The Diploma of Interactive Design has grown out of Natcoll's highly successful Diploma of Multimedia. It offers you skills in a wide variety of interactive digital media. Choose this course and you will build your skill for a fantastic career in a thriving industry.

In this course you'll learn the techniques of great web design, interactve design, video production, and interactive game design and development. You'll produce a wide variety of interactive digital media projects to enhance your portfolio and demonstrate your skills in interactive design and communication.The Interactive Design course gives you the ideal start to enter industry in a number of roles, including web designer, interactive designer and interactive game designer/developer.

The Diploma of Interactive Design class size is restricted to a maximum of 20 students.

Course Components

• Design - how to generate and develop ideas; learn design processes for interactive media design; develop your skills in digital imaging for interactive design using Photoshop and Illustrator
• Web design - design websites to a commercial standard, using current best-practice techniques
• Audio and video production - produce and edit audio and video for interactive projects; compress and optimise audio and video content for a range of interactive applications
• Interactive communication design and production - design and produce interactive and animated components for use in websites, CD/DVD-ROMs, kiosks and installations
• Interactive game development - create story and characters, graphic, video and audio assets for interactive games; generate scripting to complete an interactive game using Flash
• Individual project - your own interactive multimedia project, produced to a commercial standard
• Portfolio - produce an interactive portfolio of your own work.

* Course content is subject to change to ensure continued industry relevance.

Assessment

• Assessment is standards-based, which means you need to meet all the standards set for a particular task.
• There are no marks or examinations.
• All projects must be produced to a commercial standard.
• You are encouraged to develop technical skills and your own design style.
• Reassessment opportunities are available.
• Minimum 80% attendance requirements apply.

Equipment & Software

Equipment

• Apple Macintosh or PC computers
• Digital cameras
• Sound recording equipment
• Video production room with studio lighting and blue/green screen

Software

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Flash
• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Illustrator
• Apple Final Cut Pro
• Apple Soundtrack Pro

Entry Requirements

You are required to show us your creativity by submitting examples of your work in a medium of your choice. You need a working knowledge of digital imaging software such as Photoshop and illustration software such as FreeHand or Illustrator.

Course Fees & Related Costs

Course fees*

Domestic students: $6,300
International students: $17,500

*Domestic course fees are GST inclusive. Course fees could be subject to change.

Course Costs

The following estimated costs apply to classes starting in 2010. For some items the cost will vary depending on the brand of item purchased or on the student’s individual needs. Students are encouraged to discuss the items, especially recommended texts, with their tutor before purchasing.

Essential items

• Visual Diary – one provided
• Software manuals – provided
• 300 print credits – provided
• Monthly internet quota – provided
• External Firewire hard drive - up to $300
• 1 digital video tape – approx. $15
• Headphones – approx. $60

• Recommended textbooks – up to $400
• 8GB USB pen drive – approx. $40
• Extra print credits – up to $80 (if you exceed provided quota)
• Extra internet quota – up to $100 (if you exceed provided quota)
• Sundry stationery – up to $100

Industry Relevance

The course includes a major group project. Working as part of a team, you will create an animated short film. The completed project will be played at a public screening. The experience you gain working on this project is as close to working in an animation studio as possible.

• Natcoll liaises closely with the video, animation and interactive industries to ensure the latest commercial practices are taught.
• Natcoll encourages students to work on real industry projects.

These connections with industry mean you will have the skills needed to hit the ground running once you finish your course.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can enter the creative industries in a variety of roles, including:

• Web designer
• Interactive designer
• Interactive game designer/developer

Further learning

Extend yourself with further study with the Diploma of Web Development or Diploma of Computer Graphic Design, or broaden your skills with the Diploma of Digital Media (Advanced).

You can also explore degree level study at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia. Graduates can get direct entry to year 2 of either RMIT's:

• 3-year Bachelor of Arts (Games Graphics Design)
• 3-year Bachelor of Arts (Digital Arts)

A saving of one year.

Starting Dates