but as I said I'm coming from a different area so that's what I need.

For that reason though I preferred the look of the course in Japan as it's 2 years even though it seems that the second year has no classes and requires a lot of self learning.

Afterwards, I'd like to work as a user architect or front end designer or web designer or something in the design industry.

InTheTrees

How long is the DIT course?

Also a little off topic but have you ever considered music for games? I've worked in many game companies and the larger ones have pretty extensive music depts. Just a thought.

duffman90210

The DIT course is one year and the Keio course is two but the second year has no classes, you just work on your project.

Did you have a look at the Keio course? What do think of it?

Yeah, I've done some compositional work before and actually I majored in composition in my final year but I'd like to get more into the design/technical side of things.

InTheTrees

I think I'd take the DIT course. Two years just seems a long time. Although I wonder how much help and support you get during that second year in Japan? It could be valuable time in getting some project started. Sorry I'm not more help.