Multimedia, New Media and Graphic Design

This page has been designed to give a starting point to those looking to work in careers in multimedia, new media and graphic design.

What is multimedia, new media and graphic design?

The design sector covers a range of disciplines including communication, graphic, product and industrial, interior and exhibitions, digital and multimedia and service design. The UK design industry is currently the biggest in Europe, employing more than 8,000 designers. (Creative and Cultural Skills)

There are various areas of work in the Interactive Media industry. Often, due to the fluid, dynamic nature of this sector, as well as the high pace of technological change, job titles and roles tend to be less fixed than in other sectors (Skillset). In such a relatively small and competitive industry, personal reputation and recommendations from previous employers are invaluable.

The following resources aim to give you more information about the multimedia, new media and graphic design industries and the roles available.

Prospects

Prospects is a graduate careers website with profiles on the following jobs, which are available at www.prospects.ac.uk
Graphic Designer
Multimedia Specialist

You will also find sector information on the Prospects website. The following sector briefings may be of use; Creative arts, Information Technology, Media.

There are also guidance sheets detailing what you can do with Your Degree in Graphic Design and Your Degree in Multimedia.

Targetjobs

Targetjobs is a graduate careers website with the following job sector information www.targetjobs.co.uk
Art and Design
Information Technology

The University of Kent

Colleagues at University of Kent have produced a guidance sheet:
'I want to work in ...Multimedia'

How do I get into it?

The Creative and Cultural Skills sector council sees the design sector as covering a range of disciplines including communications, graphic, product and industrial, interior and exhibitions, digital and multimedia and service design. Design is an integral part of modern culture combining aesthetic techniques, practicality and creativity to make our everyday life that bit simpler. It brings together ideas and innovation with people and the marketplace.

As with all the creative industries design is a competitive sector. Designers are likely to initially enter the industry as graduates of design degree courses, or with comparable art degrees, before progressing through various design roles. It is possible that some Designers may have no formal art training but, because they possessed the necessary passion and talent, they may have been promoted from a lower level role.

In such a relatively small and competitive industry, personal reputation and recommendations from previous employers are invaluable. Having a good portfolio is important in promoting yourself and demonstrating your capabilities to potential employers.

According to Skillset the interactive media and computer games workforce is highly educated, with most practitioners holding degrees and many holding postgraduate qualifications. At present, many of these are in subjects not directly related to interactive media.

The Industry generally seeks graduate-calibre recruits, with the subjects studied frequently being less important than the quality of the person.

e-Skills UK

This is the sector skills council for the IT and telecommunications sector in the UK. They have a dedicated careers website which details key roles in the industry, the entry routes. You will also find regular updates of the IT and telecommunications labour market which you can subscribe to free of charge. This is a key resource for anyone planning a career in the IT sector.
www.e-skills.com

Skillset

This is the sector skills council for the audiovisual industries in the UK. Amongst other things you will find information about the interactive media sector. You will also find information about news, events and opportunities in the interactive media sector as well as useful links relating to the industry. There is also information about the sector across the regions of the UK, including the South East.
www.skillset.org

Skillset Games

This section of the Skillset website focuses on the games industry, with sector and role information as well as profiles from those already working in the industry.
www.skillset.org/games/

Blitz Games

This website offers a general introduction to the computer games industry.
www.blitzgames.com/gameon

Prospects Community - Media and Publishing

Including advertising, promotion, marketing, publishing, media and the performing arts.
www.prospects.ac.uk/media

Wired Sussex

Brighton-based membership organisation for companies and freelancers operating in the digital, media and technology sector in Sussex.
www.wiredsussex.com
The Wired Sussex guest blog features members' accounts of how they furthered their careers through the WS network.
http://blog.wiredsussex.com

Careers in the Video Games Industry

Paul Brookes from local video games company Relentless Software came into the University of Brighton to give a talk to students about how to get into the video games industry. Read about what he had to say.

Careers in the video games industry

Finding a job or employer in this sector

According to Skillset, freelancers account for 11% of the workforce in computer games, and 16-17% in web and internet and offline multimedia and are often employed on a per-project basis.

According to Creative & Cultural Skills there are 14,805 businesses in the design sector. Within the sector 66% of workers are employees, while 34% are self employed. Full-time opportunities are dominant with 88% employed on this basis. The the design workforce is male dominated with 68% employed.

The majority of design businesses are small, with 89% employing under 4 people.

According to Creative & Cultural Skills, the UK design industry is considered to be one of the best in the world. The majority of design opportunities are to be found in London, with 25% of the industry based there.

There is a shortage of the following skills in this sector:

• Design organisations are finding most applicants lack the right level of experience to be able to meet the needs of the positions available.
• There is a shortage of skills in creative and management roles while IT positions are also lacking key skills.
• IT and technical skills (i.e. specialisms) are most likely to be missing from design organisations.
• Management and leadership are the skills the industry wants from new recruits.
• Communication planning, intellectual property and organisational skills are also in great demand.

If you are looking to start your career in Sussex then you should familiarise yourself with the following resources. The South East accounts for around 25,960 design roles (Creative & Cultural skills).

Vacancies in this sector are not always advertised but are filled by personal contacts developed through more creative and individual job hunting techniques. Some of the following resources may contain useful contacts to start this process.

Wired Sussex

Wired Sussex is the business development agency for over a 1,200 digital media companies across Sussex and south east. There is an online directory which could be potential employers, in addition Wired Sussex organise events, giving the opportunity to network, meeting other people in the same sector.
www.wiredsussex.com

Directory of Design Consultants

Online directory of design consultants.
www.designdirectory.co.uk

Design Week

Jobs for graphic, retail, web, interior and product designers.
http://jobs.designweek.co.uk/

Develop Magazine

A good source of news and jobs relating to the computer games industry.
www.developmag.com

Gi gamesindustry.biz

Extensive employer directory, jobs and industry news.
www.gamesindustry.biz

round8

Graduate to Director Recruitment Agency round8 finds and develops commercial people for media and digital media companies.
www.round8.com

Relentless Software

Brighton based computer games company. Listen to the podcast with Jill Peters from Relentless Software in the 'resources' section on the right hand side of this page.
www.relentless.co.uk/jobs

Revolution Jobs

This site has the latest vacancies for the digital industry across a range of sectors including, advertising, marketing, media and web development
www.revolutionjobs.co.uk

The Guardian

In addition The Guardian has an IT section every Thursday and new media vacancies every Monday.
jobs.guardian.co.uk

Further information and useful links

You will find more links like this on the Skillset website.

Arts, culture, media jobs
Job website for creative people – it has a visual art and design section.
www.artsculturemediajobs.com

Axis

Showcase for contemporary British Artists/Makers (including Fine Art, Film, Photography, Video and Multimedia). Add your details to Axis database to be browsed by potential clients.
www.axisweb.org

Pact

Pact is the UK trade association that represents and promotes the commercial interests of independent feature film, television, animation and interactive media companies.
www.pact.co.uk

British Interactive Media Association

Established in 1985, the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) is the trade association representing the diverse interests of the UK interactive industry.
www.bima.co.uk/

4Talent

Helping you make the first, or next, move in your career, aiding in creative development and opening a doorway into the real world of creativity, arts and media.
www.channel4.com/4talent/national/

IVCA

The International Visual Communication Association exists to promote effective business and public service communications of the highest ethical and professional standards.
www.ivca.org

Network Design

Design and management recruitment consultants – categories including Graphics, Interior Architecture, Marketing, New Media. Junior posts available.
www.networkdesign.cc

New Media Knowledge

NMK is a learning and business information hub for companies and individuals working in UK digital media.
www.nmk.co.uk/

DCF

The Digital Content Forum (DCF) provides a two way conduit between industry and government to gather views and input into policy making processes.
www.dcf.org.uk

New Media Age

NMA is the UK's only weekly magazine covering the business of interactive media: the Internet, wireless internet and interactive TV.
www.nma.co.uk

Media Guardian

Latest news from the Guardian on interactive media.
www.guardian.co.uk/media

British Design Initiative

Professional association representing the UK design and advertising community. Searchable database of vacancies, members, workshops and student awards
www.britishdesign.co.uk

Chartered Society of Designers

The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) is the professional body for designers. With over 3000 members in 34 countries, it is the world's largest chartered body of professional designers and is unique in representing designers in all disciplines.
www.csd.org.uk/

The Design Council

Examines the nature of design and the design process, also includes lists of events and publications.
www.designcouncil.org.uk

Graphic Design and Publishing Centre

Electronic magazine for graphic designers.
www.graphic-design.com/

Transition Tradition

Transition Tradition is a portal for creative students and graduates experiencing the transition between university and work.
www.transitiontradition.com