MAKE YOUR MARK , IF YOU’RE DOWN TO STUDY AT SAE
A career in design is yours for the taking. Dive headfirst towards your future where your everyday work life is the freedom to play, conceptualise, and translate your imagination into imagery with impact.
Combine art with technology to communicate through graphics and allow our industry experts to mentor you whilst elevating your skills, forming industry connections, and building a dynamic portfolio so you can realise your vision.
DIVINE DESIGN
We’re living in a highly visual world. Images, vector graphics, paintings, sculptures, film clips - all for our viewing pleasure. Iconic graphics have moved us for decades, some have influenced millions worldwide and found their place in history - Uncle Sam recruiting soldiers for war, Che Guevarra a symbol of revolutionary change, the Chinese Yin and Yang adopted universally as a symbol for harmony and interconnection. Today, we have the Nike tick that motivates us to get fit, luxury brands with logos people pay thousands of dollars to wear, posters that compel us to watch a movie or visual displays that inspire.
In this world of design, you are not only working in an industry that focuses on aesthetics, but you are working in an industry that understands human behaviour.
Though different in job descriptions, they all require creative intuition.
SO WHAT DOES A CAREER IN DESIGN LOOK LIKE?
Dream big, work hard, and soarit’s time to design your destiny.
Like any creative field, design is a product of your imagination. You need to tap into your artistic roots to generate and craft meaningful ideas. It can be beautiful, and it can even be ugly - all that matters is that you stretch your imagination to new heights. Look at the creative directors, marketing specialists, the User Experience (UX) Designers.
The design industry has many layers. It’s thrilling and exciting because you have the chance to access and channel the different parts of your mind: your tech skills, your creative skills, and even your own social skills as you try to connect to other humans. All this can be funnelled through the elements of visual images in roles as a graphic designer, content creator, storyboard artist, product designer, creative director, or brand manager - all within any and every industry you can imagine. Be it in fashion, a fortune 500 corporation, music, a not-for-profit, or all of the above - they’re all invested in their image as a business. Because in this vision-hungry era - image is everything, and it’s up to you to shape it.
A good design can compel a person to feel a certain way, to buy a product or even forge our social constructs. Such is the power you can yield in this industry.
OWN YOUR FUTURE
Visual Content is Crucial for More than 71% of Australian Brands
VENNGAGE MARKET STUDY
Your graphic design portfolio will be your most valuable asset in gaining a creative position in the design industry. Graphic design is evolving, and whether you dream of being your own boss in a creative design studio or working as a freelance designer, being passionate about what you do is the key to success.
HELI PUHAKKA SENIOR LECTURER BRISBANE
It’s a truly inspired feeling when your job is something you love doing - even more so when you’re crushing it. Getting qualifications in Design will give you an edge that will separate you from self-taught amateurs.
The internet may be jam-packed with information, but a YouTube degree or TikTok diploma can only get you so far - there are techniques you won’t even know to search, and teaching yourself can get overwhelming.
Start off on the right foot by learning the fundamentals of design through our courses at SAE. Our interactive classes will have you working on industrybased projects for a smooth ride from class to career-ready in no time.
Excel in small classes with our industry professionals at your side, providing active feedback and guidance - setting you on the right path of your creative future. SAE is the space where you transform from being someone with some artistic talent into an artist in demand with the skills and experience to reign supreme in the industry.
You’ll have access to a multiverse of the latest software and state-of-the-art technology to create imagery that resonates across dimensions.
From diplomas to postgraduate studies, SAE will have you creating will have you creating at a higher level and gaining the all-important real-world insights. You’ll be taught and mentored in the fundamentals of design and expand your idea of what you can do within the industry.
More than that, you’ll discover your own branding and how to leverage your creative currency to make bank. This, all within our community - a creative force that will encourage, uplift and inspire you. And in this creative field, it is the world around us that we draw upon to pour into designs that matter and SAE is the environment where you’re sure to thrive.
So, set the tone of your confidence levels up high with the technical skills and entrepreneurial know-how to back up your game.
TALENTS TOP 5 MUST-HAVE
We’ve narrowed it down to the top 5 critical know-hows for a career in design.
TECHNICAL GAME
Design is a highly technical field. It’s no longer solely focused on pencil to paper, paints and brushes. You need to master a wide range of digital software and programmes for the editing process of your visuals. Adobe CC will basically be your best friend (and holy book) - especially if you’re wanting to become a graphic designer. So flex your index fingers - because you’re about to do a lot of mouse-clicking.
INNOVATION STATION
Design is constantly having to evolve with the world and its trends - you are crafting for a society that is never stagnant. We are always on the go, always changing our minds about what is cool, or what is cancelled so be prepared to think outside the box. Level-up your research skills and set up mood boards, whatever gets your creative juices flowing. Pushing the boundaries and bringing new ideas to the table is what will take you from being a
DIY dabbler
to a highly paid visual inventor.
PSYCHED FOR PSYCHOLOGY
Design is powerful. Every visual element holds meanings that can influence the human mind: The spatial composition of an image can tell stories, contrasts of light and shade builds an atmosphere, and colours incite emotions. Remember - you’re creating something for a human being not just to see, but to absorb. Your choices should be purposeful to captivate your audience and make them feel something.
MUST-HAVE
BIG BUSINESS
Your world may be a creative one, but to make it a successful career, you’ll need to get business-savvy. Whether you’re aiming to work for a major brand or carve your own path freelancing or your own company, know how much you’re worth, your internal/external stakeholders, how creativity fuels a business, and what it takes to make money move.
UNDERSTAND THE BRAND
Understand your client. Lean on them and absorb what they represent, what they have to say, what they want to see, and importantly who their customers are. The more you delve into the core of their brand, the greater the ability to create visual art that speaks to their target audience as well as their business objective.
95% of B2B customers evaluate a company based on visual content.
More than 91% of Australian digital brands surveyed reported using visual elements and graphics for their marketing content.
VENNGAGE MARKET STUDY
TECH REVOLUTION
REVOLUTION
The future of work within any industry in the last century has primarily been about collaborating effectively with the constant evolution of technology.
Technology is always on the move, and so too with the future of design. The rise of Virtual Reality will see a preference for motion design on digital billboards, mobile apps, and websites enriching methods of storytelling with additional layers to reach a wider audience in a highly personalised way.
Designers will need to keep up with emerging trends in AI to utilise new tools; change the shape of designs and create them exponentially faster and in more complex ways.
None more complex than the production of a multi-sensory experience to invade the senses of the end user. Whilst sight and sound have been the primary focus for advertising and global reach, smell and touch might not be so far away. The visionaries at the top of their game will work collaboratively on future projects that immerse us in an experience where we use sight, sound, smell and touch in ways we’d never imagined before.
3D printing is also another force driving visual communications for designers to innovate their creations, producing highly personalised and defined work. It has revolutionised the way graphic designers and visual communicators can interpret data, and build prototypes in an exciting and cost-effective way.
Visual art and graphic design will continue to evolve symbiotically with technology to create interesting and compelling narratives and concepts. The future of design will see continual improvements in the quality of 3D, augmented reality, and virtual reality giving designers even more ways of sharing their vision.
We may be unsure of what the future of design has in store for technology, but we can count on its constant growth. SAE cultivates a culture of continuous development so you’ll stay ready and maintain a position ahead of the game.
RATIO THE GOLDEN
Managing a successful career means lifting your game in some key areas. Here’s our round-up.
PEOPLE SKILLS
As a designer, you’ll be working one-on-one with clients, working as a team, or with a whole creative department.
One of the biggest obstacles you’ll face after graduating is getting your foot in the door. Studying at a University College carved out specifically for creatives will keep you connected with a legion of like-minded people and industry experts. Use your people skills to make those connections - the more people you know in your chosen field, the greater the opportunities.
Like many fields in the arts, a career in design is about networking - nurture your creative relationships because you never know what the future holds. A good impression will last you a lifetime in this industry.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
As a working designer, you’ll need to master the art of communicating your ideascommunicating the meaning and intention of your graphical forms. The difficulty is that visual literacy, and the ability to decode meaning is a subjective process.
Not everyone is going to interpret a visual design the exact same way. In fact, it is your duty to construct messages, through your designs, that can connect to as many people as possible. You need to make sure your visuals POP in their eyes and STAY in their mind.
This is an artistic field. One that’s full of ups and downs and fueled by emotion and subjectivity, so be prepared for differences in opinion and change. Once you nail how to communicate your ideas in ways that can open the minds of others, it’ll be the tipping point of your career.
GOLDEN
PROBLEM-SOLVING
Problems will creep up in every project you take on, and no, you can’t ghost them. Although this may be daunting, you’ve got to take it in your stride and think creatively. Even something as simple as a design brief, or a page limit for a document can be thought of as a problem that needs solving - one you’ll need to troubleshoot to meet client needs. But even with bigger issues, there’s always a solution - take your time to crush every problem into bite-sized steps and tackle them one at a time. Win over clients by handling issues quickly and accurately.
The key to turning your love of design into a long, fulfilling career lies in finding the perfect alignment between passion, talent, and skills mixed with a whole lot of persistence.
PERSISTENCE
You might have days where you feel you’ve hit the proverbial wall of creativity. In cases where you’re fighting to find your mojo it pays to keep pushing through it by finding inspiration (through the world around you, other artists, music etc.) and just keep designing. It’s all good if you feel your creations aren’t to scratch at first; creativity gives you the freedom to try again (and again!).
TIME MANAGEMENT
As a designer, chances are you’ll be juggling multiple projects at once and in line with a whole marketing strategy. So, keeping your time-management skills tight is a game changer. Know your deadlines, stick to a plan, prioritise your tasks, set reminders and keep your work organised. Staying on track will boost productivity and even the quality of your designs.
Dive into our courses that could lead you to your dream role, or even set you up for studying your next qualification like our Master of Creative Industries.
Unlock all levels for the ultimate career win.
DIPLOMA OF GRAPHIC DESIGN
7 CORE UNITS
Stage 1 / Foundations
Develop the essential technical skills and the knowledge required to collaborate with other creative media students and professionals.
· Scholarly Perspectives on Design
· Principles of Design
· Fundamentals of Image Making
· Design for Print Media
· Project Design and the Entrepreneur
· User Centred Design
· Design Studio 1
BREAK THE
ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN 15 CORE UNITS
Stage 2 / Refine & Expand
Broaden your scope to work on complex multidisciplinary projects in accordance with industry-standard practices.
· Scholarly Perspectives on Design
· Principles of Design
· Fundamentals of Image Making
· Design for Print Media
· Project Design and the Entrepreneur
· User Centred Design
· Design Studio 1
· Media Studies
· Type in Design
· Advanced Image Making
· Design Thinking
· Cultural Perspectives
· The Creative Brief and the Big Idea
· Design in Sound and Motion
· Social Media Marketing and Content Creation
GRID BREAK THE
BACHELOR OF GRAPHIC DESIGN & VISUAL COMMUNICATION
16 CORE UNITS + 1 ELECTIVE
Stage 3 / Showcase
Execute a project of your own design which is of a high quality and externally published, with the knowledge to commercialise if you choose. You’ll also apply your skills through industry work-placement.
· Scholarly Perspectives on Design
· Principles of Design
· Fundamentals of Image Making
· Design for Print Media
· Project Design and the Entrepreneur
· User Centred Design
· Design Studio 1
· Media Studies
· Type in Design
· Advanced Image Making
· Design Thinking
· Cultural Perspectives
· The Creative Brief and the Big Idea
· Design in Sound and Motion
· Social Media Marketing and Content Creation
· Creative Futures
· Design Startup Incubator Studio
· Emerging Creative Technologies
· Major Project Production
· Major Project Development and Mentorship
· Creative Business Development and Marketing
· Work Integrated Learning
· Elective
MASTER OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
9 CORE UNITS + 7 ELECTIVES
Stage 1 / Graduate Certificate in Creative Industries
The graduate certificate provides a foundation for learning and a pathway to the master’s program.
· Graduate Studio 1 - CIM400
· Creative Practice Research - CIM417
· Leadership and Collaboration in Creative Industries - CIM418
· Discipline - Elective 1
Stage 2 / Graduate Diploma of Creative Industries
Choose to deepen your knowledge and skills within your existing discipline or complement this experience with cross-discipline electives.
· Discipline- Elective 2
· Discipline- Elective 3
· Graduate Studio 2- CIM401
· Critical Inquiry- CIM402
Stage 3 / Master of Creative Industries
Produce your planned capstone project and showcase your knowledge with applied learning.
· Discipline - Elective 4
· Research Design and Methods - CIM515
· Creative Industries Perspectives - CIM503
· Capstone Project - CIM516
BEGINS THIS IS WHERE YOUR CAREER
Our design pathway takes you on a journey of practical exploration and self-discovery. At SAE, we’re determined to give you the practical experience we’re renowned for and help amp up your skills as you begin to make your mark in the industry.
When it comes to the creative world, understanding how the industry works, networking with fellow professionals, mastering your skills, and gaining hands-on experience is what will set you up for long-term success.
Diving into a career in design may feel daunting as there’s so much to learn, but don’t let that deter you. With our digital expertise, long-standing industry connections, and expert mentors, SAE is here to ride along with you. We see you, we hear you, and we know how to support you.
Take your first step into our world of design and we’ll help you open doors that will change your life.
Ready to jump in and study design? Sweet - here are your options.
There are NO ATAR MINIMUMS HERE. Our entry requirements are your determination and creative potential - we’ve got you covered for the rest.
All you need to show us to start your Diploma, Associate or Bachelor degree is one of the following requirements:
1. Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (your Year 12 certificate) or equivalent; OR
2. Completion of an Australian Diploma level qualification (for example a TAFE Diploma) or higher; OR
3. Experience-Based Entry – for applicants who do not meet the requirements of entry criteria 1 or 2 above.
There’s also study pathways, including credit transfers or recognition of prior learning.
So if you’re down to make your mark and master your creativity, your future starts here –ENROL NOW.
HOW TO ENROL
Graphic design is an exciting career for creative thinkers who are passionate about innovative design, emerging technology and visual communication.
PUHAKKA SENIOR LECTURER BRISBANE
ANIMATION / AUDIO / COMPUTER SCIENCE / CREATIVE INDUSTRIES / DESIGN / FILM / GAMES / MUSIC / VFX & VIRTUAL PRODUCTION / Start your design career here SAE.EDU.AU/APPLY
HELI