<h5>In this blog, we receive expert advice from Tamara Popper, part of AIT’s industry and internship team, as she explains how you can arm yourself with a “stand out” portfolio.</h5>
<h5>What is a Portfolio?</h5>
The word portfolio can be deconstructed into two parts &#8211; portare meaning “to carry” in Italian, and foglio meaning “leaf” or “sheet”. Translate that into English (in the context of employment) and it simply means packaging the best of your work (resume, design work), in a portable form.
A portfolio reflects your creative strategies and serves as a display of your abilities and what you can contribute to the job. While a resume gives the hiring managers a summary of where you’ve worked and what you’ve done, the creative industry relies heavily on presentation. In order to stand out, your resume needs to be <a href="https://ait-site.vercel.app/">accompanied by a great portfolio</a>. 
&#8220;In the highly competitive creative technology job market and limited places at educational institutions, a stand out portfolio is what you need to ensure you‘re on the ‘YES’ pile of the interview list,” says Tamara.
If you don’t see a space to attach a portfolio when applying for a job or course online, make sure that you have a copy (appropriate file size and format) ready to send out just in case the hiring managers make contact. 
“Sending over your portfolio can be defined as your first chance at securing that sought-after job or the place in a course you want to study,&#8221; Tamara adds.
<h5>3 things to consider when creating a portfolio</h5>
<ul>
<li>Selection</li>
<li>Presentation</li>
<li>Formats (Printed and Digital)</li>
</ul>
<h5>Selection:</h5>
One of the most important questions is &#8211; who are you creating this portfolio for? Are you applying for a job or for admission into a field of study? This identification of audiences should guide the selection of pieces.
“Selecting what works to include in your portfolio, that best represent you and your skill set, is crucial. Step back from each piece and try to be as objective as possible. If you feel any of your choices are not up to scratch or not quite there, leave them out for now &#8211; in these cases, less is more,” says Tamara.
A good way to see if your curated pieces resonate well with your target audience is to seek opinions from others &#8211; are they able to follow your journey and identify the contribution and highlights of your works?
<blockquote>“Positive criticism is essential, so don’t be afraid to ask your teacher, colleague or a trusted friend to give feedback. You’ll learn from this and your work will improve!”<cite>Tamara Popper</cite></blockquote>
<h5>Presentation:</h5>
Now that you’ve selected your few prize pieces, the art of presenting them comes into place. Ask yourself what is the main purpose of this portfolio? Do you want to capture your learning journey? Or do you want to showcase your final products and best works?
“Employers want to see you shine through your work. Create your own work to include and try to avoid ‘assignment’ style exercises. If you do have work that you’ve collaborated on, clearly state what your role was on the project. Keep the layout and design of your portfolio clean and simple with limited distractions for the viewer, we want them to be captured by your work alone!” says Tamara.
<h5>Formats (Printed and Digital)</h5>
Having a digital portfolio is as essential as having an offline one (hardcopy version). There are numerous sites, like Behance, which displays your works in a readable and attractive format online. An online portfolio also allows the interviewer to view your accomplishments and gain an understanding of your skills before meeting you face-to-face. Not to forget that a digital portfolio also allows you to create a brand image online.
“Everything is online now, making it a great way to display your work. Sharing it is also as easy as sending a link. Research the platforms for hosting your portfolio or showreel and remember you can have a presence on more than one,” Tamara states.
Don’t neglect the hardcopy portfolio though &#8211; they’re handy to bring along with you to interviews and meetings. “For artists, designers and graphic artists, online is important too but it’s still very cool to walk into an interview with a portfolio in hand to present,” Tamara advises. 
When you finally combine your resume with your portfolio, both of them could increase your chances of securing that job or clinching that place in the educational institution.
<h5>Build your Portfolio with AIT</h5>
Here at AIT, we help creative students to build portfolios that they will be proud of. Students in our courses build working apps, produce award-winning short films and animations, create games and build up their portfolios with character sketches and designs.
You can watch our student showreel to get a feel for the sort of work our students create across 2D animation, 3D animation, film, game design, mobile app development, and games programming. You can also talk to someone at AIT to find out how you could learn the skills you need to launch your own creative career.

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How Important are Portfolios in the Creative Industries?

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<div id="attachment_5363" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5363" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5363 size-thumbnail" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Alex-2D-Animation-and-Charlie-Game-Design-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Alex (2D Animation Sydney) and Charlie (Game Design Sydney) &#8211; domestic second-year students.</div>
You could feel an air of excitement from both students and staff in physically being able to meet, talk and laugh together again on campus. People were happy, sitting and chatting with peers they hadn&#8217;t seen in a long time. The AIT campuses felt vibrant again as classes filled up with students and teachers.
&#8220;We are back to face-to-face teaching and boy, what a couple of weeks the beginning of our February Trimester has been!” said Magda Sornat, AIT’s Student Services Manager for Sydney.
<blockquote>“As the whole world is moving online, it was really lovely to see students and educators back on campus. We welcomed a lot of our new students but also those not so new but new to the campus. Yes, believe it or not, some of our students have not had a chance to visit our campus yet.”</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_5366" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5366" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5366 size-thumbnail" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Rabin-Kriansh-and-Sudeep-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Rabin, Kriansh and Sudeep &#8211; international first-year students in Sydney.</div>
As AIT has done since the beginning of the pandemic, provision will remain in place for students to switch to <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/blog/virtual-learning-for-careers-in-the-creative-industries">virtual learning</a> if needed. This allows both students and staff to respond to any changes in circumstances and government directives if required.
Virtual classroom software including AIT’s Canvas student platform, digital whiteboards, and more, have allowed classes to continue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with flexible and hybrid learning.
<div id="attachment_5365" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5365" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5365 size-thumbnail" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Pricilla-Firdiani-2D-Animation-Sydney-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Pricilla Firdiani (2D Animation Sydney) &#8211; international second-year student.</div>
“Our Orientation Day was fully virtual, which gave the students their first taste of what their classes through Canvas would be like,” Magda said.
“It was a fantastic day! Everyone was so present, engaged and supportive of each other, we could not keep up with the chat! Not to mention the whiteboard… there was no stopping the students. So good to see everyone connecting like this. I felt like a real community was formed, expanding our AIT family. Very excited to be part of it.”
<div id="attachment_5367" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5367" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5367 size-thumbnail" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/the-online-whiteboard-filled-up-in-seconds-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Students were encouraged to interact during AIT’s virtual orientation day, and the online whiteboard filled up in seconds.</div>
Students were excited to be back on campus too. Pricilla Firdiani is an <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/blog/ait-welcomes-back-international-students">international second-year student</a>, who was studying <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/blog/what-is-a-3d-artist-3d-modeller-vs-3d-surfacing-artist-vs-3d-rigger-vs-3d-animator-explained">3D Animation at AIT</a> in Sydney before changing her focus to <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/blog/top-five-jobs-you-can-land-after-studying-a-2d-animation-course">2D Animation</a>.
&#8220;It&#8217;s so exciting to be back, I can meet my friends and talk in person to my teacher,” Pricilla said.
“It helps to be on campus as the lesson is more attached to my brain.”
In Melbourne, students made the most of once more having access to the AIT campus facilities.
Domestic students Alexander and Riley had a go on the arcade machine, while Tiernan stayed back between classes to work on his assignments.
<div id="attachment_5364" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5364" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5364 size-thumbnail" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Domestic-student-Tiernan-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Domestic student Tiernan works on his assignments in the breakout room.</div>
“I am very happy to be back on campus,” Tiernan said. “I am so much more motivated here than at home!”
Students now have the chance to enjoy meeting their peers in person. They can also make the most of the campus facilities that AIT offers. No doubt many friendships will be made in the breakout room and around the arcade machines, and students will once again have access to the dedicated green screen room, sound booth, and other on-campus facilities.
<div id="attachment_5368" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5368" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5368 size-thumbnail" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Myles-and-Wafa-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Myles and Wafa are new domestic students.</div>
&#8220;Orientation is always a special time for us on our campus, with new students, current students and faculty,” said Ruby Trinh Nguyen, AIT’s Deputy Student Services Manager in Melbourne.
“It was extra special this trimester in Melbourne as over the last week or so, it has been so exciting to witness the campus come alive again after a long time being closed because of COVID. Seeing students’ smiling eyes above the face masks, making new friends, arranging group study, engaging in the classrooms has truly warmed our hearts. We are looking forward to having a wonderful trimester and a successful academic year together!”
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If you’d like to find out more about the courses offered at AIT, or the internships and networking opportunities that we offer, then you can <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/">attend one of our industry events</a>, <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/contact-ait">contact a course advisor</a>, or <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/information-pack">download a course guide</a> today.
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AIT Students Back on Campus in Sydney and Melbourne

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But how do you go about networking in the creative industries when you’re an introvert? Meeting new people, attending industry events, and most other networking scenarios seem to be set up to suit extroverts.
<a href="https://www.quietrev.com/author/susan-cain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Susan Cain</a> is the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking and Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts. These books examine the ways in which the qualities of introverts are often undervalued and overlooked within systems that seem to place greater value on the qualities associated with extroversion.
Cain neatly sums up what it feels like to be an introvert on her website.
<blockquote>“I prefer listening to talking, reading to socializing, and cozy chats to group settings. I like to think before I speak (softly),” Cain writes.</blockquote>
The good news is that none of these qualities should stop introverts from networking. In fact, in the right circumstances, they may even make you better at it.
<h2>The Importance of Networking in the Creative Industries</h2>
Here at AIT, we teach a variety of creative courses, including courses in 2D animation, 3D animation, film, game design, mobile app development, and games programming.
We’re passionate about teaching our students networking skills, because we have seen how much success our graduates can have when they’re connected to others within the creative industries. You might think that the world of film, or games, or animation is a closed off world, but the reality is that one of the most effective ways to network is simply to get involved. By studying, developing your skills, and producing your own creative projects, you are already taking those first essential steps to immerse yourself in the creative world and to build networks.
Tamara Popper is AIT’s industry and internship liaison manager, and she has seen firsthand the opportunities that open up to students who develop networks through the internship program.
“At the very least, at the end of the internship, students have a great reference, something to put on their CV, and they’ve started to develop their network. This industry works on word of mouth. It’s one of those ‘who you know’ industries.” Popper says.
<h2>Understand the Value of Being a Creative Introvert</h2>
When networking, it’s important to understand your strengths. You might think that being an introvert will hold you back, but the truth is you have a number of strengths and advantages that might surprise you.
Do you find it hard to talk to people? Then you might be a great listener! As you look at the different communication styles of introverts and extroverts, you might find that your strengths and weaknesses are actually two sides of the same coin. You could find that your advanced listening skills are appreciated as you give others an opportunity to talk.
At some stage, however, you will have to speak up. One-sided conversations usually don’t develop relationships. But if you find it hard to talk about yourself, then why not talk about your projects and passions instead. If your goal is to network with other people in the creative industries then you probably have a lot in common, and a lot to talk about. So take the pressure off yourself. Networking isn’t really about selling yourself, but about finding common ground and developing relationships.
Networking also doesn’t have to revolve around large events, or meeting and talking to a lot of new people in a short timeframe. You can leverage the forms of networking that work best for you. Try using a communication method that allows you to compose your thoughts and consider your replies, such as email rather than a phone call. Or work on your LinkedIn profile and connect with people there before tackling those face to face meetings.
“Millions of mentors and mentees have signed up to give and get career advice on LinkedIn,” said LinkedIn Learning’s customer success manager Sherry Wu, at a recent industry talk with students.
Wu encouraged students to explore LinkedIn’s possibilities. “This is a really good time in your career, whether you are about to graduate, or whether you are in your first year of university… to build your network, and advance in your career, by building your personal branding on LinkedIn.”
For introverts, networking in the traditional sense often seems like a recipe for failure. But if you want to meet with new people, then you can always arrange for a one-on-one chat, rather than facing a room full of strangers.
Finding people to collaborate with will be another great way to build your network. With a shared goal and a project to work on, it’s much easier to get to know someone and start to build that relationship.
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<h2>Acknowledge Your Limitations and Build a Routine that Works</h2>
We all have our different strengths and weaknesses. One of the main differences between introverts and extroverts is that extroverts draw energy from being around others in lively situations, whereas introverts prefer to rest and recharge either in solitude or in a relaxed setting with people they know well.
It’s alright to anticipate that a big event will exhaust you or make you nervous. You can acknowledge this and still look forward to attending. Just think about some things that will help you to calm your nerves beforehand and recharge your batteries afterwards. Can you make time for something relaxing that you enjoy (like a yoga session or a long walk) in the morning or right before the dreaded event begins? Can you plan a nice wind-down activity for later?
As you step out into the creative industries and start filling your days with work commitments, learning opportunities, and more, you will gradually find a routine that suits your introverted tendencies. You’ll find quiet spaces for work, and ways to lessen the stress of the things that you naturally find difficult.
<h2>Decide What You Want to Work On</h2>
As you develop your networking skills, the goal isn’t to transform yourself from an introvert into an extrovert. Being introverted isn’t a character flaw, and you can find a way to network and build relationships with others in the creative industries without changing who you are.
As you think about what you want to achieve in the industry, you might want to think about the things that you want to work on most. Do you want to become a confident speaker? Or will you leave the public speaking to others and focus your energy on building quality relationships with others?
Decide what’s important to you and then work on developing the skills that you will need. Speaking confidently, befriending strangers, and finding new people to collaborate with are all skills that you can practice and master.
Here at AIT, we help students to develop essential soft skills such as networking. Just as you can learn the technical skills that you need to bring your creative visions to life, you can also learn to network in the creative industries.
One of the earliest ways that you’ll start to learn these skills is by working collaboratively with others in your class. You might think that you’re just working on group projects, but you’re actually building a network with the next generation of creative professionals. You’re also learning how to work with others in an environment that’s very like a working studio.
One of the reasons Tamara Popper believes that AIT internships are so important, is the opportunity they give to students to collaborate with others.
“These are not fine artists, working on one oil painting,” Popper says.
Whether you become an animator, games developer, cinematographer, or any other type of creative professional, you will be working with others. You might think of or refine your best ideas in solitude and quiet, but unlike a fine artist who works alone throughout the entire process, you will need to work with others to bring those ideas to life and share them with the world.
Decide what skills you would like to work on so that you can build relationships with others, and you’ll find that there’s no reason being an introvert should hold you back from networking in the creative industries.
If you’d like to find out more about the courses offered at AIT, or the internships and networking opportunities that we offer, then you can attend one of our industry events, contact a course advisor, or download a course guide today.

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How to Network in the Creative Industries When You’re an Introvert

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<h2>Gather Your Supplies</h2>
Make sure you equip yourself with all the supplies that you’ll need. Start by finding that info pack or student guide that listed textbooks and other requirements.
Depending on the course you’re taking, you might need a pen and paper to take notes, or a laptop for notetaking and logging in to learn about the student systems, software, or programs that you’ll be using. Find out if you need to download resources or organise logins for anything prior to class. You might need your student ID to log in to the computers at uni or to use the Wi-Fi.
Whether you prefer a laptop, tablet, or parchment, make sure you have some way to take a LOT of notes. This is definitely something you will thank yourself for later.
Fill your backpack with everything you’ll need for a potentially hectic day  &#8211;  Food, water, a fully charged phone, headphones, etc.
If your course is online, then equip yourself with everything that you’ll need for that scenario too. You’ve already got virtual learning and communication skills  &#8211;  now is the time to use them. Make sure your devices are set up and that the internet’s working.
<h2>Consult the Map</h2>
Decide how you’ll get to uni, and how you’ll get around campus once you’re there. Here at AIT, both our Melbourne and our Sydney campuses are located close to public transport options &#8211; you’ll just need to top up your myki or your Opal card and you’re good to go. But not all colleges are the same. For some, you’ll need to drive or carpool – which means planning the trip and parking at the other end.
Once you’re there, you’ll still need to get around campus. This could be as simple as finding the right floor and room within the building, but many campuses are quite spread out. One notorious Melbourne campus is so large that it has its own postcode, and students often use bikes to get around. Another university has buildings scattered throughout the CBD.
Plan your first day at uni the way you would plan your first day at a new job. Figure out your commute and plan to be there early.
You’ll be responsible for being in the right place at the right time, and you might find that you either don’t have breaks between classes, or that you have long gaps in the middle of the day.
You’ll probably get lost on your first day, and you might have little time to get across campus between classes. It’s at this point that you’ll be glad you found a map and packed plenty of snacks!
Try to have a little flexibility in your plan for the first day or the first week as well. This is the time to figure out your new routines. Maybe you’ll find that those empty hours in the middle of the day are the perfect time to head to the library to work on your endless assignments (are you really going to do them once you get home?). Or maybe you’ll find that your commute is the best time to listen to a recorded lecture or audio version of the required reading. In that case, you’ll need to remember to carry your headphones, and to download those resources in advance.
Then, of course, there are the important things like finding the most efficient way to your new local dumpling place.
<h2>Assemble Your Party</h2>
If you’re an extrovert, then you don’t need me reminding you to make friends. But for us introverts, it can help to remember that everyone else is new too, which means the first day is an excellent time to start meeting new people. All those notes you took earlier might help you win some friends too if someone else has forgotten to take their own in the midst of those first day nerves.
You’ve spent the last six years (maybe even the last 12 years) hanging out with the same people from the same school or suburb. This is a chance to make friends with like-minded people from all around the state, country, or world. Assemble your party and set forth on your quest.
If your university is huge, then you might want to join a student club so that you can get to know people with similar interests. If you’re at a smaller college like AIT then right from day one, you can start getting to know everyone in your course. AIT fosters a collaborative environment where students work together as production and design teams. Some of our graduates have even gone into business together!
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Now that you’re here, facing your first day at uni, you might find that your excitement has turned into fear. If that’s the case, then it’s time to turn that fear back into excitement.
Remember why you’re here, why you chose this course, this college, this campus. Remember your motivations and focus on all that you hope to gain. If that doesn’t work, then don’t worry too much &#8211; first-day nerves can only last for a day!
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If you’d like to find out more about studying with us here at AIT, you can contact a course advisor, or download a course guide today.

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Tips for Your First Day at Uni or College

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Whether you’re in Year 10 choosing your subjects for your final years of high school, navigating Year 12 and getting ready to apply for university courses, or a graduate deciding which course offer to accept, you might find your family urging you to choose something more practical, to follow the kind of career path that they followed themselves, or even to avoid making the so-called mistakes that they believe they made in their own careers.
It can be difficult to stick to a creative career path in the face of opposition from your own family, but it will be worth it in the end.
So, how do you get your family to support you in your creative career choice?
<h2>Work Hard at Understanding Their Point of View (Even If They Don’t Understand Yours)</h2>
It’s pretty unlikely that your parents or wider family members are horrible people who want to see you miserable. If they’re raising objections to you pursuing a creative career, then it’s probably because they’re worried about you.
Try to find out exactly what your family’s concerns are. In the process, they will see that you do value their opinions, which can only be a good thing if you want them to listen to yours. After all, communication is a two-way street.
Find out why your parents think that a creative career is a bad idea. Do they think that it’s vague and impractical? That you’ll never make any money? Or do they have a very traditional view of “proper” careers (doctor, lawyer, accountant)?
<h2>Work Hard at Getting Your Family to Understand Your Creative Career Choices</h2>
Now that you know what your parents’ or family members’ objections are, you can address them.
If they’re worried that the creative industries don’t offer opportunities for secure careers, then find and talk to people in the industry who have successful careers. We may be biased, but we believe that AIT tours and info sessions, open days, and grad talks are a great way to prove that careers in the creative industries are viable. They are a way of finding real-world examples of successful creatives to replace your family’s stereotypes of struggling artists.
You’ll also be able to gain a greater understanding of specific career paths. Creative careers are broad. Here at AIT, we offer courses in 2D animation, 3D animation, game design, film, games programming, and mobile app development. Our graduates have gone on to pursue diverse careers, proving that every one of these disciplines offers the opportunity for a very real and rewarding career.
As you ask your parents or family members to understand your choice for a creative career, try to think about the things that they value. Do they believe in pursuing careers with the greatest earning potential? Careers where you can help others? Careers similar to their own, whether that be in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or another field that seems far removed from the creative disciplines?
Take this chance to show them how a creative career can take you in many different directions, and that with dedication and the right training, you will be able to find fulfilling work.
<h2>Our World Needs Creative People</h2>
Sometimes people think of creativity as something frivolous. Something to be enjoyed as a hobby or in leisure time, rather than as a serious career. But our world needs creative people.
Let’s look at 3D animation for a moment. Pursuing<a href="https://articles.ait.edu.au/blog/what-is-a-3d-artist-3d-modeller-vs-3d-surfacing-artist-vs-3d-rigger-vs-3d-animator-explained" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 3D animation</a> may seem to be a very specialised career path, but it can still take you in many different directions. 3D animations are used to <a href="https://www.explanimate.com.au/how-does-animation-affect-our-daily-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entertain, inform, plan, and predict</a>. 3D animators often work in STEM fields, creating technical or medical simulations, or instructional content.
Through the educational content that they create, 3D animators are uniquely placed to pursue a career that helps others.
3D animators are skilled professionals, and their talents can be used in a variety of ways.
In what at first sounds like a bizarre set of events, animators who worked on Disney’s Frozen recently helped to find answers to a 62-year-old tragedy, known as the <a href="https://www.insider.com/frozen-animation-helped-solve-dyatlov-pass-avalanche-incident-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dyatlov Pass incident</a>.
In 1959, nine Russian hikers disappeared and were later found dead in what seemed like very strange and grim circumstances.
This incident has been the subject of investigation and speculation ever since, but when the head of the Swiss Snow and Avalanche Simulation Laboratory (SLAB), <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/has-science-solved-history-greatest-adventure-mystery-dyatlov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Johan Gaume watched Frozen</a>, he marvelled at the realistic depiction of snow, and set out to learn more.
Working with the specialist responsible for Frozen’s snow effects, Gaume modified the film’s snow animation code for his avalanche simulation models and was able to more accurately simulate the impacts that avalanches would have on the human body, determining that an avalanche (not aliens, not secret military tests, not Yetis) could have plausibly caused the tragedy.
Think about that for a second. A professor who specialises in snow and avalanches called on the expertise of the animators of a children’s movie to solve an unsolvable case.
You see, 3D animation, (or 2D animation, game design, film and video, games programming, and mobile app development) might seem to be purely creative, but that creativity is underpinned by dedication and skill. You might not be called upon to solve mysteries that are over half a century old every day, but as a creative professional you will combine your incredible technical ability with out-of-the-box thinking, and the world will always need people like that.
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If you’d like to find out more about a career in the creative industries, then register to attend an AIT event (and bring your family along too). We regularly host free industry talks, demonstrations, and workshops, and our course advisors are always available to answer your questions about AIT and the creative careers that our courses can lead to. Or you can download a course guide today.

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Getting Your Family to Support You with Your Creative Career Choice

At a recent<a href="https://info.ait.edu.au/open-day-2021"> AIT Open Day</a>, a<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXc4jJS4zv8&amp;list=PLBdq0YMnR2oEH5n-e18-0nYuZ70GMb2T4&amp;index=8"> panel of industry experts</a> from the worlds of digital design, games, <a href="https://articles.ait.edu.au/blog/top-five-jobs-you-can-land-after-studying-a-film-making-course-at-ait">film making</a>, and 3D and 2D animation, were invited to speak about their own experiences and to answer student questions.
The creative experts on the panel had plenty of wisdom to share. All had been through the process of finding their way in the creative industries, and many are now involved in mentoring and training others.
Based on the discussion, here are five tips for anyone starting out in the creative industries.
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<h2>1. Keep Creating and Building Your Portfolio</h2>
All our experts agreed that if you want to work in a creative industry, then it’s best to start working on projects now. If you want to work in digital design for games, 3D or <a href="https://articles.ait.edu.au/blog/five-reasons-to-study-a-2d-animation-course-at-ait">2D animation</a>, mobile app development, or film, then start creating your own projects so that you can showcase those digital design skills in a portfolio or showreel.
Mark Millar is the business development manager at Alt.vfx &#8211; a world-leading visual effects and post-production company. His advice was to take every opportunity presented when studying a creative course that also offers access to software and equipment.
“Some students tend to come out of high school and then treat the course as if it’s still high school. But that is your foundation for going on and working in the industry, so take it as seriously as you can and work as hard as you can,” Mark says.
“If you’re really passionate about <a href="https://articles.ait.edu.au/blog/what-is-a-3d-artist-3d-modeller-vs-3d-surfacing-artist-vs-3d-rigger-vs-3d-animator-explained">rigging</a>, for instance, then do the little rigging projects on the side, and show the inner workings of a particular model and show how you’ve built the rigs in your showreel.”
Chris Murphy is the owner and director of Pub Games, and an evangelist for Epic Games. With a specialised skill set as a technical artist, his evangelist role sees him sent into games, film, and animation studios to fix problems.
His advice for building and showcasing your skills?
“Definitely treating school as a way to build your portfolio. Aggressively putting time into that final year project, and treating any assignment that’s going to have some sort of output as something that someone might actually see and look at one day,” Chris says.
“A bit more time spent on those assignments now means you’re not actually going to then have to finish a tonne of extra portfolio work when you finish school.
“The other piece of advice I would give is that throughout your studies, whenever you can polish something up, do your best to polish it up. Even if it’s touching on some of the fields that you’re not generally familiar with. Say you make a really cool animation, then putting that animation in a nice environment that’s nicely lit, and spending that little bit of extra time can be a really nice way to force yourself to understand the rest of it from a holistic perspective, and that can have a lot of knock-on benefits later on when you’re looking for a job,” Chris pauses for a moment before adding, “and also if you’re trying to figure out what you want to do with your life.”
If you’d like to follow this advice, then you’ll find all the support that you need at AIT.<a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses"> Our courses</a> help students to build their digital design <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/showcase">portfolios and showreels</a> from day one, with group projects, access to equipment, small classes so that the campus runs more like a studio, and opportunities to receive constructive feedback on your work from educators and from industry professionals.
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<h2>2. Keep Knocking on Doors Until One Opens</h2>
The panellists also agreed that passion and persistence will be key when pursuing your career in the creative industries.
April Howard is a film producer, and a founding partner at<a href="https://rollingball.com.au/"> Rollingball Productions</a>. She has worked as an actor and journalist, and is currently studying for a Masters in Screen Business and Leadership.
“One of the big takeaways that I remember hearing, and that I probably need to remind myself of, is if you keep knocking on doors one will eventually open,” April says.
“We’ve all been there ourselves. Just knock on the doors. Someone will say yes. Someone will have that cuppa with you and have that chat, we all need mentors, and the more networking you can do, the better.”
Mark shared the story of a student who literally knocked on the door of the production studio where he worked, saying that he, “just appeared at the front gate one day.”
It later turned out that the student hadn’t appeared as unexpectedly as first thought, and that he had arranged to be there when he “emailed one of the producers because they were distant cousins, or friends, or something.” However, by this stage, Mark was already showing the young student around.
“He was just starting his course,” Mark says, “so I showed him around, showed him some showreels and talked about what it is we do.
“And then about a year ago, he emailed me saying, ‘Hey, I’ve just finished my final year film – do you want to have a look?’
“He wasn’t even applying for any jobs, he was just kind of keeping in contact, saying, ‘Hey, this is what I’ve been up to.’ And as soon as I watched it, I picked up the phone and said, ‘Do you want a job?’ Because we were looking for someone to come on as a junior lighting artist, and within two weeks he was on a plane up to start his professional career. And it was just purely his own initiative to maintain contact with the people that he’d met along his journey, and it just hit at the exact right time for us and for him.”
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<h2>3. Work Hard, Network, and Learn About the Industry</h2>
“Without doubt, it’s an industry of hard work,” April says. “Sure, there’s a little, small portion of it that’s got some glamour in it, but the rest of it is rolling up your sleeves and being willing to work in a team and collaborate.”
“Recently we employed a producer, and what really made some of the candidates stand out was when they went that extra mile.”
“With a small team, we lean on each other to fill gaps… Our director/cinematographer, for example, spends a lot of time outside of work making sure he’s across the latest technologies, or the latest industry trends and things like that.”
Jacquie Trowell is an award-winning animation series director with Flying Bark Productions and an independent stop motion animator with over 25 years of experience in commercial 3D and 2D animation. Jacquie also urged graduates to show their passion for, and commitment to, the industry, and a willingness to work hard and collaborate with others.
“We all want to be working, right? That’s the reason we do this job,” Jacquie says. “If we didn’t have to earn money it would be great; because we could do what we wanted, but we do have to work, and we do want to be part of the industry.”
“I really value a good communicator, someone who’s ready to work with people. I think that collaborative projects in a student environment are really helpful – they help you work with people, and especially if you go to one of the bigger companies, you’re going to be working with a lot of people.
“Be prepared to learn. You’ve got to be prepared to learn all the time. That’s what I look for &#8211; not just the talent. You’ve got to have people skills, you’ve got to be able to communicate, you’ve got to work as a team, be prepared to learn, and then reap the rewards.”
In their final year at AIT, students form their own production teams to fulfil an industry brief, and develop a game, create a short film, animate their 2D or 3D digital designs, or refine their mobile app development. In addition to this immersive experience, final year internships provide students with a way to <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/industry-and-careers">learn about the industry</a>, and to practise collaborating with a real, working team in their chosen field.
Tamara Popper is AIT’s industry/internship liaison manager, and gets to see firsthand the opportunities provided to students through internships.
“Our internships allow students to work in industry for course credits. It is an actual subject, they write reports,” Tamara says. “They work with a supervisor, with a mentor, the environment is collaborative, and they get that valuable feedback on their work.
“There are real job outcomes. Some students are hired straight out of their internship, while others find contract work.”
“Students have won awards with the work that’s come out of their internship partnerships,” Tamara says.
Two AIT students, Nathalia Andrade Da Silva and Gabor Vermes, worked with LiminalVR in the digital design space to create the virtual reality experience <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VQj8IfEISc&amp;list=PLBdq0YMnR2oFXL5MEVxN1r28Yu9Mx2LpP">ColorgizeVR</a> which took Bronze at this year’s<a href="https://articles.ait.edu.au/blog/ait-student-winners-at-the-2021-aeaf-awards"> AEAF Awards</a>
<div id="attachment_7075" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7075" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7075 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/colorgizevr-300x300.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/colorgizevr-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/colorgizevr-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/colorgizevr-32x32.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/colorgizevr.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Still from ColorgizeVR.</div>
“At the very least, at the end of the internship, students have a great reference, something to put on their CV, and they’ve started to develop their network. This industry works on word of mouth. It’s one of those ‘who you know’ industries.”
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<h2>4. Make the Most of the Opportunities for Emerging Talent in Australia Right Now</h2>
The panel agreed that the flow-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had actually <a href="https://articles.ait.edu.au/blog/virtual-learning-for-careers-in-the-creative-industries">created opportunities</a> for graduates. From exciting new opportunities in 2D animation to traditional film roles, production companies are looking to expand, and with no overseas talent flying in, opportunities to support larger productions have been on the rise.
“There’s much more opportunity for students to actually get their foot in the door,” Mark says.
“I have to agree with Mark,” Jacquie says, “it really is a good time to be getting into the industry. I know, just with us crewing up [at Flying Bark Productions] on the second season of Wolf TV at the moment, we are battling with crew.”
Jacquie went on to point out the importance of going where the work is, and honing your skills to match the opportunities.
Chris had further advice on using your existing skill set to make the most of the opportunities that are available.
“If you’re looking at ending up at a very large studio… they’re going to often be looking for someone that’s more specialised,” Chris says.
“The smaller the team that you’re likely to be on, then you’re going to have more control over the overall product, but you’re also more likely to be more of a generalist, because you’re going to have to wear a bunch of different hats to get things done.
“So, don’t feel bad if your portfolio seems like it shows that you’ve got a rather general skill set. That’s actually a really positive thing in some spaces. And don’t feel bad if you think that you’re only good at one thing, because there are plenty of teams that need that one thing done really well.”
It also pays to remember that studios in Australia actually value emerging talent.
“Companies come to AIT looking for interns, in games, app development, in 2D animation,” Tamara says. “The companies have a need, they have been emerging themselves, and they get access to cutting edge ideas and talent.
“They are looking for emerging talent. They want to train up the best talent within their own studio, to train them on their pipeline.”
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<h2>5. Be Prepared for Your Career to Take a Different Path</h2>
Jacquie, April, and Mark have all had varied careers, and while Chris says his “background’s a straight line” in terms of always heading towards games, he wasn’t initially expecting to take the path that he did.
April spoke about the different times in her life when she had been pulled towards and away from a creative career. After acting in television series during her high school years, April says that after that, “it all got a little bit scary when I was being offered jobs that meant I was going to have to leave my home and move to Sydney.”
“So, I decided then to call it stumps with acting and just focus on finishing school, and then, because I was a little bit young and from a regional part of Australia, I didn’t really know what to do, so I did business, just to have a foundation of something, but what I would say is, when it comes to being a creative person… I don’t think you can avoid finding your way home.”
From there, April’s career continued to evolve and change, as she came to the realisation that screen was the medium that she loved, and that she could also tell stories through journalism. Now, she continues to share stories on screen through Rollingball.
Mark also added that it’s common to see students or interns who start out on one track, before finding themselves specialising in something else.
“As you go through your course, be prepared to suddenly discover that you’re doing something that you didn’t intend to be doing,” Mark says.
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AIT offers courses in <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/animation-courses">2D animation</a>, <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/3d-animation-courses">3D digital design</a>, <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/film-making-courses">film and video</a>, <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/game-design-courses">game design</a>, <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/it-courses/bachelor-of-it">mobile app development</a>, and <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/it-courses/game-programming-course">games programming</a> – setting students up for their careers in the creative industries. At the end of their course, not only will students hold a nationally recognised Bachelor of Interactive Media or Bachelor of IT, but they will also have an impressive portfolio of completed work; they’ll have confidence and contacts gained through real-world industry partnerships and internship opportunities; and they will be ready to make the most of future opportunities in the creative industries, wherever their career path takes them.
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If you’d like to find out more about the courses offered at AIT, you can<a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/contact-ait"> contact a course advisor</a>, or<a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/information-pack"> download a course guide</a> today.

colorgizevr

5 Tips for Starting Out in the Creative Industries

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<h5>Prepare for Your Dream Career with AIT’s 3D Animation Courses</h5>
<h2>Study 3D Animation and Become a 3D Modeller</h2>
If you have been searching for a 3D modelling course, then you’ll probably be thrilled to learn that this is thoroughly covered in the core units of the 3D animation courses at AIT.
You will also have further opportunities to focus on this aspect of 3D animation throughout your projects and electives.
Adam: This role involves building 3D assets such as characters, props, accessories, vehicles, weapons and environments that can then be used in 3D animations, games, live action films, augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR), product design, simulation and scientific visualisation.
A 3D modeller utilises specialised software to construct a &#8216;polygon mesh&#8217; in three dimensions, either matching an existing design &#8211; or developed as a unique asset. Components of the polygon mesh &#8211; vertices, edges and faces &#8211; are essentially transformed to refine the underlying volumetric forms, and established techniques such as extruding, revolving, appending, cutting and inserting edge loops are utilised. The constructed geometry needs to be clean and effective, with topology that can be optimised for different resolutions, &#8216;unwrapped&#8217; to display convincing surface detail and deformed realistically for posing and animating.
3D modelling also encompasses &#8216;digital sculpting&#8217; of high density meshes, which are then typically &#8216;retopologised&#8217; into a more optimised, production suitable asset.
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<div id="attachment_5404" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdZcbjYRPaM" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5404" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-5404" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-3D-Mesh-300x164.png" alt="" width="300" height="164" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-3D-Mesh-300x164.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-3D-Mesh-768x420.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-3D-Mesh-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-3D-Mesh.png 987w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Adam demonstrates use of the polygon mesh in Autodesk Maya.</div>
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<h2>Study 3D Animation and Become a 3D Surfacing Artist</h2>
One of the reasons that our 3D animation graduates are so successful is because they gain a diverse skill set that can be applied to roles within the film, animation, games and design industries.
We pride ourselves on getting to know our students’ passions, sources of inspiration and their unique artistic style. If you develop a passion for 3D surfacing through one of our 3D animation courses, then you will be encouraged to develop your skills in this area, and you will graduate with a portfolio that proves those skills.
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Adam: A 3D surfacing artist or technical director is focused on applying convincing and appealing materials and detail to the surface faces of a polygon mesh.
Physical properties such as diffuse colour, specularity, roughness, bumped and recessed detail, transparency, reflection, refraction, ambient occlusion and sub-surface scattering are all simulated by the surfacing artist &#8211; and this can change the &#8216;look’ of a 3D asset to adopt distinct styles &#8211; falling anywhere between standards such as cartoony, realistic or painterly. For that reason, this process is also referred to as &#8216;look development&#8217;.
Surfacing is achieved by applying specific &#8216;shaders&#8217;, to which 2D, 3D and procedural texture mapping is added &#8211; simulating familiar physical materials such as metal, plastic, wood and glass in various states of tarnish, decay, rust or damage. An understanding of how light physically interacts with such surfaces is integral, and surfacing artists also use specialised tools to simulate hair, fur, feathers, cloth, fluids, smoke, fire and other advanced &#8216;simulated&#8217; effects.
<h2>Study 3D Animation and Become a 3D Rigger</h2>
As you study 3D animation, you might find that you really enjoy the technical aspect of design – solving problems and making things work. If so, then a role as a 3D rigger might be perfect for you.
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Adam: The 3D rigger is somewhat more of a technical role, and is responsible for creating a specific &#8216;rig&#8217; and &#8216;control system&#8217; so that an articulated 3D model can be posed and animated, with convincing deformations.
The illusion of an organic character body that can bend, twist and stretch is typically created for 3D characters and creatures &#8211; and accurately simulating skin or cloth stretching over bone, muscle, tendons and ligaments is usually the primary goal. Exaggerated squash and stretch for cartoony animation is also a common requirement of a 3D character rig, and for advanced realistic creatures such as dinosaurs and dragons, an underlying &#8216;muscle system&#8217; is often utilised.
The basic process of rigging involves initially creating a hierarchical system of virtual bones or joints which can be transformed (moved, rotated and scaled) in a predictable fashion. The character or creature mesh is then &#8216;skinned&#8217; or bound to this skeleton, and effective skin weight painting is applied for each vertex to enable convincing deformations.
Finally, a series of &#8216;controllers&#8217; is added to complete a fully functional and intuitive &#8216;control rig&#8217;, so that animators can then quickly and predictably create distinct poses as required. 3D riggers will often embellish the rig&#8217;s functionality with custom attributes, employing scripted, driven and constrained relationships between key &#8216;controllers&#8217;, &#8216;deformers&#8217; or &#8216;joints&#8217;.
3D rigging is also needed for mechanical assets &#8211; such as vehicles, machines, weapons and robots &#8211; and 3D rigging is especially important in game development, where characters, creatures, vehicles and weapons need to respond to player input in real time.
<div id="attachment_5405" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5405" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-5405" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Rigged-300x142.png" alt="" width="300" height="142" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Rigged-300x142.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Rigged-1024x486.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Rigged-768x364.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Rigged-32x15.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Rigged.png 1355w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Adam shows how movement can be created once the character has been rigged with controllers.</div>
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<h2>Study to Become a 3D Animator</h2>
If you study 3D animation, then you might assume that you would automatically become a 3D animator. However, this is a unique role with its own responsibilities and opportunities just like any other.
When you study 3D animation at AIT, you’ll have the chance to investigate different roles and to find the ones that appeal to you most. As you complete collaborative student projects and form your own ‘production team’ you will be given the opportunity to really zero in on the skills that you want to learn and practise.
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Adam: A 3D animator is essentially responsible for &#8216;breathing life&#8217; into a 3D character, creature or prop.
Following the traditions and principles of classic 2D animation, 3D animators start by &#8216;blocking out&#8217; a series of clear, expressive and dynamic poses &#8211; typically referred to as &#8216;key storytelling poses&#8217; and &#8216;breakdowns&#8217;.
When the timing of this blocked motion is approved, further breakdowns, extremes and in-betweens are added to refine the motion and apply fundamental principles such as anticipation, arcs, squash and stretch, timing and spacing, overlapping and secondary action, exaggeration, easing and appeal.
In the final and most time-consuming stage, animators polish the animation to achieve as high a degree of realism and appeal as possible. 3D animators are generally focused on two broad areas &#8211; convincing &#8216;body mechanics&#8217; &#8211; which involves depicting realistic physics &#8211; weight, balance, force, acceleration, momentum and inertia &#8211; and &#8216;performance animation&#8217; &#8211; which is related to acting, appeal, empathy and audience engagement.
3D animators need to show not only how a character is physically moving, but also what that character may be feeling or thinking on the inside, animating body gestures, poses, facial expressions and lip sync for dialogue is typically achieved by transforming a character &#8216;control rig&#8217;.
3D animators also animate vehicles, machines and props, as well as creating stylised &#8216;cycles&#8217; which can be blended in real time for game player and non-player characters. 3D animators also often work with motion captured data, refining or embellishing existing motion.
<div id="attachment_5403" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5403" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-5403" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Anticipation-300x143.png" alt="" width="300" height="143" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Anticipation-300x143.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Anticipation-1024x488.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Anticipation-768x366.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Anticipation-32x15.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homer-Anticipation.png 1338w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Adam shows how animating a moment of anticipation helps to breathe life into the character.</div>
The 3D animation courses at AIT can prepare you for a range of roles and an exciting career – it’s all up to you! You will receive a solid grounding in 3D animation principles and the skills and tools that are used within the industry. From this broad overview that includes networking, internship, and portfolio development opportunities, you can zero in on the particular roles and skills that appeal to you the most.
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To find out more about studying one of our 3D animation courses in Melbourne or Sydney, you can contact a course advisor, or download a course guide today.

01_AIT_Life_at_AIT_Student_Showcase_TopBanne_Mar2023

What is a 3D Artist? 3D Modeller vs 3D Surfacing Artist vs 3D Rigger vs 3D Animator Explained

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AIT: Hi Richard. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself – your experiences working at AIT, your industry experiences, and any projects you’re working on?
Richard: Hi! So, I’m originally from Perth, but have spent most of my adult life on the east coast working in both Melbourne and Sydney. Growing up in Perth I was fortunate to be accepted into a Specialised Art program for high school, much like the GATE programs that exist now. It was a wonderful experience, being taught by practising artists in a variety of disciplines. It certainly helped foster a passion for making art and pursuing it as a career.
It was during this time that I also developed a passion for filmmaking, and animation seemed to be a great way of combining both art and filmmaking. After studying animation in college in Perth, I moved to Melbourne for my first job in an animation studio, working on the series “The Silver Brumby”. This was animating pencil on paper, in the traditional 2D sense.
Several years later I moved to the Disney Studio that used to be in Sydney and worked there animating on direct-to-video sequels. Both of these studio jobs were great experiences and I have many lifelong friends from those days. Disney in particular was also a great opportunity to not only work with other skilled artists, but artists from around the world, and learn heaps.
Unfortunately, the Disney studio shut down in 2006 with traditional 2D animation losing favour, and I moved back to Melbourne with my wife and young family. Since then I’ve worked for a number of studios on a contract basis in roles that have also included character designer, storyboard artist and director. I started to develop the desire to try and pass on some of what I’d learnt and the opportunity presented itself to teach at AIT.
I’ve been teaching at AIT now for two years, and have been thoroughly enjoying it, not only passing on my experience but also seeing the passion in the students and seeing them develop their skills. I have taught Creative Drawing, 2D Animation and Advanced 2D Animation. In addition to my teaching, I continue to work in the animation industry &#8211; last year I animated on the new Ari Folman animated feature, “Where is Anne Frank?” due for release later this year, and also the Lego series, “Monkie Kid”. I’m currently working at Princess Bento on a top-secret project for Netflix.
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<h2>1. Study a 2D Animation Course at AIT and Set Yourself Up for a Career You’ll Love</h2>
AIT: Why would you recommend someone study 2D animation or pursue a career as an animator?
Richard: Pursuing 2D animation and a career as an animator gives you the opportunity to have a job where you get to draw pictures for a living. It’s a career where you are constantly learning as each new project has a different set of problems for you to solve and master. There’s always a new challenge and new skills to further develop, and opportunities to work with amazingly skilled artists from around the world.
Unlike illustration which is generally a solitary profession, in animation, you work as part of a team and can learn new techniques and skills from your co-workers, as well as work with others who are also passionate about the industry. It’s also a joy to create something that other people receive enjoyment from.
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AIT: Is there anything new or exciting in the 2D animation world that you’d like to talk about?
Richard: The resurgence of hand-drawn 2D animation over the last few years has been particularly encouraging.
With a major studio like Disney not producing the 2D animation they made their name with, it led many to believe the medium was dead, and while it did fall out of favour for a number of years, other smaller studios have raised its profile and been creating some great work and generating interest in the medium again, which in turn generates more opportunities for work.
While 2D puppet animation for TV series has been really popular, it’s also encouraging to see hybrid versions utilising both the puppet and hand-drawn elements. There appears to be an appreciation now for skill and well-crafted work, not just mass producing for TV. There’s also a lot more diversity in productions now, not only with visual style, but also the amount of adult productions on offer.
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AIT: What would you say to anyone who worries that this industry won’t provide a viable career?
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Richard: The animation industry can provide a viable career. I am certainly one who can attest to that, having worked in this industry for over 25 years.
I am still working in the industry in addition to my teaching role at AIT. It does require passion and perseverance though. If graduating students are prepared to work hard and are willing to continue to learn and develop their skills, the opportunities are there.
There are also opportunities to travel, with overseas studios also on the lookout for suitable and experienced staff. Production studios generally operate on a project basis with staff hired for the duration of a particular project, which can mean that when a particular project ends there may be an employment gap. Some staff may choose to move on before the end of a project, others may stay on and ride out the gap, or alternatively then seek work at another studio.
With numerous studios in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, there are opportunities to land a role at another studio mid-production. Larger studios may also be able to provide better continuity of work.
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<h2>2. Study a 2D Animation Course at AIT to Learn Foundational Techniques and Industry-Standard Software </h2>
AIT: What’s different about studying a 2D animation course at AIT?
Richard: AIT is the only tertiary institution offering a dedicated course in 2D animation. Other facilities will include 2D animation as part of a larger subject such as 3D animation or VFX, but only AIT has a specific 2D animation course. AIT has a roster of industry professionals in their teaching faculty, so that students can be taught by practitioners working on productions that they know. AIT also has industry-standard equipment and facilities for students to utilise.
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AIT: What sorts of tools, techniques, and software can students enrolled in a 2D animation course at AIT expect to learn about and use?
Richard: Studying at AIT, students can expect to use traditional media such as pencils, pen and ink, and watercolour as well as toned and black paper which can produce some striking looking results.
Students will learn about line, shape, form and texture as well as composition and perspective and gesture drawing. They will also learn how to plan drawings and sequences of drawings with thumbnail sketches, then develop and refine these into finished pieces. They will learn to explore different ideas and also discard drawings that aren’t working.
These traditional skills are still valued as important in this digital age as they provide the fundamentals, allowing you to transition easily between different software. Students will also learn an array of different software from Photoshop for image creation, through editing software such as Premiere Pro to animation production software such as After Effects and Toon Boom Harmony. All of these softwares are used professionally in the industry.
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<h2>3. Study a 2D Animation Course at AIT and Learn from Industry Leaders</h2>
AIT: A student enrolled in a 2D animation course at AIT can expect regular talks from some of the biggest names in the business. What do you think this does for a student looking to get their start in the industry?
Richard: The industry talks that AIT offers provide that “look behind the curtain” to see how those working at a studio actually do their job. It’s often a bit of a mystery what happens in a studio on a given production and these talks can shed some light on production processes as well as what it’s like to work in certain studios and on particular productions.
Most will tell their story of how they got started. Everybody has to start somewhere, and everybody’s journey is different and these industry talks frequently repeat that message. Hopefully this provides the motivation to students that they too can attain one of these positions and work on a production that not only inspires them, but also others who wish to do the same.
There are also roles that people may not have heard of, thought of, or considered, which opens up potential opportunities. These talks should also show that there are opportunities for employment beyond graduation. Ultimately, we hope that these talks provide the inspiration for students to pursue a career in the industry.
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<h2>4. Study a 2D Animation Course at AIT and Complete Our Internship Program</h2>
AIT: Can you tell us all a bit about AIT’s internship programs?
Richard: AIT’s internship program offers students the opportunity for professional practice within an actual production studio. AIT has established relationships with different studios who offer the opportunity to intern for a trimester.
Students apply, as they would for a job, showcasing their work in a showreel and portfolio. If successful, students then have the opportunity to work in a studio and gain valuable experience seeing and participating in the work and processes involved in a real production environment. It’s a wonderful experience to witness the intricacies of a production environment as well as the overall process.
Students will have the opportunity to see the amount and quality of work created, working to schedules and quotas, and the decision-making processes undertaken from an individual level through to a team level. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share the same passion and learn from their experiences.
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<h2>5. Study a 2D Animation Course at AIT and Build Your Skills While You Build Your Portfolio</h2>
AIT: AIT offers students to option to study a dedicated Diploma of 2D Animation, or a Bachelor of 2D Animation. Will students have the chance to pursue their specific areas of interest?
Richard: The aim of these courses is to provide students with a broad range of skills, learning the many parts that culminate in a finished production. The courses are structured so that students learn the various skills as a unit with the view that it is part of a greater project.
Students learn drawing, scriptwriting, storyboarding, audio, animation and editing amongst other subjects. Throughout the [bachelor] course, students will develop and display a natural affinity to certain areas of the production pipeline. This culminates in the final year with The Forge program where they have the opportunity to pursue those specific areas of interest.
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AIT: Can you tell me a bit about The Forge program?
Richard: The Forge is our final semester subject whereby students work as a group to complete a short film. This is an opportunity for students to focus on particular areas of interest, but also work as a team and communicate with one another in a simulated production environment.
In addition to having the opportunity to showcase the practical and technical skills the students have learnt, the equally important soft skills that are inherent in working as part of a team are also learnt &#8211; teamwork, peer review and feedback, negotiating and compromise. The Forge is the only subject the students take in the last semester, so that all of their energy can be focused on the project. Final projects are then reviewed by a panel of industry professionals.
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AIT: What typically comes next for 2D animation course students graduating from AIT? What have they learnt and achieved?
Richard: Once graduating from AIT, former 2D animation students can pursue their dreams. Graduating students will have learnt essential skills in a variety of roles and steps in the production pipeline. These skills and experiences will form part of their showreel and portfolio showcasing their abilities to potential employers. 2D animation can be used for a variety of means &#8211; from TV and film production, advertising, infotainment, education and games.
Opportunities present in a variety of mediums and graduating students can choose to work in one of these or alternate. Having learnt various facets of animated production and different skills, graduating students should show a preference for one or several of these facets.
If the students have taken part in the internship program, they will have gained real world experience in a studio to help further their understanding of the different roles available. Not all graduating students need to choose an artistic role, as there are numerous non-artistic roles within a studio. In addition to gaining employment within a studio, the skills learnt during the course can allow an individual to pursue their own venture if they choose to work independently.
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AIT: Any additional advice you’d like to give to current or future students?
Richard: My advice for future and current students would be to make the most of your opportunity. Learn what you can from the professionals teaching you, ask questions, seek advice and feedback.
You also have industry-standard equipment and facilities at your disposal &#8211; use them! Create extra work, develop a passion project, enter competitions and festivals. You have the opportunity to learn and create &#8211; don’t waste it! Creating extra work will only add to your portfolio and help improve your skills.
Animation is a constant learning process &#8211; once you’ve finished your tertiary education you will still be learning, but on the job. The learning curve flattens over time, but there are always new techniques, skills and improvements to be acquired. This is really a career where practice makes perfect.
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If you’d like to find out more about studying a 2D animation course at AIT, you can contact our team of student advisors, or download a course guide.

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Five Reasons to Study a 2D Animation Course at AIT

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Once, Australia was considered to be at the wrong end of the world if you wished to have any sort of creative career (and you may still have well-meaning aunts and uncles warning you that it is). Young Aussies graduated and left for the Northern Hemisphere, because that was the only way to make it.
However, the truth is that things have changed, and Australian students can look forward to some incredible opportunities right here at home. The Australian Government continues to offer support for industry growth through the Australian Screen Production Incentive, which attracts large budget productions from around the globe.
With a brand new studio in Docklands &#8211; the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere &#8211; and Dreamscreen Australia in Melbourne providing the latest in virtual production, Victoria is well placed to take on exciting new screen and filmmaking projects.
And New South Wales certainly won’t be missing out, with Thor: Love and Thunder recently wrapping up filming at Sydney’s Fox Studios, and Marvel reportedly ready to make the move to relocate to Sydney.
All of this is evidence of the huge confidence the international film industry has in Australia. The investments made in the Australian film and television industry truly paid off when COVID-19 hit. Although the industry has struggled, it has fared far better here than in other countries, with Australia being considered a safe place to film.
AIT educators and graduates of our filmmaking courses have also noticed this shift, as Australia becomes a major centre for screen productions. AIT educator Dean Musumeci recently spoke with a talent agent who said that he had never seen so many requests for extras. Films and TV shows that could not shoot due to COVID had been delayed, rather than cancelled, and each time the country, or individual states, went into COVID remission, production companies were eager to get to work. All of this bodes well for the resilience of the industry once things return to normality.
A graduate from AIT’s film school in Melbourne, Paige Cunningham, who co-founded her own digital content business, Untitled Creations, also noted that after an initial downturn for her company, a boom had followed, and that there was now a faster turnaround for small and large scale productions alike.
Just like Paige, others are seeing opportunities blossom at every level and across a variety of sectors. Once you graduate from one of our filmmaking courses with a nationally recognised Bachelor of Film or Diploma of Film, you will have the skills needed to work within the marketing department of a large company, as part of a creative agency, or as a team member on screen productions.
So, what are some of the jobs you might land after studying a filmmaking course at AIT?
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<h2>1. Cinematographer</h2>
Also known as a director of photography, a cinematographer has responsibility for the artistic and technical decisions that create a scene visually through use of the right cameras, lenses, and filters.
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<h2>2. Assistant Editor</h2>
Through a filmmaking course at AIT, you will learn to work with industry-leading editing technology, and to collaborate as part of a production team &#8211; setting you on the path to find work as an editor or assistant editor.
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<h2>3. Documentary Maker</h2>
If you couldn’t quite decide between journalism and filmmaking, then working on documentaries could provide you with the ideal career. You will still use your creative skills to present a story, but you will be drawing that story out of real people and situations.
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<h2>4. Corporate Videographer</h2>
Working as a corporate videographer could give you the chance to do what you love every single day. From producing video content for internal communications, to instructional content or event coverage, there will always be work for a corporate videographer.
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<h2>5. Production Assistant</h2>
Working as a production assistant, runner, or PA, could be a great way to gain hands-on experience either on set, or in other aspects of production. Your responsibilities could vary as you assist different teams and others in their roles, and you could work on small or large scale productions.
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Past AIT graduates from our film courses in Melbourne and Sydney are working as freelance music video producers, video editors, vloggers, and social media influencers with thousands of followers. They are working as assistant editors for national TV series, and graphic designers for film and television production companies. Some are working at corporate video production companies in Sydney and Melbourne, while others have founded their own successful digital content creation companies.
When you study a filmmaking course at AIT, you will start building your portfolio from day one. Along the way, you will meet and be taught by industry professionals, you will complete an internship, and when you graduate, you’ll already have your foot on the ladder. You will possess both soft skills and technical skills, and you will be able to put both to good use, having gained an understanding of the industry you are entering.
To find out more about studying one of our film courses in Melbourne or Sydney, you can contact a course advisor, or download a course guide today.

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Top Five Jobs You Can Land After Studying a Filmmaking Course at AIT

Five <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/showcase">AIT student projects</a> were selected as finalists in this year&#8217;s AEAF Awards, and two of the AIT finalists came away as winners in their respective <a href="https://aeaf.tv/categories/">categories</a>. We are incredibly proud of the students, their teachers, and all the hard work that has gone into these projects. Each year, the prestigious AEAF Awards celebrate the best work across animation, VFX, games, and immersive media.
The students’ work made an appearance alongside entries from international industry leaders, including MPC Film, Method Studios, and Weta Digital, and local legends including Flying Bark and Cheeky Little Media.
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<h2>AIT and The Forge</h2>
Students enrolled in AIT’s Bachelor of Interactive Media or a Bachelor of Digital Design participate in a final year unit called <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/industry-and-careers#forge">The Forge</a>. This intensive unit prepares students for the demands of industry by having them fulfil an industry brief in a simulated workplace environment.
Students collaborate as a production team, and at the end of the subject will have their own production &#8211; ready to add to their portfolio, and to submit to awards and competitions, including the AEAF.
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<h2>The AEAF Awards</h2>
The AEAF Awards are Australia’s leading annual awards, recognising the world’s best artists and studios creating animation and visual effects. An internationally recognised jury panel reviews hundreds of entries before announcing the finalists for each of the 20 categories of competition.
Previous winners of the AEAF Awards are among the world&#8217;s premier post-production companies, effects houses, and film studios.
The AEAF Awards Night included a screening of the Finalists and Winners Showreel &#8211; a compilation of clips from all finalists and winning projects in all categories.
Bringing together the best talent from the industry alongside students still honing their craft makes the AEAF a true showcase of current and future talent working with animation and VFX.
Check out this year’s finalists and medal winners below:
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<h2>VR Experience Category</h2>
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Title: ColorgizeVR
Crew: Nathalia Andrade Da Silva and Gabor Vermes
Award: Bronze
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In collaboration with their AIT teacher Carlton Zhu and AIT’s industry partner LiminalVR, students Nathalia and Gabor created ColorgizeVR.
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“Our aim was to create a short, energising VR experience as our final university project.
We had a short period of time to make it happen but the support from our teacher Carlton and the weekly catch up meetings with Adam from LiminalVR made it much more manageable.
Step by step we built a virtual reality game from scratch, where we created our own colour palette, designed the sounds and tweaked the initial idea weekly, added extra mechanics and simplified the physics system.
Both me and Nathalia were very proud of the outcome and we are extremely happy to make it to the top three of the AEAF award in 2021.
It was an honour to work with Nathalia and Carlton Zhu on my very first VR game, I have learnt a lot from both of them. Also, I would like to say thank you to Adam and Damian from LiminalVR for the opportunity and their support to work on such a unique project.”
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<li aria-level="1">Gabor Vermes</li>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VQj8IfEISc&amp;list=PLBdq0YMnR2oFXL5MEVxN1r28Yu9Mx2LpP" rel="noopener">Watch ColorgizeVR here.</a>

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AIT Students Winners at the 2021 AEAF Awards

Education providers and members of the international education community have been working with the NSW Government to ensure that international students who remain abroad can get back to Australia (NSW) as soon as possible.
Academy of Information Technology (AIT) is delighted to invite students to complete our expression of interest application to participate in the NSW International Student Arrival Pilot Program commencing in early December. In order to participate in the program, we are currently only able to accept students enrolled to study in NSW.
Should you wish to transfer your enrolment to NSW please contact our admissions team &#8211; <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230301191101/mailto:admissions@ait.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hs-link-id="0">admissions@ait.edu.au</a> and we can help to facilitate this. We are confident that if you wish to transfer to our Victorian campus after 12 months this option will be available.
In this initial phase, we invite our offshore students who currently hold a valid student visa and who have an offer of enrolment from AIT to complete the expression of interest form. This will enable us to begin planning your safe return to Australia and your studies with AIT.
To show our commitment to welcoming the arrival of our international students, we are happy to confirm that AIT will be covering 50% of the quarantine fees. All fees for this program are outlined below. The full cost of the quarantine will need to be paid upfront by our students. AIT&#8217;s contribution of $2895.60 will be deducted from the trimester tuition fees in the first and second trimester of your second year Bachelor.
The quarantine facility is a brand new purpose-built student accommodation facility located on the fringe of Sydney&#8217;s central business district. Students will have private rooms with kitchenettes, wifi, and complete in-room amenities. Whilst fully catered students will be able to order food deliveries as well.
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The cost of flights will need to be covered by the student. FCM, the travel company that will arrange flights, also has a <a href="https://fcm.eventsair.com/nswact-independent-flights/faqs?utm_campaign=2021%20%7C%20Study&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9hC5SQV43AZSLIB5JNPkkwEEBbmBVGk0dJXtZCSe4yo6NfqqtClWS8b2opCUQrVHKYtLYn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hs-link-id="0">webpage</a> with answers to frequently asked questions.
In accordance with NSW government requirements, all our students will need to be fully vaccinated with a TGA approved vaccination prior to arrival in Sydney. Details on approved vaccinations can be found <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/products/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-provisional-registrations?utm_campaign=2021%20%7C%20Study&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9hC5SQV43AZSLIB5JNPkkwEEBbmBVGk0dJXtZCSe4yo6NfqqtClWS8b2opCUQrVHKYtLYn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hs-link-id="0">here.</a>
If you have been fully vaccinated by non-TGA approved vaccines then a booster using Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen will meet regulatory requirements.
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This collective effort has been driven by industry, with the governance and operational support of the NSW Government and its agencies and the endorsement of the Australian Government.
Under this pilot plan, a limited number of 250 international students studying with NSW education providers can return each fortnight from December 4th 2021.  Places are limited and eligible students will be included in the program on a first in basis.
International students who return to Australia as part of the pilot plan must be fully vaccinated with a <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/products/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines">Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) recognised COVID-19 vaccination</a> before departing to Sydney.
International students will quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation in Sydney and adhere to the same health and quarantine requirements set by the Australian Government for returning Australians. The quarantine will include catering and medical support.
Be part of Australian history and join the pilot program with AIT, one of a select few providers invited to be part of the NSW pilot plan!
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<h3>FAQs</h3>
<h5>When do flights commence? </h5>
December 4th, and then every 2 weeks after that for a total of 7 flights.
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<h5>What are the costs for students?</h5>
Cost of quarantine &#8211; $5,791.20,
This includes accommodation, transportation from the airport, catering and medical support costs for the duration of the quarantine, health and wellbeing support.
AIT will cover $2895.60 of the quarantine costs, which is 50%. This amount will be deducted from AIT Trimester 1 &amp; 2 tuition fees in the program’s second year ($1447 deducted from trimester 1 and trimester 2 second-year tuition fees)s
Cost of Flight – TBC, at the expense of the student.
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<h5>How are flights booked and where do they depart from?</h5>
The industry is working with a dedicated travel agency partner to create and manage a Government-approved schedule of flights underwritten by the industry from various global locations to Australia.
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<h5>How are students screened for COVID-19? </h5>
International Students will be required to prove a negative COVID-19 result at check-in (taken 72 hours or less prior to their flight), then screened before departure and screened on arrival in Sydney.
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<h5>Will students need to quarantine?</h5>
International students will quarantine in student accommodation in Sydney and adhere to the same health and quarantine requirements for returning Australians set by the Australian Government.
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<h5>What are the student’s obligations?</h5>
Students will need to confirm they have organised accommodation for at least 12 weeks post quarantine.
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<h5>What are AIT&#8217;s obligations? </h5>
AIT will ensure all students have appropriate support arrangements in place once they resume their studies in NSW. This will include accurate contact details to stay in contact with students and support contact tracing (if required) above and beyond NSW Government&#8217;s effective contact tracing efforts.
AIT will resume on-campus learning with COVID-safe arrangements in accordance with the National COVID-19 Transition Plan agreed by National Crisis Cabinet, including tutorials, workshops, libraries, and practical requirements.
AIT will also ensure they have transparent processes in place to respond to any potential or actual cases of COVID -19 – both during quarantine and post-quarantine – in cooperation with NSW Health
Students enrolled with AIT with approved visas will be given first priority, we ask you to fill out this expression of interest form for students you have ready to enrol with AIT &#8211; Insert EOI Form link
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<h5>Can a student package with an ELICOS course + Bachelor? </h5>
Yes, we are accepting applications for all those students requiring English first to attain the English Entry level requirements. <a href="https://ait.edu.au/apply">https://www.ait.edu.au/international-students?hsLang=en-au</a>
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<h5>Can I change my provider once onshore?</h5>
Due to the nature of and considerable investment by AIT, students are expected to complete their full program with AIT. Any requests for release will be approved on compassionate and compelling grounds only at this stage.&#8217;
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We hope that a successful, scaled return will lead to an expanded pilot with more students returning to Australia in the future.
If you would like to discuss the above in more detail or express your interest in being a part of this program please <a href="https://ait.edu.au/apply" rel="noopener">contact us</a>!
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AIT Welcomes Back International Students

The switch to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for students and teachers alike. But there have been some surprising benefits. Students in regional areas have gained greater access to higher education than ever before, and recent research has found that students can learn faster, while also retaining more information, when engaged in virtual learning.
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There have been unique challenges and opportunities for students and teachers at <a href="https://ait.edu.au/">AIT</a>. With courses in <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/2d-animation">2D animation</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/3d-animation">3D animation</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/film">film and video</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/game-design">game design</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology/bachelor-of-it-mobile-apps">mobile app development</a>, and <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology/bachelor-of-it-games-programming">games programming</a>, many of our creative courses are based on a hands-on and collaborative curriculum.
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If you’d like to find out more about the transition to virtual learning at AIT then read on. Our conversation with AIT educators and staff at NextEd (AIT’s parent company) gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what keeps AIT courses rolling when learning goes online.
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NextEd’s head of instructional design, Alex Gilbey, was able to provide some insights regarding the strategies and technologies AIT has implemented to assist students and teachers. Dean Musumeci, an educator and subject co-ordinator for filmmaking courses at our Melbourne campus shed some light on the day to day differences of virtual learning. And Adam Moder had further insights regarding how a highly practical subject area like 3D art and animation could translate to a virtual learning environment.
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<h2>AIT: COVID-19 (and our collective response to it) has forced experimentation across industries. How have you seen this play out in the education industry at large or in your own work? </h2>
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Alex: Educational institutions have tried numerous things to help keep students engaged, learning, and supported. Some are simple, like delivering classes in a hybrid or online environment, allowing for online exams or designing digital assessments, and providing virtual feedback. While others are a little more technical or creative.
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For example, there has been an increase in programs aimed at student wellbeing,* where support and outreach are provided to cater for the feeling of isolation. Entire courses have been redesigned&#8230; Proof of identification and student verification software has been implemented for online examinations.
* A new wellbeing program, called Uprise, will give students confidential access to professional mental health advice at no cost through an online platform.
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Dean: I have had to be inventive in my online delivery of filmmaking practices…. students do not have the opportunity to get hands-on with the equipment that works as the core of any film set. As such, I have created additional content using guides, instructions, and video tutorials, and utilised pre-visualisation software a lot more than usual to make up for the lost opportunity. Softwares such as CineTracer and Unreal Engine &#8211; albeit CGI-centric &#8211; have helped with visualisation and showcases to assist with teaching film production.
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Adam: Working with students online in 3D art and animation means establishing a strong sense of trust and reliability, so that students are encouraged to present their work remotely for regular feedback.
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<h2>AIT: Dean and Adam, you teach in highly practical, hands-on study areas, and your industries demand extensive soft skills development (working in teams, collaboration, pitching work). How will this translate to the virtual learning environment? </h2>
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Dean: We funnel most of our coursework delivery and assessment presentations through one platform, Big Blue Button. This platform enables all users to communicate, share screens and/or documentation, as well as camera feeds and external clips. All of which is usually accessible in a classroom environment.
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One of the biggest, most valuable sets of soft skills that any employer would want in their employees is their adaptability and problem-solving abilities. Students that have the drive to showcase their work and curate the presentation appropriately for the chosen platform achieve much higher results than those who do not.
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Adam: As mentioned previously, students need to be encouraged to present work in progress regularly online for teacher and peer feedback.  Remote group work is especially challenging, so robust and accessible communication and online organisational tools (such as efficient storage and centralised production structures) are important to establish. Teacher or mentor co-ordination is crucial for group work.
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<h2>AIT: What do you see as the main challenges for students when it comes to switching to virtual learning?</h2>
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Dean: Staying attentive. Staying communicative. Maintaining presence, engagement, and co-operation in a virtual classroom.
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Adam: Technical restrictions &#8211; hardware, software, and bandwidth are always high on the list, but students also feel an increased need to discuss social, financial, mental and physical health, and academic concerns with their teacher and fellow students.
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<h2>AIT: What has NextEd/AIT done to address these issues?</h2>
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Alex: NextEd established an instructional design department, which has the objective of analysing all its courses to see how they can be enhanced and made more effective for virtual learning. While this is not a process that can happen overnight, a number of significant steps are being taken right now.
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A number of major courses and subjects are being redeveloped with increased access to resources, clearer navigational instructions, and learning activities. And a series of instructional videos are being created to provide students and teachers with support and tips on how to embrace digital learning.
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New student services resources are being developed… which provide clearer information, and a new student wellbeing program has launched, which allows students access to support with elements outside their education.
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Dean: NextEd and AIT have put forward training programs for staff to improve expertise, engagement, agility, and dexterity with the technology and online platforms used for course content delivery.
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Adam: Flexibility with assignment deadlines, provision of temporary software licenses required for specific subjects, access to student support and counselling services, and continuous development of teaching protocols.
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<h2>AIT: Do you believe there are any benefits when it comes to blended or virtual learning?</h2>
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Dean: Virtual learning has prompted the need for recorded classes and additional learning resources that students can engage with as part of their homework requirements. The instructional design team’s recent efforts to make AIT’s subject content modular and styled for asynchronous learning has been a benefit for students in that they have their to-do list and will tick off the content as they go along.
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Adam: Yes &#8211; flexibility and accessibility for student classes, ability to provide additional consultation to students when they require it (very much appreciated by students), safe, practical, and efficient delivery of coursework and assessments, and feedback.
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<h2>AIT: One of the criticisms of virtual education is the feeling of isolation. AIT is usually a collaborative environment for students. How have you seen educators addressing these issues? </h2>
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Dean: We set constant reminders for students that they ought to reach out to us and student services if they encounter any hurdles whether it be academic or emotional. We offer consultations and one-to-one tutoring sessions. We also engage in weekly coursework discussion forums with homework topics to keep the social momentum up where possible.
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Adam: I encourage group discussions in online classes &#8211; very informal, and often not related to the academic side &#8211; students seem more engaged to talk about their situations with their teacher and peers online. But everyone feels somewhat isolated.
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<h2>AIT: How do you keep students engaged in a virtual learning environment? </h2>
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Adam: For me, the best solution is to get students to focus on their creative work. Encouraging students to use their imaginations, expand their skills, and present their creative results gives them a welcome break from the restrictions of being online &#8211; free their minds, let their ideas soar!
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<h2>AIT: What would you say to anyone who has concerns about the virtual experience not being the same as the face-to-face experience?</h2>
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Adam: It’s important to adapt &#8211; as many studios are actually doing by moving their workforce online &#8211; hopefully, this current climate will improve, but in the meantime, we can find solutions to keep ourselves stimulated, engaged, productive, and connected.

Virtual Learning for Careers in the Creative Industries

<div id="lipsum">
<h2>The Growing Demand for Skills in Mobile App Development </h2>
App use is continually growing, and Australia and the world at large will need workers with mobile app development skills. Our favourite social media apps, shopping, banking, and ride-hailing apps keep the world turning day by day, and so the demand for mobile app developers will only continue to grow.
While COVID-19 brought many industries to their knees, the demand for technological aids increased, and this included mobile applications. Stuck at home, we ordered meals through food-delivery apps. Once we were allowed out again, we used QR scanning apps to sign in at locations and bring up contactless restaurant menus. Throughout Australia, people were encouraged to download the COVIDSafe contact tracing app.
The pandemic may have fast-tracked the development and uptake of a range of apps, but apps were already keeping us informed, safe, and connected, long before 2020. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country plagued by the dangers of unexploded land mines, the <a href="https://undp.medium.com/theres-an-app-for-that-705182fefc9c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BH Mine Suspected Areas app</a> has long been helping to keep people safe.
While using an app that warns of land mines when you’re out for a walk might seem unfathomable to most Australians, we already accept as everyday apps such as <a href="https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VicEmergency</a>, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/emergency-apps-and-online-tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fires Near Me,</a> and others that warn of potential emergencies.
There’s every likelihood that the demand for apps with the potential to improve (or even save) lives will continue to grow year by year.
Social media apps and others get a bad rap for invading our privacy, holding undue influence, and even negatively impacting our mental health. So, for anyone considering a career in mobile app development, it’s great to see apps being used as a genuine force for good. As well as keeping us supplied with entertainment, and helping us to identify that unusual plant in the garden.
Opportunities to create innovative apps that provide people with help and resources are out there. Former <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Academy of Information Technology (AIT)</a> student, Kaio Labre is a software engineer who helped build Rapid Response Revival’s <a href="https://firstaidfastapp.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Aid Fast</a> app, an app that allows users to access first aid guides and videos, as well as hospital directories and ambulance details from anywhere in the world.
In addition to all these life-changing and life-saving apps, there’s potential to develop apps in any area of life that interests you.
&nbsp;
</div>
<h2>App Development and the Job Market in Australia</h2>
A <a href="https://www.acs.org.au/insightsandpublications/reports-publications/digital-pulse-2021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by Deloitte and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) looked at the projected growth for various jobs within the technology workforce. It found that amongst the occupations forecast to grow in the coming years, demand for software and applications programmers would see the largest increase in employment, with an additional 65,200 workers required between 2020 and 2026.
This is extremely encouraging for anyone looking to enter the sector and begin a career in app development, and you can see similar predictions of growth from other sources as well.
The Australian Government’s Your Career website lists future demand for <a href="https://yourcareer.gov.au/careers/2613/software-and-applications-programmer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">software and applications programmers</a> as “very strong”, while JobOutlook noted that the number of people <a href="https://joboutlook.gov.au/occupations/software-and-applications-programmers?occupationCode=2613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working as software and applications programmers</a> had grown very strongly between 2014 and 2019. The Federal Government has also identified software and applications programmers as one of 41 occupations on the <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/pmsol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List</a>.
&nbsp;
<h2>Developing the Right Skills through an App Development Course</h2>
The high industry demand for applications programmers is good news for anyone thinking of entering the industry. However, just because demand is high, doesn’t mean it will be easy to walk into your dream job. You will still need the right skills as an app developer.
Working in app development will require knowledge of software, coding techniques, problem-solving skills, and sought-after soft skills.
Reports from <a href="https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/applications-developer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEEK</a> found that employers were most commonly searching for candidates with skills and experience in:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">JavaScript programming</li>
<li aria-level="1">C# programming</li>
<li aria-level="1">Java programming</li>
<li aria-level="1">Xamarin</li>
</ul>
A similar overview of desirable skills from <a href="https://yourcareer.gov.au/careers/2613/software-and-applications-programmer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Your Career</a> listed the following:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Communication skills</li>
<li aria-level="1">JavaScript</li>
<li aria-level="1">Java</li>
<li aria-level="1">Microsoft C#</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Here at <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AIT</a>, our course design is informed by the skills demanded by industry. In a <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/courses/it-courses/bachelor-of-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bachelor of IT (Mobile Applications Development)</a> you will learn how to code using object-oriented languages including:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">C++</li>
<li aria-level="1">Java</li>
<li aria-level="1">C#</li>
<li aria-level="1">Objective C</li>
</ul>
Your app development course will cover the world’s most-used programming languages and other essentials for app development:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">C++</li>
<li aria-level="1">HTML</li>
<li aria-level="1">JavaScript</li>
<li aria-level="1">Java</li>
<li aria-level="1">C#</li>
<li aria-level="1">Objective C</li>
</ul>
This solid grounding in coding fundamentals means you can graduate as a language-agnostic programmer, making you more adaptable, and more employable.
&nbsp;
You will also learn to use industry-standard software, including:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Microsoft Visual Studio</li>
<li aria-level="1">Visual Studio Code</li>
<li aria-level="1">Brackets IDE</li>
<li aria-level="1">Android</li>
<li aria-level="1">Xcode</li>
<li aria-level="1">Diagrams.net</li>
<li aria-level="1">XAMPP</li>
<li aria-level="1">Microsoft SQL Server</li>
<li aria-level="1">Cisco Packet Tracer</li>
</ul>
While other courses may focus on either iOS or Android operating systems, an app development course at AIT will teach you to design, build, and publish both iOS and Android apps. You will also learn a range of transferable programming and development skills.
As with any AIT course, you will learn valuable soft skills that will help with your future employability. Dedicated units help you to hone your communication skills, collaborative, and presentation skills, as you develop and pitch an app as part of a student production team; build your portfolio further by completing a client project; and gain on-the-job experience through our internship program.
The AIT curriculum is designed to simulate the demands of industry while equipping students with the real world and in-demand skills required for successful careers as mobile app developers.
&nbsp;
If you would like to learn more about studying at AIT, then you can download a course guide, or contact one of our student advisors today.

01_AIT_Mobile_App_Portfolio_Image_566_x_351_Mar2023.jpg

Demand for Mobile App Developers

<a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AIT</a> offers a range of higher education courses for creative students. If you want to turn your ideas into a creative career that you’ll love, then you could study a Bachelor of <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/2d-animation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2D Animation</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/3d-animation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3D Animation</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/film" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Film</a>, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/game-design" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Design</a> or a Bachelor of Information Technology specialising in <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology/bachelor-of-it-mobile-apps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mobile App Development</a>, or <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology/bachelor-of-it-games-programming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Games Programming</a>. Your qualifications will be nationally recognised, but perhaps even more importantly, you will receive an education that gets you industry-ready. From day one you will start to work with the best industry tools, and to build a portfolio that showcases mastery of your craft. You will meet with and receive feedback from industry professionals, and have the opportunity to complete an internship to help launch your career.
If you are interested in studying at AIT, and you haven’t registered and paid for a VTAC account yet, then you can <a href="https://ait.edu.au/apply" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apply to AIT directly</a>. You’ll receive confirmation that you have been accepted to your chosen course sooner (before Year 12 results are released, depending on the timing of your application), and you won’t have to pay VTAC application fees. If you have already signed up for a VTAC account, then you can use this guide to help you navigate the system.
&nbsp;
<h1>Your 10 Step Guide to Applying with VTAC</h1>
 
<h2>1. Register for a VTAC Account</h2>
If you are planning to apply for courses at universities, TAFEs, or private institutions, then you can either <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/domestic-students">apply directly</a> to the educational institution or register for a VTAC account that will allow you to apply for up to eight separate courses. Applying directly to institutions like AIT (with no ATAR requirement) means you can lock in your place before you graduate, and start planning your <a href="https://ait.edu.au/blog/tips-for-your-first-day-at-uni-or-college" target="_blank" rel="noopener">life after Year 12</a> with more certainty and less stress.
However, once you have registered and paid for a VTAC account, then you must complete your applications within the VTAC system, and go through the offer rounds.
For courses commencing in early 2024, you will be able to create a VTAC account from 31 July 2023, and your school may prompt you to do so at that time. There are plenty of things you can do before registering for your VTAC account, including attending open days and using VTAC’s CourseSearch to narrow down your course options.
When it is time to <a href="https://www.vtac.edu.au/applying/account.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">create an account</a>, you will need to provide your personal details (including visa and passport details for international students) and your student number.
It’s a good idea to decide whether you will apply directly for courses, or create a VTAC account as early as possible. It will take time to choose courses and order your preferences, within the VTAC system, and you will also have to pay application processing fees, which range from $42 for timely applications, through to $159 for very late applications.
 
<h2>2. Find Your Ideal Course</h2>
Before you apply for courses, you want to know that you have explored all of your options and found the courses that will set you on the path for your dream career.
It’s not all about ATARs and prerequisites. While some professions will require you to follow a traditional path (medicine, law, accounting) if you want a creative career, then it’s all about skill development and gaining a foothold in the industry. Have a look at what different courses offer, and choose one that allows you to develop your talents, while getting you job-ready through a focus on practical skills as well as theory.
<a href="https://delta.vtac.edu.au/CourseSearch/searchguide.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CourseSearch</a>, is part of the VTAC website and allows you to search for different courses or areas of study.
<a href="https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Youth Central</a>, offers study, training, career, and life advice.
<a href="https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victorian Skills Gateway</a>, helps students identify the TAFE and training opportunities that lead to the job they want.
<a href="https://www.careershub.vtac.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VTAC Careers Hub</a>, helps students to find courses and identify career pathways.
Different courses will have different fee types. This may determine which courses you can apply for as an international student, and you may want to determine whether you are eligible for any <a href="https://ait.edu.au/apply/government-student-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Government student loans</a> as an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
 
<h2>3. Compare Different Institutions</h2>
You might want to spend some time thinking about whether you want to study at a university, TAFE, or an independent tertiary college. Each one could provide different advantages for your <a href="https://ait.edu.au/blog/tips-for-your-first-day-at-uni-or-college" target="_blank" rel="noopener">life after Year 12</a>.
Think about the career that you want once your studies are complete. Perhaps you will need nationally recognised qualifications. This could take the form of a certificate, diploma, or degree.
Maybe you are considering the prestige of a certain tertiary institution. Some of Australia’s institutions are recognised internationally, while others offer courses that are well respected by professionals in certain industries.
Finally, you will want to think about the learning style that suits your needs. Private institutions such as <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/">AIT</a> tend to offer <a href="https://ait.edu.au/blog/dont-get-lost-at-uni-get-found-at-ait" target="_blank" rel="noopener">smaller class sizes</a> than other universities, which means you receive guidance from educators who can help you to develop your unique creative talents. You will have access to the latest industry software in a hands-on and practical learning environment. While larger universities cannot afford to specialise in a single area of study, specialist providers such as AIT can focus solely on digital media and tech education. You will have the opportunity to build up your portfolio through <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/showcase" target="_blank" rel="noopener">project-based work</a>, while still receiving a higher education diploma or bachelor qualification. In addition, you will create amazing <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/industry-and-careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">industry connections</a> to prepare you for a world where it’s not just about what you know, but who you know.
&nbsp;
<h2>4. Apply for Courses through VTAC</h2>
Victorian students who have already registered and paid for a VTAC account can submit applications for tertiary courses from 31 July 2023. Log into your VTAC account and check that you have all the relevant information. You can even complete a <a href="https://www.vtac.edu.au/applying/demos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">practice course application</a> to make sure you understand the preference system and have all the necessary documentation ready for your final application.
At this stage, you may be applying for courses based on the ATAR you hope to achieve. Or you may be working towards a certain ranking in order to enter your dream course. Some courses (such as those offered at AIT) <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/domestic-students" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won’t require an ATAR</a> at all. Some courses will require you to sit an additional <a href="https://www.vtac.edu.au/before/admissions-tests/other-tests.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admissions test</a>, while others will have additional <a href="https://www.vtac.edu.au/before/entry-req.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entrance requirements</a> such as prerequisite studies, interviews, or folios.
&nbsp;
<h2>5. Check Your Eligibility for the Special Entry Access Scheme</h2>
Once you have lodged a course application, if you need to, you can apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) through your VTAC account. This can allow tertiary institutions to consider your unique circumstances and any difficulties that you have faced.
You will have until 5.00pm on 6 October 2023 to submit any scholarship and special consideration applications through VTAC.
You might also find that the institution you are applying to offers its own <a href="https://www.vtac.edu.au/access/seas/institutions.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special consideration</a> program. This could apply to courses where there is traditionally under-representation of particular groups.
 
<h2>6. Research Available Scholarships</h2>
You may be eligible for <a href="https://www.vtac.edu.au/access/scholarships.html#where" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scholarships</a>, which could be awarded based on your location, academic achievement, or even your community involvement. A scholarship may help you with course fees, relocation costs, or purchasing books and other study materials.
While you can apply for certain scholarships through VTAC, it’s also worth checking whether the institution you are applying to offers any separate scholarship opportunities. For example, you can apply for AIT’s <a href="https://493379.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/493379/4.%20ENROLMENT%20AND%20ADMISSIONS/AIT_initiAIT_Scholarship_information.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">initiAIT scholarship</a> if you are a domestic student studying one of our undergraduate degrees. Our scholarship offers students 50% off their first and last term’s tuition fees, so you can see it’s definitely worth devoting a bit of time to research and checking on the scholarships that are available outside the VTAC system.
&nbsp;
<h2>7. Make Sure You Register to Receive Results</h2>
Double-check to make sure you registered for the <a href="https://resultsandatar.vic.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VCE Results and ATAR Service</a>, as this is separate from your main VTAC account. You will need to remember the password that you set so that you can access your results when they are made available online from 7.00am 11 December 2023.
&nbsp;
<h2>8. Access Your VCE Results</h2>
From 7.00am on 11 December 2023, you can access your VCE results and ATAR online. You will also be able to access these results using the VCE Results and ATAR Service app.
VCAA estimates that the paper documentation of your results will arrive by post within ten business days of the results becoming available online.
If you have already applied directly, and been accepted into a course, then you can provide the institution with your certificate of Year 12 completion once you graduate.
&nbsp;
<h2>9. Changing Your Preferences</h2>
If you haven’t received the ATAR that you were hoping for then you still have plenty of options. One option is to change your course preferences. Have another look at your shortlist of courses and talk to student advisers at different tertiary institutions about pathway courses. These may be courses that help you to receive similar qualifications, or even to complete units of study that will give you a better chance of transferring to your dream course at a later date, with credit given for the units you have already studied.
If you already have a VTAC account, then there are no further costs involved in changing your preferences. Just log into your VTAC account, re-order, add, or delete courses. Check VTAC’s cut-off dates, and make sure you haven’t missed an application cut-off date in the course description or selection criteria of the course that you’re applying for.
 
<h2>10. VTAC’s Offer Rounds</h2>
Letters of offer will arrive at different times depending on how you have applied for courses. Direct applicants may receive their offers before finishing VCE. Students who have applied through VTAC will have to wait a little longer.
Some offers will be released early on 17 November 2023, however, you should look out for the main round of offers to be released on 12 January 2024. There will be subsequent rounds following this if courses still have places available.
If you think you may have missed an emailed offer, then you can always log in to your VTAC account, any time from 2.00pm on the day offers are released to see whether there are offers listed.
Once the main rounds have concluded, institutions will be given access to the pool of students who missed out, and they can make offers to them as part of this supplementary round.
&nbsp;
Although applying for courses can be a stressful and confusing time, it doesn’t have to be! Once you’ve moved on to higher education, no one will ever ask about your VCE results, and your ATAR will not determine your future.
If you are still struggling to make sense of the VTAC system, or want to find out whether you really need to worry about prerequisite studies, portfolios, or your ATAR, then you can always <a href="https://www.ait.edu.au/contact-ait">talk to a course advisor at AIT</a>. Our helpful advisors will be happy to walk you through the differences between direct applications and VTAC applications. Most importantly, they will be able to talk to you about <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">course options</a>, so that you’re not just studying for the sake of studying, but setting yourself up for a creative career that you’ll love.
&nbsp;
This post was originally published on 2 August 2021, and updated on 2 May 2023.

Your 10 Step Guide to VTAC Course Applications

Nine AIT student projects were selected as finalists with ‘ALB-I’ taking out the ‘Special Merit Award’
The <a href="https://aeaf.tv/">2020 Animation &amp; Effects Awards Festival</a> took place on Friday, 14 August where nine projects from Academy of Information Technology (AIT) students were selected as finalists, with ‘ALB-I’ taking home the ‘Special Merit Award’.
This is an extraordinary achievement for all of our students involved and to say we’re incredibly proud of them is an understatement. This is a testament to AIT’s commitment to being a leading 2D Animation school and 3D design school in Australia.
These projects were created as part of AIT’s exclusive program,  <a href="https://ait.edu.au/life-at-ait/industry-connections">‘The Forge</a>’ &#8211; a rigorous final year project that simulates the realities of the workplace. Exclusive to our Bachelor of Interactive Media and Bachelor of Digital Design, students collaborate as part of a production team to respond to a brief &#8211; which they then pitch to a panel of industry experts for critique &amp; recognition.
Check out all nine projects below:
<h2>3D Design </h2>
Title: ALB-I
Winner of the ‘AEAF Speical Merit Award’
Students: Rory Hulme, Khaled Erku, Siddharth Saxena, Maria Clara, Kevin Chala &amp; Chanravy Bun
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Y45vXYGMC1M?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: Corrupted
2020 AEAF Finalist
Student: Rory Hulme
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lLR7WpJj85s?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: Project Sunlight
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: Spencer Viney, Andres Piroso &amp;  Charles Chen
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Os3UkfRijLY?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: See No Evil
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: Alix Popescu, Sam Nairn, Eddie Nguyen &amp; Ibbrahim Aouli
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zNz6z_NMy1E?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
<h2>2D Animation</h2>
Title: Escapism
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: Thi Thu Trang Tran, Lucas Whiteford, Dominic McDonnell &amp; Josh Dearaugo
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xeQx97THlvk?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: The Twins Legend
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: Chelsea Thompson, Patrik Jarlestam, Matt Fong &amp; Clare Farnsworth
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/c0qFKseL1WA?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: Plague
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: James Dickson &amp; Tiffany Kho
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LXc3g984Oko" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: Malediction and Murder
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: Natalie Haig, Johanna Lum, Livio Maraniello, Aia Burke, Mika Lowe &amp; Austin Caruna
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZEzaPzXS_WU?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
Title: The TimeStream Team
2020 AEAF Finalist
Students: Chelsea Thomson, Jade Lentini, Joel Surdich, Dominique Speight, Katyayani Yellapu, Liam Peng &amp; Joel Baldwiin
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7WghOfZ5PKk?feature=emb_imp_woyt" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<hr />
If you’re interested in studying a <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/2d-animation">2D Animation course</a> or 3D <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/3d-animation">Animation</a> course at AIT so you too can learn the skills to produce amazing pieces of work just like these, download a course guide today.

2020 Animation and Effects Award Festival (AEAF) Wrap Up

A school is only as good as its students and the work they produce
We’re super proud of the artwork our students produce every term. We showcase these projects to display the high quality work that comes from our students as a result of being mentored by some of the best in the industry.
This is also a way for you to see the quality of work you could be producing over time.
<div id="attachment_6972" style="width: 261px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6972" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6972 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-1_hkevmf-251x300.jpeg" alt="" width="251" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-1_hkevmf-251x300.jpeg 251w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-1_hkevmf-27x32.jpeg 27w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-1_hkevmf.jpeg 417w" sizes="(max-width: 251px) 100vw, 251px" />Alfredo Vallejo Alonso &#8211; Bachelor of Interactive Media (Game Design)</div>
Funky Campuses and Cutting Edge Facilities
Our boutique Sydney and Melbourne Campuses are unique with the facilities on offer for our students. The campuses are small to maximise the amount of time our students have with their teachers and lecturers.
<ul>
<li>We also have some pretty cool spaces across both campuses that are there to help support our students with their projects:</li>
<li>Green Screen Room</li>
<li>Sound recording studio</li>
<li>Library</li>
<li>Student lounge areas</li>
<li>Mac Labs</li>
<li>Student Kitchen</li>
<li>Student Spaces for group/individual work</li>
</ul>
This is a great opportunity to see where you can hang out when you’re not in class!
Get to know the students of today
Speaking to current students studying at AIT is a great resource to take advantage of! They’ve been in your shoes before and have made the decision to select AIT as their preference for studying. Find out why?!
You can also find out more details about the courses and subjects from their point of view &#8211; what they love about their studies, challenges they may face and the support they receive from teachers and staff on campus.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6973" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw-32x21.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-2_agxssw.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Meet your future teachers and educators
Our teachers contain a wealth of information in their respective subjects. All our teachers have industry experience &#8211; and are still involved in the industry so they’re keeping up with the changes that occur everyday!
They will provide you with information about our courses and share their own industry experience too! Ask as many questions as you like here and participate in the demos they have available.
Take some time to play around with different equipment and software
During the Open Day, there will be different stations available for you to test out different pieces of equipment, get lost in the world of VR, experience games that have been created by our students and more!
Learn about the courses available
At AIT, we offer 3x degrees; Bachelor of Digital Design, Bachelor of Interactive Media (focus on 2D Animation, 3D Design, Film &amp; Video or Game Design) and Bachelor of Information Technology (Game Programming or Mobile App Development).
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<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>With multiple options available across different disciplines, it’s important for you to know:</li>
<li>How our courses are structured</li>
<li>The subjects within each course/degree</li>
<li>Outcomes of each degree (including potential job opportunities)</li>
<li>And more!</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Where will you be hanging out after class?
It’s important to know the type of environment you could be spending the next 3 years at. What’s the vibe like? Do you think you’d feel comfortable here? Plus, it’s important to know how and time taken to travel to your classes everyday, and where will you buy breakfast/lunch? Who makes the best coffee around? How long does it take to walk to the park down the road to chill out after your class?
Open Days are a perfect opportunity to scope out all these questions and more!
We’ll talk about the important info too like entry requirements and tuition fees 
Each university and college’s entry requirements and application process is different. This is a great opportunity to find out what exactly is needed by you to study at AIT. 
Everything from entry requirements, tuition fee breakdowns and the application process will be covered during our Open Day. Oh! And did we mention our higher education courses are Fee-Help Approved?!
What extracurricular activities will you be involved in?
From SRC clubs to Industry Events on campus, we aim to provide you with the ultimate student experience at AIT!
Our SRC hosts a number of clubs available for students to join and increase their skills in different disciplines like drawing and animation. This is also a great way to mingle with students outside of your class &#8211; who knows when you’ll be in a group working on a project together!
We also host multiple industry events throughout the term. Ranging from AITTalks which usually go for 1 hour during the day or Master Talks that happen after school hours, we get the experts in across the different study options to present to students and give an insight on their own experiences. Recently, we invited the likes of Production Designer, Deborah Riley from Game of Thrones, Concept Artists, Ev Shipard and Gerhard Mozsi from Alien: Covenant and Art Director, Jacinta Leong from Hacksaw Ridge.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6974" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-2_psdfnr-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-2_psdfnr-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-2_psdfnr-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-2_psdfnr-32x24.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-2_psdfnr.jpeg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6975" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-3_amxzyg-300x271.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="271" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-3_amxzyg-300x271.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-3_amxzyg-32x29.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/open-day-4-3_amxzyg.jpeg 592w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
You could find your new BFF on the day!
At the Open Days, there are so many people in and out of the doors throughout the day. More than likely, you’ll end up speaking to someone with a similar interest in you. This provides you with a great platform to start making connections, making your first day on campus less scary!
Whether you have your mindset on the university you will be attending or all options are still up in there air, the only way you’ll know whether AIT is the place for you is by attending our next <a href="https://ait.edu.au/events/upcoming-events">Open Day.</a>

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10 Reasons Why You Should Attend AIT Open Day

Ev Shipard is one the world&#8217;s most highly sought-after digital concept artists. He&#8217;s worked with some of the biggest visual effects and effects and entertainment studios across the globe and has acted as the digital environment visionary for Ridley Scott and Oliver Stone. Throughout his 15 year career, Ev has contributed cinematic art to some 30 feature films &#8211; so we&#8217;re beyond excited that he has now joined AIT to mentor students in the upcoming Digital Narrative Painting Masterclass  in both Sydney and Melbourne.
We sat down with Ev for five to get to know more about his role as a concept artist, career highlights, the journey that led him to where he is today and what students can expect to learn from the upcoming Masterclass in Digital Narrative Painting.
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AIT: Tell us about your role as a digital concept artist 
E.S: I’m an artist working in the entertainment a industry. Essentially we are visual problem solvers, a client requires an idea to be conceived and we go through the process of visualising this taking all the various constraints and elements into account. From concept art to digital matte painting and illustration we serve an overarching story or narrative.
AIT: You&#8217;ve worked on some of the world&#8217;s most celebrated feature films. Can you shed some light on the projects you&#8217;ve worked on and with whom? 
E.S: I&#8217;ve worked on many films over the last two decades. Some examples are 300, Alien: Covenant, Knowing, Unbroken, Mad Max: Fury Road, Hacksaw Ridge, The Great Gatsby, 30 Days of Night, Chronicles of Narnia- Voyage of the Dawntreader and Wolverine. Some directors are more interactive with the art department and sometimes you are just working with the Production Designer &#8211; it is their role to funnel the director&#8217;s vision through to their team. I&#8217;ve worked with the likes of Alex Proyas, Ridley Scott, George Miller, Zac Snyder and Michael Apted.<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6998" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ivbckpjkkxqnwmtzwv2s-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ivbckpjkkxqnwmtzwv2s-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ivbckpjkkxqnwmtzwv2s-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ivbckpjkkxqnwmtzwv2s-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ivbckpjkkxqnwmtzwv2s.webp 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6999" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles5-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles5-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles5-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles5-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles5.webp 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7000" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles4-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles4-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles4-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles4-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles4.webp 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7001" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles7-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles7-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles7-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles7-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles7.webp 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7002" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles3-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles3-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles3-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles3-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles3.webp 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7003" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles2-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles2-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles2-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles2-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/500x500-tiles2.webp 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
AIT: It must be so rewarding to play such a major role in these films. How did you come into this exciting world? 
E.S: My career has taken a few paths and a lot of shifts but I trained as a designer focusing on illustration and photography in the mid nineties and after winning a scholarship had an opportunity to start in post production as an animator and 3D Artist. This led me to digital matte painting, compositing and concept art. After a few more jumps and a couple of gigs overseas I found myself VFX art directing on films like &#8216;300&#8217; and &#8216;Knowing&#8217;. I’ve had a very well rounded experience from pre-production to post-production more recently leading me to a role in the art department on &#8216;Alien: Covenant&#8217;.
&nbsp;
AIT: What&#8217;s your role on these films &amp; how do you impact a final production? 
E.S: Depending on where I plug in it will differ &#8211; with concept art in a pre-production art department I visualise sets and story points for a Production Designer and Director often working while the script evolves in the early stages. In post-production, a concept artist defines the look of specific VFX.
You are part of a bigger machine and serving the story and director but it can be an incredibly important role as you can affect the overall aesthetic and design with your work. Sometimes this is reeled in and sometimes you have the opportunity to really explore; It all depends on the project and the working relationship with it.
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AIT: We&#8217;re excited to have you on board as our lead facilitator for our upcoming Digital Narrative Painting Masterclass. Who would benefit most out of this course?  
E.S: This Masterclass is for experienced artists and students who would like to level up their skills within the context of an entertainment project. It&#8217;s a great opportunity to understand processes and pipelines within the industry, so this is perfect for anyone looking to enter the film and entertainment industry.
&nbsp;
AIT: What will students learn in this masterclass and what skills will they leave with? 
E.S: We will break down scripts, really analyse and get to the heart of what it is we are trying to communicate visually. The project we will work though mirrors projects in the industry. Students will take away an approach to entertainment art with finished work and an insight to what it is to be a professional concept artist.
I think it’s important that students have a very contextual experience, something very much related to the industry. We will of course go over some fundamentals and I will demonstrate my approach to working to a brief. I bring a traditional background to my digital art and work through how we can utilise this. Ultimately the art must service the narrative- our story.

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Get to know blockbuster film concept artist Ev Shipard

Every so often at the <a href="http://www.ait.edu.au/">Academy of Information Technology (AIT)</a>, we meet highly-passionate students who continually strive to excel. Santiago Villamil is one of them. Santiago arrived from Colombia in 2016. Determined to forge a strong future in Australia, he enrolled into AIT and pursued a <a href="http://www.ait.edu.au/courses/it-courses/bachelor-of-it">Bachelor of IT (Mobile Apps)</a>.
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“Mobile apps development has always fascinated me with its huge potential in the technology industry. The endless opportunities in this field is also very inspiring — the landscape is always changing and you’ll always need to keep learning in order to keep up,” Santiago says.
“Another reason why I studied Mobile Apps Development is because I really love design and this field has the best of both worlds — design and development!”
As a testament to his hard work, Santiago won the <a href="http://www.ait.edu.au/scholarship">AIT Creative Minds Scholarship</a> in February 2018. The AIT Creative Minds Scholarship was developed to recognise the hard work, passion and dedication that international students put in.
“I decided to apply to Creative Minds Scholarship as an opportunity to prove myself that nothing is impossible. If you try hard enough and set goals, you will be rewarded,”  says Santiago.
“I&#8217;m very committed and passionate about IT, and winning this scholarship certainly helped in fuelling and encouraging me to keep doing my best in the following semesters,”
Though Santiago is only in his second year of the Bachelor program, he has already embarked on various projects. One notable project of his would be the User Interface (UI) assignment where he created a mobile application named “2Pet” to serve as a gateway between dog owners to find playmates or arrange dog dates.
“2Pet provides the features necessary for the interactions between dog owners, easy access to dogs’ profiles giving the relevant information about them such as their name, age, gender and a brief description. 2Pet allows dog owners to seek out playmates or dog dates easier,” Santiago explains.
This exercise took 4 months and gave Santiago the opportunity to develop a product from scratch — in the beginning, the drawings were done with pencil on paper. When asked about the idea and product formulation process, Santiago cited ‘user testing’ and ‘interviews’.
“The main thing I was trying to achieve was to understand the customer’s perspective and anticipate their interactions with the app,” says Santiago. “This allows me to create the best user experience,”
The road to success was not easy to navigate. Fresh out of High School in 2008, Santiago left his home country, Colombia and made the move to Australia where he took up a course in English Language.
Unfortunately not long after the big move, Santiago’s parents were unable to continue funding his studies. As a result, he had to return to Colombia. Undefeated, Santiago set out to make his trip back to Australia a reality, “I always knew that I wanted to come back to this beautiful country, to become a professional,” “To make this dream come true, my wife and I started a small business. In 2016, after a long period of time, we were finally able to return to Australia,” says Santiago.
Melbourne was Santiago’s city of choice. It was an easy decision to make, especially when the bustling city has clinched the top spot for ‘<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-16/melbourne-named-worlds-most-liveable-city-for-seventh-year/8812196">World’s Most Liveable City</a>’ multiple times in a row. According to the <a href="http://www.invest.vic.gov.au/opportunities/technology/melbourne-s-strengths-in-technology">Victorian Government</a>, Melbourne has been ranked as one of the world’s top five student cities and voted the leading education destination for international students.
The future of the IT industry in Australia looks strong with its sizeable market, its innovative outlook and a varied and sophisticated customer base. These factors combine to make Australia an <a href="https://www.austrade.gov.au/International/Buy/Australian-industry-capabilities/ICT">ideal location</a> to develop and test new ICT products and services.
The proof is in the statistics — Victoria alone generates A$34 billion in revenue annually, with 91,300 people employed directly. Melbourne is Australia&#8217;s technology hub and is home to more than half of Australia&#8217;s top 20 technology companies. 
When asked about his plans for the future, Santiago stated that he is ‘excited’ and more determined than ever to succeed with the help of his teachers.
He says, “I feel very grateful for having the opportunity to study at AIT. It has made me grow personally and professionally and this makes me feel confident about choosing the right degree at the right institution. The teachers at AIT have also made this a great journey where I have learned a lot and prepared me for the industry once I graduate.”
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Student Spotlight: International student creating a future in IT

We&#8217;ve said it before and we&#8217;ll say it again &#8211; the great thing about VTAC application is that you’re able to change your course preferences if you have a change of mind! According to VTAC, there is no cost involved just as long as you pay your course application fee.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6994" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitcomic_t0esji-copy-300x139.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="139" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitcomic_t0esji-copy-300x139.jpg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitcomic_t0esji-copy-1024x475.jpg 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitcomic_t0esji-copy-768x356.jpg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitcomic_t0esji-copy-32x15.jpg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitcomic_t0esji-copy.jpg 1359w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Here are some tips on VTAC’s website that would help you in this process:
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6995" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-300x174.webp" alt="" width="300" height="174" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-300x174.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-1024x594.webp 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-768x446.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-32x19.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw.webp 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Tips of changing your course preferences | Image credit: www.vtac.edu.au
Remember to always check your course code when changing your preferences! Here are AIT’s course codes for easy reference.
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<th style="width: 84.495%;">Course</th>
<th style="width: 15.3627%;">Code</th>
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<td style="width: 84.495%;">Digital Design (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110032</td>
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<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Digital Design (Diploma)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110062</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Information Technology (Game Programming) (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110122</td>
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<td style="width: 84.495%;">Information Technology (Mobile Applications Development) (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110022</td>
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<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Information Technology (Diploma)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110132</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Interactive Media &#8211; 2D Animation (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110092</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Interactive Media &#8211; 3D Design (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110102</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Interactive Media &#8211; Film &amp; Video (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110012</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Interactive Media &#8211; Game Design (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.495%;">Interactive Media (Diploma)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3627%;">8140110042</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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Good luck!!
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Changing your course preferences through VTAC

On the 4th of November, our IT Course Coordinator Kriss, along with our Bachelor of Information Technology student, Mino attended the 2017 InnoServe Awards in Taiwan.
After entering the 2017 State and National iAwards, the team headed over to the InnoServe Awards to showcase the Wisdom App. Mino has spent a lot of time presenting his project and representing AIT at a State, National and International Level!
<div id="attachment_7064" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7064" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7064 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai-300x169.webp" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai-300x169.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai-768x432.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai-1536x864.webp 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai-32x18.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog1_rgbuai.webp 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Pictured: Mino is here showing his app and what it does to some of the guests at the event under the watchful eye of course coordinator, Kriss. Picture provided by Kriss Mahatumaratana.</div>
During the event, there were just over 300 different projects presented from various students across the Asia Pacific. AIT was the only school to represent Australia! Projects were put on display to be judged for the final prize.
The final result left Hong Kong taking out the major prize of $4,000USD. To be the only school to represent Australia was a huge feat in itself.
About the Awards
The <a href="https://innoserve.tca.org.tw/en/about_contest.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InnoServe Awards</a> is an annual competition held for university and college students to present a project they have created within the technology or information management space. This has expanded to be the largest and most significant contest of its kind in Taiwan.
<div id="attachment_7065" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7065" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7065 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47-300x200.webp" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47-300x200.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47-1024x684.webp 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47-768x513.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47-32x21.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/taiwanblog2_ky3e47.webp 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Excitement happening at InnoServe 2017. Picture provided by Kriss Mahatumaratana</div>

taiwanblog2_ky3e47

AIT Attends InnoServe

The IT industry is growing rapidly, and it’s only set to continue growing.
<h2>What is the IT industry?</h2>
The Information Technology (IT) industry involves companies using IT technology such as computer hardware, software, electronics, semiconductor, internet, telecom equipment, e-commerce and computer services. There are well known companies such as Apple Inc., Amazon.com, Samsung Electronics, Microsoft, Sony and the list goes on.
<h2>Careers in IT</h2>
With the IT industry continuously growing, there are increasingly more jobs emerging. A few popular jobs include:
<ul>
<li>Software development</li>
<li>Hardware development</li>
<li>Games Development</li>
<li>Website Development</li>
<li>Network Specialist</li>
<li>IT Support</li>
<li>Cyber Security Analyst</li>
<li>Technical Sales</li>
</ul>
Average advertised salaries on SEEK in May 2016 report
According to a report on Employment Trends that was brought out by SEEK, it was found that the IT industry is one of the highest paying jobs in Australia. Compared to other career options like finance, marketing and accounting, the average salary per person exceeds these traditional jobs.
Average advertised salaries on SEEK in May 2016
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Mining, resources and energy</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$115,727.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Consulting and strategy</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$109,576.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Construction</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$107,063.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Engineering</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$103,648.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Information and communication technology</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$102,173.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Legal</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$91,277.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Government and defence</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$89,563.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Healthcare and medical</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$88,533.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Banking and financial services</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$88,224.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 70%;" width="70%">Marketing and financial services</td>
<td style="width: 30%;" width="30%">$85,847.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Why is IT so popular?</h2>
According to the 2017 second annual report from Salesforce, it was found that “70% of consumer say Technology has made it easier than ever to take their business elsewhere, and 58% agree that tech has significantly changed their expectations of how companies should interact with them”.
IT jobs are all about the need to upgrade all services to continuously be better and meet the expectations of society. How do we do this? By upskilling to understand the new trends and changes of the industry.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7154" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_2_23_04_PM_wzpqze-300x251.webp" alt="" width="300" height="251" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_2_23_04_PM_wzpqze-300x251.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_2_23_04_PM_wzpqze-1024x856.webp 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_2_23_04_PM_wzpqze-768x642.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_2_23_04_PM_wzpqze-32x27.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_2_23_04_PM_wzpqze.webp 1292w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
If the IT industry is where you&#8217;d like to end up, you can expect affordable income and exposure to exciting advancements in technology. To continue being successful in this field, it&#8217;s important to continue upskilling. Like any industry, there&#8217;s always changes and improvements happening every day so it&#8217;s important to be aware of these and be on top of them.
<a href="http://www.ait.edu.au/courses/it-courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here</a> to read more about our degrees in IT.

About the IT Industry

Millennials are at an age where technology is all around them &#8211; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and the list goes on. With the increase in popularity, we had a chat with Joseph Tagudin, our IT Course Lecturer in Sydney about his thoughts on the IT industry, his experiences and the future of the industry.
<h5>Why do I need an IT degree?</h5>
IT skills are in high demand across most industries. For those who have an interest in the digital world and wish to make it better, an IT degree is a sound basis for a career in most industries. Health, hospitality, finance, science and the service industries are just a few.
<h5>What kind of job opportunities are available with this degree?</h5>
The published outlook for employment of IT workers continues to be positive in Australia. A wide variety of job opportunities are possible. Software and application programming, graphic and web design, systems design and systems support are all examples; though some on-the-job training and lengthy experience will also be required to progress to the more senior positions areas such as ICT managers and project managers.
<h5>Engineering is one of the highest paid occupations internationally. Do you think this is applicable in Australia as well?</h5>
While being an IT engineer can provide a high paying job here in Australia, a significant amount of experience in various parts of the industry, and business management skills, will also be required. Information technology and services, and computer software are two major areas where IT workers were employed in recent years.
<h5>How can students earn a good income from the skills learnt in an IT course?</h5>
Students should continually hone the skills they have learned in this course. In this way, they will increase the chances of getting the jobs they want. They will be able to seize opportunities as they arise to access higher income positions. Students with high motivation could even establish innovative start-ups. They should be open to new ideas, and keep an eye on current trends so they know where high paying jobs are likely to arise.
<h5>If I want to be successful in my career, do you have any tips to do this?</h5>
Have a goal and achieve it.
Study hard in all your subjects to get solid knowledge. This will make you more attractive to potential employers. Be a good listener, and reflect carefully on what you have heard before offering your opinion. You’ll learn a lot. Always do that extra bit to help, using your initiative to do the simple things that others may have forgotten. Find purpose and motivation in your day to day work, so you will arrive with a smile and have a sense of achievement when you go home.
<div id="attachment_7012" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7012" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7012 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/joseph-tagudin_kcfpyu-300x300.webp" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/joseph-tagudin_kcfpyu-300x300.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/joseph-tagudin_kcfpyu-150x150.webp 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/joseph-tagudin_kcfpyu-32x32.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/joseph-tagudin_kcfpyu.webp 685w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Questions were answered by Joseph Tagudin IT Course Lecturer</div>
<div class="col-md-6">
I have been a student myself for many years of my life – even now, I am studying data science. This helps me see things from the student’s point of view and helps me be a better teacher. Teaching in IT courses gives me great satisfaction to see my students graduate and to hear about their careers.
</div>
<div class="col-md-12">
An IT degree grants you access to a range of job opportunities. If you’d like to know more about our IT courses, <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here!</a>Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
</div>

Why Do I Need An IT Degree?

So you’ve finally created your <a href="http://www.vtac.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VTAC</a> account and now it’s crunch time. We know how confusing the process may appear to be so we’ve scoured the VTAC website and brochures to compile a list of tips and tricks to make the process easier for you!
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7070" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1_orpceq-copy-300x141.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="141" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1_orpceq-copy-300x141.jpg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1_orpceq-copy-1024x480.jpg 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1_orpceq-copy-768x360.jpg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1_orpceq-copy-32x15.jpg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1_orpceq-copy.jpg 1347w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h5>Register using your personal e-mail</h5>
If you’ve created a VTAC account with your school’s e-mail address, it is strongly recommended that you change it to a personal e-mail address. The last thing you want is your school e-mail address being closed down which results in you missing important messages!
<h5>Key points to remember when listing courses</h5>
Minimum number of courses to submit = 1
Maximum number of courses to submit = 8
List courses in order of preference, with the course you’d prefer the most to be listed as NUMBER 1.
<h5>Register with course codes for ease</h5>
<h5><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7071" style="font-size: 16px;" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2_j6ouo0-copy-300x142.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="142" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2_j6ouo0-copy-300x142.jpg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2_j6ouo0-copy-1024x484.jpg 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2_j6ouo0-copy-768x363.jpg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2_j6ouo0-copy-32x15.jpg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2_j6ouo0-copy.jpg 1344w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h5>
<h5>Remember to always check your course code! Some courses have more than one code.</h5>
Here are AIT’s course codes for easy reference.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th class="ash-text" style="width: 84.5353%;">Course</th>
<th class="ash-text" style="width: 15.3045%;">Code</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Digital Design (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110032</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Digital Design (Diploma)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110062</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Information Technology (Game Programming) (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110122</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Information Technology (Mobile Applications Development) (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110022</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Information Technology (Diploma)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110132</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Interactive Media &#8211; 2D Animation (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110092</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Interactive Media &#8211; 3D Design (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110102</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Interactive Media &#8211; Film &amp; Video (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110012</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Interactive Media &#8211; Game Design (Degree)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 84.5353%;">Interactive Media (Diploma)</td>
<td style="width: 15.3045%;">8140110042</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h5>Always make sure you read the selection criteria</h5>
Selection criterias are very important when considering the courses that you’d like to study. In order to make informed choices and to know what you have to prepare for, always make sure to check if your course of choice has any pre-requisites! For example, in AIT, there are no prerequisites for our Diploma and Bachelor courses. The ATAR score needed to apply for our courses is 60. However, if you do not meet the ATAR score, you can choose to apply via your portfolio and/or interview instead.
<h5>Change of preference</h5>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7072" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3_rfwdrw-copy-300x140.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="140" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3_rfwdrw-copy-300x140.jpg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3_rfwdrw-copy-1024x478.jpg 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3_rfwdrw-copy-768x359.jpg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3_rfwdrw-copy-32x15.jpg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3_rfwdrw-copy.jpg 1332w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The great thing about VTAC application is that you’re able to change your course preferences if you have a change of mind! According to VTAC, there is no cost involved just as long as you pay your course application fee.
We found some tips on VTAC’s website and thought they’d be really helpful:
<div id="attachment_6995" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6995" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6995 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-300x174.webp" alt="" width="300" height="174" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-300x174.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-1024x594.webp 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-768x446.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw-32x19.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aitimage_ujeqsw.webp 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Tips of changing your course preferences | Image credit: www.vtac.edu.au</div>
<h5>Demo application</h5>
All these information confusing you? Fret not! Visit <a href="http://www.vtac.edu.au/applying/demos.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.vtac.edu.au/applying/demos.html</a> to try out an application demo! Perfect for getting some practice before crunch time.
Remember to always be organised and have a game plan. Good luck with your application process and all the best!
&nbsp;
References
<a href="http://vtac.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://vtac.edu.au</a>

VTAC 101 – Tips and tricks

<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-6">
Meet Roshan Weerasuriya, our Subject Coordinator for the Bachelor of IT in Melbourne. We caught up with Roshan for a quick chat on his motivations, his inspirations and most importantly, his advice for students pursuing a career in IT.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?</h5>
Technology is ever-changing and the challenge of keeping up-to-date with it keeps me motivated!
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What would you say is the best part about your job?</h5>
I would say that mentoring and guiding students would be the best part of my job. Being in the academic industry also provides many opportunities to work on new things which is really amazing.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What is the most exciting project you’ve worked on?</h5>
Being a Software Engineer as well as a University lecturer for the past twenty years, has led me to work in many exciting projects. The most exciting project I’ve worked on pioneering the programming of a Cloud software.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What do you think are the top 3 skills to work within this industry?</h5>
It is a short and sweet answer &#8211; being innovative, proactive and loyal to your organization.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>How do you keep your technology skills current?</h5>
By practicing! Having a community of friends in a similar field also helps &#8211; they will constantly update you on the current technologies and trends. This is important because as an individual, we’ll have limited scope. And one of the ways to widen our scope is to network and associate ourselves with others.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What are your favourite and least favourite technology products, and why?</h5>
I’m unable to give you a clear answer for this as the products which I’m not a fan of today may be products that I like in the future. This can be due to the improvements made to the products by the vendor. What this shows is that one of the ways for your software or product to be widely accepted by the market is to continually improve and change.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What do you do when you get stuck with a problem you can’t solve?</h5>
I usually take a break and stop working on the problem. After a short time, I will go back to the task with a fresh mind. This method has proven to give me better results.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>What would you say to parents and friends who think this industry it not a sensible career option?</h5>
In my opinion, many career options are rewarding as long as you gain the competence and necessary skillsets.
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<h5>Any additional advice you’d like to give current/future students working in this field of the industry?</h5>
Assess and take risks in your life, have a positive attitude, learn the importance of teamwork and have a “let go approach”.. The “let go approach” is important as nothing in this life is permanent. The only permanent thing in life is “change”, so make yourself and your mind ready for that.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6927" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-300x300.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-1020x1024.jpeg 1020w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-768x771.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-1529x1536.jpeg 1529w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd-32x32.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roshan_Ron_Photo_-_Lecturer_Teacher_bhfbsd.jpeg 1593w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
</div>
</div>

Interview with Roshan – Subject Coordinator for Bachelor of IT

We’re excited to announce our success once again with the  State iAwards. AIT’s Bachelor of Information Technology student, Phoumany Chanthachak (Mino), from Wisdom Project took out the award for the “NSW Undergraduate Tertiary Students Winner” category.
<div id="attachment_6961" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6961" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6961 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9-32x24.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_20170601_2038574_1_ddfvj9.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Phoumany Chanthachak (Mino). Photo credit: Mino</div>
Congratulations on your recent win in the iAwards! Can you tell us a bit about what your project was about?
The project is about creating an app for people who want to try or have interest in meditation. I know that meditation can help people reduce stress and become mindful. With the support of <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230301191958/https://www.emotiv.com/insight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“EMOTIV Insight Brainwear”</a>, the app allows user to view or keep track of their progress while they’re meditating. It would also give them a better understanding about the responses in the brain during meditation. The aim of this app is to provide easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions so users are able to meditate correctly and effectively.
<div id="attachment_6962" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6962" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6962 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iAwards_1_tlb1hy-300x146.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="146" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iAwards_1_tlb1hy-300x146.jpeg 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iAwards_1_tlb1hy-768x373.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iAwards_1_tlb1hy-32x16.jpeg 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iAwards_1_tlb1hy.jpeg 801w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Wisdom Project. Photo credit: iAwards website</div>
Who/what inspired you to create this project?
I&#8217;ve always been interested in meditation as it is one of my religious practices. Meditation is also highly beneficial for health. Kriss* brought the topic back to my mind again in our Advanced Project class. So I thought &#8220;Cool! Meditation! Let&#8217;s do it!&#8221; And the project was born.
How long did it take you to create this project?
Despite the fact that I am interested in the topic, I still had to do a lot of research on it. So it took me almost 4 months to create this project.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6963" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd-169x300.jpeg" alt="" width="169" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd-169x300.jpeg 169w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd-576x1024.jpeg 576w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd-768x1365.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd-864x1536.jpeg 864w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd-18x32.jpeg 18w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132125_xezvhd.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px" />
<div id="attachment_6964" style="width: 179px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6964" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6964 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f-169x300.jpeg" alt="" width="169" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f-169x300.jpeg 169w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f-576x1024.jpeg 576w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f-768x1365.jpeg 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f-864x1536.jpeg 864w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f-18x32.jpeg 18w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_20170721-132030_x2mp2f.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px" />Wisdom. Photo credit: Mino</div>
What does it mean to you to have won this award?
Winning the award showed me that all the effort I put in and all the things I’ve done have been the right thing. It also made me appreciate all of the support I got from everyone, especially Kriss and AIT. I would like to thank everybody for the support and lessons I learnt in order to make this happened.
Since winning the award, have you had any other success stories with this project?
Not yet. For now I&#8217;m focusing on making it the best project as a student in AIT.
What&#8217;s next for you? Are you working on any new projects?
Since winning the award, I&#8217;m still working on improving the app to make it as good as possible, so I&#8217;m not working on any new projects yet. But the next thing for me is trying to become one of the best students to graduate from AIT.
“iAwards seek to discover, recognise and reward the technology innovations that have the potential to, or are already having a positive impact on the community &#8211; at home, in the office and on a global scale. iAwards submissions are accepted from innovators across the whole Australian economy.
The key goal of the iAwards is to discover, recognise and reward the technology innovations that have the potential to, or are already having a positive impact on the community – at home, in the office and on a global scale. iAwards submissions are accepted from innovators across the whole Australian economy, whether you are an individual, a group, a government or private organisation, or a student.”
*Kriss is the course coordinator for the Bachelor of IT
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and shortened for length and clarity.

State iAwards Winner – Congratulations to Mino!

Every so often, we meet highly-passionate students who continually strive to excel. We developed the AIT Creative Minds scholarship to recognise the hard work and dedication these students put in.
In order to be eligible for this scholarship, students must have:
<ul>
<li>At least 90% attendance</li>
<li>Average Distinction (or above) grade mark</li>
<li>Endorsed by a teacher</li>
</ul>
Meet the winners of the Creative Minds Scholarship
SYDNEY: Robert Maravilla &#8211; Bachelor of Interactive Media (3D Design)
What are you studying at AIT?
I&#8217;m studying 3D Design and my degree is the Bachelor of Interactive Media
<div id="attachment_6955" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6955" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6955 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams-1024x576.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams-768x432.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams-1536x864.png 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Treasure_Chest_ijyams.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Treasure Chest. Photo credit: Robert Maravilla</div>
How have you found your time at AIT whilst studying your degree?
Overall, my time at AIT has been greatly positive. I have grown so much from when I began to where I am today. I have learnt a lot from studying here and have gotten several opportunities that I wouldn&#8217;t have gotten otherwise. I have met amazing people &#8211; both friends and mentors &#8211; that I feel will stay with me forever.
<div id="attachment_6956" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6956" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6956 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr-1024x576.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr-768x432.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr-1536x864.png 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Occamy_Bottle_ofrthr.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Occamy Bottle. Photo credit: Robert Maravilla</div>
Why did you decide to apply for the Creative Minds Scholarship?
I applied for the scholarship because I thought it would be a great opportunity to push myself and see if I was capable of achieving a short-term goal that I set for myself. When applying, I also made a commitment to myself to perform the best I could to achieve it.
<div id="attachment_6957" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6957" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6957 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg-1024x576.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg-768x432.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg-1536x864.png 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Graphorn_Bottle_xcsplg.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Graphorn Bottle. Photo credit: Robert Maravilla</div>
What does it mean to you to have been selected to receive the Scholarship?
Being chosen for the scholarship meant a lot for me because it was a goal I had set for myself not knowing whether I was capable of achieving it. Throughout the semester I always kept it in mind when working so I would push myself to improve each day. To have achieved a personal goal &#8211; no matter how small it is &#8211; is always quite a feat in my eyes.
<div id="attachment_6958" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6958" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-6958 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz-1024x576.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz-768x432.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz-1536x864.png 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Demiguise_ijyhwz.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Demiguise. Photo credit: Robert Maravilla.</div>
What&#8217;s next for Robbie? Career wise, project wise, etc.
I have a few projects in mind and currently working on some as well. My main focus right now is to improve my skills and knowledge so I become a much more flexible artist overall. I know my strengths and I also am aware of my weaknesses, so I will be focusing on improving those aspects.
MELBOURNE: Cindy Ng &#8211; Bachelor of IT (Mobile Apps Development)
Tell us about yourself &#8211; where are you from, what are you studying at AIT, your hobbies and interest, and what inspires you!
I&#8217;m born and raised in Sweden but my parents background are Malaysia, China and Vietnam. I study Mobile Apps Development at AIT and this is my 4th semester. I&#8217;m a foodie so during my free time I usually go out to have dinner and spend time with my friends.
What do you feel is the most enjoyable thing about studying at AIT?
What I like the most is having discussions, learning from my classmates and also getting new knowledge about the IT field.
What does it mean to you to have been selected to receive the Scholarship?
I&#8217;m really happy that my hard work and contribution paid off. The scholarship is like an award for all the hard work i’ve put in so far. It makes me want to continue to study hard and learn more.
Are you currently working on any projects?
I&#8217;ve got a project idea which will be useful for students but haven&#8217;t really started it yet so don&#8217;t really want to reveal anything yet.
Every year AIT awards amazing students who demonstrate their extraordinary work ethic and talent when applying to study with us. Click here to find out more about our scholarships.

AIT Creative Minds Scholarship Winners

Whether you have a job or recently graduated from high school, online learning is something that you may adopt to work around your current lifestyle. In today’s modern, fast-paced world, technology has enabled us to bridge the barriers of communication. Online learning has definitely been touted as ‘revolutionary’ when it comes to education as it opens up different opportunities and experiences for the student and also the educator.
<div id="attachment_7078" style="width: 222px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7078" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7078 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1-212x300.webp" alt="" width="212" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1-212x300.webp 212w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1-724x1024.webp 724w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1-768x1086.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1-1086x1536.webp 1086w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1-23x32.webp 23w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image1_juhx2s-1.webp 1131w" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" />Mariana Mantovani Lopes | Diploma of Digital Design</div>
Sharon Sanders, AIT’s course coordinator for the Digital Design course states that there are a few main reasons why students choose to study online:
<ol>
<li class="ash-text">
<h3>Flexibility</h3>
</li>
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One of the great things about online study is the flexibility of allowing you to work your assignments around your schedule. “Online learning lets you fit classes into your busy schedules, making it easier to keep up with work and family and study on your own terms. Even if you live in regional areas you can still study, even if you are not near a city or university,” says Sharon. As long as you have reliable internet access and your own computer, you’d be able to connect into your class &#8211; all in your preferred environment!
<ol start="2">
<li class="ash-text">
<h3>Work &amp; Study</h3>
</li>
</ol>
If you’re great at time management, you could even hold a job while studying! The extra time you save daily &#8211; as you are not required to travel down to your institution for classes &#8211; could be allocated to a job. Having a steady income while pursuing a qualification in a field that you’re interested in definitely sounds like a good balance.
“Online education allows professionals to continue their careers while working towards a diploma or degree. Many working adults need to keep their current position to stay relevant in the field, but they need to update their skills to stay relevant. Online education can help them achieve this,” says Sharon. “Parents can even continue to upskill and study, while spending time at home!”
<ol start="3">
<li class="ash-text">
<h3>Learn with the help of the latest technology</h3>
</li>
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There is a negative perception that studying online means that you miss out. Well, we can safely debunk that myth right now!
“It’s a different experience, but we have developed the content in a way that makes it engaging and interesting.” Sharon explains.
Online study is made up of a range of delivery methods that utilises the latest software and technology that negates the use of printed textbooks and worksheets! AIT uses Canvas, the cloud-based learning management system that makes both teaching and learning easier.
“Students will have access to our online library, and they will also find extra reading materials, videos links and up to date articles and readings on Canvas so they can research and explore related areas of interest,” Sharon adds.
Using Canvas means that you’ll be able to access the wealth of online resources on your computer, on mobile and on tablet &#8211; anytime, anywhere!
<div id="attachment_7079" style="width: 222px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7079" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7079 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1-212x300.webp" alt="" width="212" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1-212x300.webp 212w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1-724x1024.webp 724w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1-768x1086.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1-1086x1536.webp 1086w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1-23x32.webp 23w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image2_mxayti-1.webp 1131w" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" />Chris So | Bachelor of Digital Design</div>
In addition, Sharon states that the online Diploma of Digital Design has been developed directly from the on-campus qualification, so the learning outcomes are the same and students come out with the same full set of digital skills that they would have developed if they had studied on campus.
<ol start="4">
<li class="ash-text">
<h3>Choose your pace</h3>
</li>
</ol>
If you prefer to work in your own space, with minimal external input then online learning would be perfect for you. Engage with online lectures and peruse your reading materials at your own pace and space. The best part is&#8230;no distractions!
“Going at your own pace is shown to be a more effective learning method for independent learners. With online classes, you’re in charge of when and how much to study within the course framework,” Sharon states.
<ol start="5">
<li class="ash-text">
<h3>Connect, Network and Learn</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Studying online doesn’t mean that you miss out on the social aspect.
“There blogs and discussion boards where students can discuss their ideas and post ‘work in progress’ images. We have found that students get the opportunity to connect, network and learn from other students through these methods. Teachers are also on hand to answer questions and emails and to advise students who may be struggling with some of the material or need guidance in the assessments,” Sharon says.
<div id="attachment_7080" style="width: 222px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7080" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-7080 size-medium" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1-212x300.webp" alt="" width="212" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1-212x300.webp 212w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1-724x1024.webp 724w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1-768x1086.webp 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1-1086x1536.webp 1086w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1-23x32.webp 23w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/image3_xb2xvu-1.webp 1131w" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" />Jess Wong | Bachelor of Digital Design</div>
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When asked what tips she has for students choosing to study online, Sharon advises that students definitely need to be self-motivated and organised. Students also need to have a dedicated workspace and ask for help if needed &#8211; make sure to communicate with your instructor or teacher right from the start, and especially if you feel like you are slipping behind, or don’t understand something about the material or assessments.
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Top Tips to Remove the Barriers of Online Study

Gnomon Live is a celebration of everything digital vfx, where like minded animators and artists come together to share their passion for creation and learning. Spanning 2.5 days, attendees were given the opportunity to see some of the world’s leading VFX artists create amazing digital art before their eyes. The demonstrations ranged from digital sculpting, shot fixing, rendering and compositing as well as innovations in games and digital pipelines in general. The event also brought together industry representatives from local animation companies who were available for QnAs and networking. In every room there was some kind of digital creature either being sculpted or brought to life.
It did seem quite an odd contrast to be seeing so many digital monsters coalescing within the serene beauty of Abbotsford convent: a meeting of angels and demons.
The first apparition was the king of creatures Neville Page, the principle character designer of Avatar, who literally turned himself into the devil. This demon-stration was showing an absolute bleeding-edge technique that combines face-scanning, digital sculpting and 3D printing to revolutionize makeup prosthetics. What used to be more than an 8 hour procedure has been reduced to a 15 minute application. Neville’s head was first digitally scanned. He then took his own scan data into Zbrush to repurpose this structure into the demon we see below.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6942" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom-165x300.png" alt="" width="165" height="300" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom-165x300.png 165w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom-563x1024.png 563w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom-768x1396.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom-845x1536.png 845w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom-18x32.png 18w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_6_mwzoom.png 880w" sizes="(max-width: 165px) 100vw, 165px" />
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6943" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_7_biwgi7-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_7_biwgi7-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_7_biwgi7-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_7_biwgi7.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Before
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6944" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_8_fareta-300x161.png" alt="" width="300" height="161" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_8_fareta-300x161.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_8_fareta-1024x548.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_8_fareta-768x411.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_8_fareta-32x17.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_8_fareta.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
After
Both his sculpting and painting are done in Zbrush. The genius stroke is how Zbrush can then extract the original shape from the final sculpt resulting in a perfect digital skin that when printed carefully to scale formed a perfect fit for Neville’s unique facial structure.
We marvelled at the creation of a true cinematic masterpiece, Ningyo by Migel Ortega and Tran Ma. Both texture and modelling artists turned all-round digital film-makers. They gave up their day jobs to produce a labour of love on a shoestring. But you wouldn’t think so looking at the sumptuous images of mysterious creatures and dark hallways of a time long past. The Ningyo is the story of a cryptozoologist who, despite the jeering of his academic contemporaries, undertakes a quest to find the legendary Ningyo, a kind of mermaid deeply feared in Japanese folklore which is rumoured to bring immortality to those who eat its flesh, but with the price of eternal torment.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y2Nx4E6bD8">Watch on youtube</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6946" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_9_qippxh-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_9_qippxh-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_9_qippxh-1024x576.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_9_qippxh-768x432.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_9_qippxh-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_9_qippxh.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
What was truly incredible about this production was that it was entirely created within their house. Between the 30 computer renderfarm, ladders, paint and makeshift greenscreens, the couple managed to complete every facet of the production (except for one desert location shot) within their own four walls with their own resources. A true inspiration to any filmmaker who finds themselves feeling under resourced or limited in scope &#8211; turns out that the only limitation we have is our imagination and our skills.
It was a rare pleasure to see both Miguel and Tran share their experiences on a human level as well as on an intimate “warts and all” technical level. I asked them to explain the technical approach they used manage the incredible complexity of their images. The answer was raw and honest: no tricks, everything &#8211; absolutely everything was modelled down to the last polygon&#8230; and rendering, well it just took a very very long time. Some single frames they said took more than 30 hours.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6947" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_10_sqeanv-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_10_sqeanv-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_10_sqeanv-768x433.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_10_sqeanv-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_10_sqeanv.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
We were able to see the problems they faced and the solutions they came up with. Tran led a detailed voyage into the creation of the cat-bat shown above with a lean production perspective. She showed not just how to create good topology in modelling, but why is it important in the grander scale of a film production, its implications in texturing, shading, look dev, shot fixing and rendering.
Migel however forever changed my views on the colour integration of 3D images. Migel is a talented teacher and in 10 minutes cured me of a lifetime of colour anxiety. His demo in Nuke showed us a simple and foolproof way perfectly match colours in a VFX composite.
It&#8217;s all down to RGB, but not the RGB you are used to. Red, Green and Blue are actually all greyscale channels and while we may have varying abilities to see colours, most of us can tell the difference between black and white. So if you can match the black and white of the Red, Green, and Blue greyscale channels, you can match any colour you want. The evidence is in the image above, all disparate 3D elements, but perfectly blended. The holy grail of any CG Artist is within your reach.
For students looking out at the bigger scarier world of employment I can relay to you many gems particularly from Alex Alvarez, the founder of Gnomon, Raphael Pimentel of Luma and Alex Bex of Playside Studios. The main takeaway from these careers sessions were twofold: know the right software and specialise in what you do.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6948" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm-300x106.png" alt="" width="300" height="106" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm-300x106.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm-1024x362.png 1024w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm-768x271.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm-1536x542.png 1536w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm-32x11.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_11_iarglm.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
There were some amazing new applications demonstrated but it is clear that if you want to get work in the VFX industry you need to know Maya. In every area of the pipeline shown, Maya was the supporting cornerstone. In modelling it was Maya and Zbrush, in games it was Maya and Unreal, VFX and compositing it was Maya and Nuke. If there was any clear direction to be given it was that you must learn Maya in today’s industry.
Raphel Pimentel made a simple but significant statement about what you need in your showreel to be taken seriously by a studio. Your reel needs to show that you can do anything that they need you to do. You need to view your reel as a proof of competency not just a montage of what you like to create.
For example an animation reel needs to show that you can handle not just body mechanics and performance, but the mechanics and performance of bipeds, quadrupeds, birds, fish etc. Performance should also cover the broad and subtle, facial animation and dialog. That covers all the areas they need.
Cover all bases and you will get an interview.
Alex Alvarez made the comment however that your reel is only 50% of what studios are looking for. The other 50% is your personality. In a production, you will have to spend long hours cooperating together so how you may get along with others is scrutinized heavily in an interview. So don’t just polish your reel
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polish your persona and there is a good chance of being seen.Studios want education facilities to know what their needs are so that we can create the students they want to employ: in particular Alex Bex from Playside studios told me that he is very keen to get more engagement from the education sector. They’d prefer to not spend weeks bringing a new hire up to speed on their choices of software. Which is for the most part &#8211; Maya.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6949" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_12_kc5sr5-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_12_kc5sr5-300x169.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_12_kc5sr5-768x433.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_12_kc5sr5-32x18.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_12_kc5sr5.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
I discussed the various modes of educational deployment with Alex Alvarez and he had some very interesting observations. Face to face education is still hands down the most effective means to create successful graduates, despite the tidal wave of online learning. When students learn together, they grow together.
They form networks that go beyond the classroom. As they forge outwards to their own careers they maintain these bonds and continue to grow professionally together while fostering mentorship to new aspiring artists. A strong classroom culture results in a strong interconnection between schools and industry making it easier to satisfy the developing needs of both schools and businesses.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6950" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_13_s1v9qz-300x160.png" alt="" width="300" height="160" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_13_s1v9qz-300x160.png 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_13_s1v9qz-768x409.png 768w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_13_s1v9qz-32x17.png 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pasted_image_0_13_s1v9qz.png 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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Gnomon Live left me hungry for more and eager to hop back to my studio to apply all my newfound learning to my everyday practice. I am a teacher because I am always a student.
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Gnomon Live Melbourne

March 8th 2017. International Women’s Day. Over 100 guests in one room – 90% women. A perfect opportunity to celebrate Women in AR/VR. We were excited to have the co-founders of WIARVR and guest speakers last night to discuss their experiences within the AR/VR world. We welcomed , Michela Ledwidge, Carli Johnston, Maria Goretti, Jessica Gilroy, De Greer Yindimincarlie and Mikaela Jade to share their views, their stories and engage in a panel discussion. We also welcomed Amber Cordeaux who unfortunately, couldn’t join us but has played a big role in the team.
We started with Michela Ledwidge from <a href="https://mod.studio/">MOD</a> who discussed the importance of procedures in the AR/VR realm. ‘It’s one of the techniques used to avoid getting lost in complicated, manual procedures… and allows us get on with the job’, she said. Her discipline in following structure and procedures is highlighted by her successes in this field.
Carli Johnston from Virtual Method introduced the <a href="https://www.zappar.com/about/">ZapparApp</a> – and what a hit that was with the crowd! She showed the way entrepreneurs, marketers and decision makers could potentially own the virtual realm when selling their products. This is a space you’ll want to keep your eye on!
Maria Goretti shared her journey as an entrepreneur in the AR/VR space. She encouraged the room to ‘be impulsive and forget about any qualms they may have’ when partnering with a big company. She discussed her struggles and highlighted her wins, making everyone in the room ready to combat any barrier they may face!
We also welcomed Jessica Gilroy from <a href="https://catalystvr.com.au/">Catalyst VR</a> who shared her experiences whilst working with the likes of Sprite, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and Cricket’s Sydney Sixers. They all looked to Jessica and Catalyst VR for support in taking their fans and loyal consumers to the next level when positioned in front of their products. For them, it was all about adding to their current experiences by taking on board a 360/VR campaign.
Finally, De Greer Yindimincarlie and Mikaela Jade presented together, providing their insights within Indigenous communities, Australian Aboriginal art and incorporating it all within the digital space. We also managed to see De’s canoe paddle – the first piece of Australian Aboriginal art to be augmented and become a prototype for digital place-based storytelling.
Each of these inspiring ladies provided valuable information and insight to our welcomed guests, helping them understand another angle of the AR/VR world and of course, celebrating their achievements.
But that wasn’t all. We ended the night with a panel discussion that involved the entire room. We discussed gender bias, upskilling – and whether it was seen as a necessity within the workplace for women – and potential changes that they see coming over the next 12 months. It truly is a #WatchThisSpace moment!
The discussions were insightful, hearing some experiences some of these women have faced in the workplace and challenges that have come about because of their gender or need to be 100% ready for a job as opposed to 70% and winging it. Overall, it was a great way to end a great event.
This is one of many events that will occur in the future! Join us at our next event and see why they’re so popular.
Interested in attending an AIT event? Keep an eye out on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AITcreative">Facebook page</a> or <a href="https://ait.edu.au/events">Events page</a>.

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Women in AR/VR

We’ve all felt it before, the nervousness and uncertainty when entering a new environment. Starting your higher education studies is no different &#8211; while there is the buzz of excitement, there is also an underlying tension in the air. If you’re naturally shy or an introvert, attending larger Universities may cause you to feel isolated and lonely as it is easy to get lost in the crowd and feel like a single grain of sand in the great expanse of a beach.
Smaller classes and being able to find a productive environment to pursue his passions were main factors for 20-year-old, Dillon Nolan. When Dillon was embarking on his higher education application process last year, immersing himself in small-sized classes with people with similar passions was one his considerations. Dillon aspires to be a 2D animator, focusing on producing Flash cartoons. He draws his inspiration from cartoons, mainly from a web series he watched through his high school years called “Eddsworld”.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7031" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-1_f8tonf-300x225.webp" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-1_f8tonf-300x225.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-1_f8tonf-32x24.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-1_f8tonf.webp 377w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Dillon applied to study a Bachelor of Interactive Media (2D Animation) in AIT Melbourne. “AIT was one of the friendliest schools that I approached. The course also seemed very interesting as I would be learning other types of animations as well,” says Dillon.
Dillon recently commenced his studies in January 2017. It didn’t take long for him to fit in and he’s enjoying his journey in becoming a professional animator.
Here are the top ways how we engage students and make sure they graduate with practical skills:
<h2>1. Small and interactive classes</h2>
With an average class size of 15-20 students, it means that classes are more engaging, and will generally have a more comfortable atmosphere and there will be more team discussions which make it fun and interactive as well &#8211; it’s easier to express your opinions and exchange ideas with your classmates.
Dillon was surprised how quickly he grew comfortable in the classroom setting. “The benefits of having a smaller sized class is that I feel the teacher is able to focus on each individual student. Your voice is heard which is a lot harder in a larger class,” Dillon says.
<h2>2. Industry ready:</h2>
It’s a jungle out there &#8211; while you may have all the skills required to pursue your dream job, there are still pathways required to be navigated in order to reach it. Things like having a professional resume and portfolio, being able to self-market and feeling comfortable in interviews are essential in the job hunt. Our activAIT internship program will also allow students to work with industry leading companies and gain real-world experiences.
In addition, when Dillon reaches his final year, he’ll undertake The Forge program. The Forge program at AIT is a final unit for students studying the Bachelor of Interactive Media or Bachelor of Digital Design and aims to prepare students for life outside the classroom. The Forge concludes with a four-week portfolio project where you will be mentored, critiqued and assessed by a real industry panel.
The Forge works hand-in-hand with Launchpad &#8211; AIT’s final year subject for all Bachelor of Interactive Media and Bachelor of Digital Design students. The Launchpad programme grooms students to have the right ethics and attitude in the workplace. Portfolio and resume development is also a big part of preparing students to graduate industry-ready.
<h2>3. Practical and hands-on assessment:</h2>
At AIT, there’s also a huge emphasis on hands-on, practical learning.
“Starting this course I went in thinking it was just going to be like a normal school, where you would just write down a bunch of notes, but instead I was shocked to find out how fun my teachers make each class. As the classes are about animation, we watch a lot of animation videos and do a large amount of drawings. These make classes really enjoyable,” Dillon explains.<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7032" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-2_djgmb9-300x168.webp" alt="" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-2_djgmb9-300x168.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-2_djgmb9-32x18.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-2_djgmb9.webp 426w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7033" src="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-3_ygiwo2-300x162.webp" alt="" width="300" height="162" srcset="https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-3_ygiwo2-300x162.webp 300w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-3_ygiwo2-32x17.webp 32w, https://ait.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/blog-image-3_ygiwo2.webp 423w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h2>4. Individualised feedback</h2>
No one gets left behind in a small class. This means that you will always have the opportunity to clarify when in doubt, receive feedback on your projects and get the recognition for your contributions.
<h2>5. Student Clubs</h2>
AIT campus aims to cultivate and encourage students to actively pursue their interests and that’s why several social clubs have been created. Some of our clubs are:
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<li>3D Club</li>
<li>Drawing Club</li>
<li>Film Club</li>
<li>Fight Club</li>
<li>Game Dev Club</li>
<li>Table Top Club</li>
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These clubs not only help build a community of like-minded people but also help to push the boundaries of your imagination, allowing you to gain inspiration for assignments and personal projects!
Even though graduation is a few years away yet, Dillon already has great plans for his future, “After I graduate from AIT, I wish to get an internship for animation in England and also be a freelance animator making my own animations.”
Let us tell you more about what you can achieve at AIT:
We constantly recognise and build our students’ passions. At AIT, we’re all about stretching the boundaries of creative imagination and that’s why we developed the initiAIT scholarship for students commencing in 2017. It’s simple &#8211; present your ideas for a virtual zoo and if you’re eligible, be awarded $8,000 off your tuition fees.
AIT aims to constantly engage and equip our students to be industry-ready. If you’d like to hear firsthand from current students or speak to course advisors, sign-up for our Info Night session. You will also have the opportunity to have a campus tour and find out more about our accredited courses and how to apply for scholarships.

Don’t Get Lost at Uni. Get Found at AIT

What’s the difference between a Digital Designer and Graphic Designer? It’s a question we’re often asked, and delighted to explain. While the fundamental skills and concepts of design are applied within each discipline, sometimes overlapping, the need for traditional graphic designers often lack the digital skills required for jobs that include UX and UI.
Graphic Designers would learn how to use Illustrator, Photoshop and Indesign, with a focus on pre-print production, typography, the design of logos, brochures, posters and images used in web design. They may also be responsible for designing collateral such as brochures, product design, advertising, and merchandise.
A Digital Designer will have the ability to also undertake these tasks and more. This is going to seem obvious now, but Digital Designers are also more… digital. They work on website design, mobile apps, and other online content for a range of industries. Some digital designers will also pick up skills in 3D modelling or 2D animation to further their opportunities and capabilities.
Digital Designers will also have the skills to create landing pages, develop email marketing collateral, banners and other online marketing materials, and importantly, also work in languages such as HTML5, CSS3 &amp; JavaScript.
<h2>Why are there more jobs for Digital Designers than Graphic Designers?</h2>
The short answer is that we’ve cemented ourselves as a digital society with high expectations of well-designed and functional content for the end user. The longer answer is that designing for digital is only a new phenomenon in the past two decades with consumer demand growing tremendously over the past few years.
Consuming content is becoming easier as the price of data lowers, Wi-Fi infrastructure and battery life increases, and design makes on-the-go consumption easier to navigate. There’s no sign of slowing down! Designers will need to meet the challenges of new technology coming into play such as virtual reality, more tech within the internet of things, and more savvy audiences.
<h2>What are my job prospects with Digital Design?</h2>
So, we jumped on seek.com.au to find out the cold hard facts that you can use when considering your future in design. In Australia, there were approximately 720 jobs in for Digital Designers and 470 jobs for Graphic Designers in the past month.
Interestingly, most jobs we examined for Graphic Designers also included a requirement for skills in Digital Design. On average, Digital Designers are earning 15-20K more per year and higher! There’s also additional room for professional growth with the opportunity to specialise in areas such as User Experience, Front End Development, Web and/or Email Design.
<h2>Wait, go back. What is User Experience or UX/UI?</h2>
As online platforms and content become more complex there is still a fundamental question that Digital Designers need to ask, ‘will the user be able to navigate and understand what they’re viewing’, in other words, is it easy to use? A Digital Designer’s role is to ensure that the unequivocal answer is, yes!
User Experience / User Interface is otherwise known in shorthand, UX/UI. Usability takes many factors into consideration including the accessibility, utility, human factors, design and system performance. For example, a Digital Designer will use UX/UI factors in an e-commerce system looking at the processes for a checkout. Was the experience for the user easy and were they able to successfully navigate their way to making a purchase in as little time, effort and knowledge as possible?
<h2>What else is ‘important to know’ about becoming a Digital Designer?</h2>
We checked with Sharon Sanders, Coordinator of Bachelor of Digital Design for her thoughts on what makes a good digital designer. “You’ll need to become proficient at communicating your ideas and expressing your vision through digital technology which will give you that much-needed edge when applying for work in the highly competitive but fascinating world of digital design.”
<h2>Okay, so how do I become a Digital Designer?</h2>
AIT offers an accredited a higher education Diploma and Bachelor of Digital Design in Sydney, Melbourne and Online. It’s a Degree wholly designed for digital output where you’ll be equipped with the fundamental knowledge and expertise to adapt to these changes, giving you competitive edge for an extraordinary future. You will learn:
<ul>
<li>Illustration, Photography &amp; Video Production &#8211; The foundations of illustration such as perspective, proportion, colour, lighting &amp; composition – and the technical &amp; creative aspects of photography &amp; video production.</li>
<li>Design Principles &amp; Techniques &#8211; How to apply core design principles and advanced techniques to visually communicate ideas.</li>
<li>Creative Drawing &#8211; The elements of all art creation such as line, form, colour, texture, value and shape as well as different creative drawing styles and techniques</li>
<li>Typography &#8211; The function, aesthetics and application of typography in design.</li>
<li>Digital Design Fundamentals &#8211; How to create a user-centric interface for web and app design.</li>
<li>Print Fundamentals &#8211; The fundamentals of print technology &amp; how to control quality of output via elements such as colour systems and paper type.</li>
<li>Creative Presentation Skills &#8211; How to pitch creative concepts, rationalize designs &amp; receive and address criticism.</li>
<li>Real-World Experience &#8211; How to work with speed &amp; efficiency and to collaborate effectively under real-world pressure on industry briefs.</li>
<li>Advanced Technical Skills &#8211; Become proficient in industry-standard software and applications.</li>
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Graphic Design vs Digital Design

AITendance team declares a global war against paper-based attendance marking systems. At the beginning of September 2016 AIT students Luiz, Daniel and Chiaki brought home an amazing prize from the National iAwards- the National Undergraduate Tertiary Prize from the AIIA Gala Night.
Bachelor of IT students Daniel, Luiz and Chiaki, along with their teacher Kriss Mahatumaratana, flew to Melbourne to take part in the National iAwards after winning the state award for their AITendance project submission.
Upon winning best project in the Undergraduate and Tertiary Student category Luiz said it was an incredible boost to their confidence moving forward in their careers and their own businesses.
The AIIA Gala Night was inspiring, teeming with industry professionals and investors of innovative ideas and IT solutions. The night before the gala the team was working on finishing up their website and posters. Now they need to prepare for the event that will be held in Chinese Taipei next December where they will be representing Australia in the Asia Pacific version of the iAwards.
The AITendence team has big goals for the future, primarily starting the AITendance company and finishing off the final business plan. Second, “world domination in the war on paper-based attendance marking systems,” says Daniel Luiz and Daniel credit their accomplishments thus far to their passion for IT. “Treat every assignment like a product you would take to market and don’t let your dreams be dreams” says Daniel, quoting Shia LaBeouf. Luiz adds: “ a problem that you have might be a problem for many others so think of ways to solve it and you will have a product to develop!”

AIT Students bring home the National Undergraduate Tertiary Prize from iAwards Night!

In August 2016 I was delighted to sit down with Luiz and Daniel to discuss the adventures of a few regular students whose classroom assignment has taken off on a potentially global level.
As part of a regular assignment for their Bachelor of IT specializing in Mobile Apps Development degree, a team of four AIT students developed an app &#8211; what happened next goes beyond just a great mark for an assignment. Daniel Schofield, Luiz Cavalieri, Chiaki Iwamoto, Amandeep Singh are a team of AIT classmates that under careful mentoring by their teacher Kriss Mahatumartana have merged an innovative idea and amazing business plan to measure student attendance in colleges and universities using iBeacon &#8211; their very own AITendance app.
Daniel explained: “The original idea came from our teacher Kriss, who mentioned developing an app that would help teachers and students measure classroom attendance.
Now AITendance has developed into more than a homework assignment for our creative students. It is a true business proposal that is now seeking investor support to take it further. Daniel and Luiz said “from the original idea we are now looking how AITendance could be applied to festivals, galleries and bars.”
Both students agree their competitive edge is not only having a strong understanding of software and coding but also having amazing support from fellow creative AIT students. Chiaki, with her background in digital design, has been instrumental in making the app look finished and professional.
“On a tight-knit campus like AIT everyone collaborates with each other.” Luiz and Daniel agree that this has helped assure that their idea is finished to perfection. The team gets to enjoy watching a regular college assignment turn into a potentially profitable business venture! “This app could solve problems that many galleries, schools, bars and events struggle with – how to accurately record how many people are present at a particular time in venues.
This week AIT IT teacher Kriss Mahatumartana with his AITattendece team has been invited to Melbourne to the national iAwards Gala Night by AIIA (Australian Information Industry Association). “Fingers crossed” the men say! They are nervous but exited to present their idea on a national level. Luiz mentioned that juggling between studies and running his own business, “The Interactive Hippo”, he has loved the experience and exposure to potential investors and business partners.
“To learn together with an amazing group of students at AIT is amazing, but learning from industry professionals, like our teacher Kriss, has been more than amazing – he has helped us with the project from the get-go, giving us valuable tips that have helped us to get this far.”
“When I came to AIT I was looking for a career change after completing a marketing degree in Brazil – and I cannot believe that three years later we all are here on our way to Melbourne to the national iAwards!” Both men agree that thanks to amazing teachers and staff, particularly IT teacher Kriss and Internship Liaison Manager Tamara they have both grown immensely and now understand the industry and how to present an idea and project.
Daniel has now graduated from AIT and is currently working as a game developer. He is still a frequent guest at AIT. He recalls his early days studying at AIT. He was shy student trying not to be noticed by others but after the first semester being part of a small friendly college he started making industry connections and the practical exams that have enriched his portfolio have helped him become more confident.
The hands-on approach to learning has given him priceless knowledge on business management, how to pitch ideas, how to work within a team and collaborate to find solutions. Daniel and Luiz both empathise that success comes with working in teams and trying different things.
“You would never know what you are good at if you won’t try.” Fingers cross for our amazing AIT students Daniel, Luiz, Amandeep and Chiaki as well as our teacher Kriss! We look forward to following their adventure. Follow their blog: <a href="http://aitendance.postach.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://aitendance.postach.io/</a>

AIT Students in the running for national iAwards

<h4>The Australian Production Guild Design have just announced details of this year’s awards ceremony and AIT are excited to be involved!</h4>
We are calling on all of our wonderfully talented students to submit their creative projects and allow themselves the opportunity to win some awesome industry awards. Students now have six weeks to submit their submissions to the annual APDG awards which will be held on Monday 23rd November at Event Cinemas in Bondi Junction. Closing date for entries is Monday the 26th of October. The main sponsors of the festival include Animal Logic and Film Finances meaning your work will get exposed to some major industry giants, regardless of winning. In August we held our annual AIT Oscar event at Event Cinema, where the quality of work submitted blew the socks off of everyone who attended. Due to the high caliber of work, industry insiders recommended our students start to enter external competitions. We were ecstatic about the recognition of our student’s talents and would strongly encourage you all to start putting together your applications for this year’s competition.
So who are the APDG?  The Australian Production Design Guild is a nonprofit organisation set up to raise the profile of screen and stage design and recognizes outstanding achievements through an annual awards ceremony. The awards over the past number of years have raised the profile of some incredibly talented designers. To get a feel for what ticks the boxes in terms of taking part, check out some of the show reels from past winners: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230305024256/http://www.showreelfinder.com/APDG2014/">http://www.showreelfinder.com/APDG2014/</a>
There are several awards up for grabs, categories including:
<ul>
<li>Student designer for screen (a production, costume, interactive or animation designer)</li>
<li>Emerging designer for stage (set, costume, or lighting design)</li>
<li>Production design on a feature film</li>
<li>Production design on a television drama</li>
<li>Production design on a television production</li>
<li>Production and/or costume design on a commercial</li>
<li>Production and/or costume design on a short film</li>
<li>Set decoration on a feature film</li>
<li>Set decoration on a television drama</li>
<li>Set design for stage</li>
<li>Design on an animated feature film</li>
<li>Design on an animated short film, commercial or series</li>
<li>Costume design for feature film</li>
<li>Costume design for television</li>
<li>Costume design for stage</li>
<li>Lighting design for live performance</li>
<li>Title design</li>
<li>Visual effects design</li>
<li>Interactive design</li>
<li>Drawing and concept illustration</li>
<li>Make-up, hair and prosthetic make-up design</li>
<li>Design on an event</li>
</ul>
As luck would have it, AIT are holding a Film Masterclass in association with FilmFest where students will get helpful tips on all aspects of film making from design, production, marketing etc. This masterclass event is on Tuesday 13th October at 7pm. All welcome please sign up HERE. For further competition details please visit APDG website for more info: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230305024256/http://www.apdg.org.au/awards/">http://www.apdg.org.au/awards/</a>
Our students are also welcome to contact our newly appointed Internship Coordinator Tamara Popper: tamara.popper@ait.nsw.edu.au. Tamara has a wealth of experience in the film industry working as an independent film producer, Festival Director for WOW Festival as well as APDG awards manager in 2014. Tamara is happy to help answer any questions you may have. Happy Entering and BEST OF LUCK from all of us here in AIT.

APDG Awards – Get your submissions in now!

The importance of a good portfolio and showreel
<blockquote>AIT Animation teacher Nik Sutila attended the 2015 Melbourne International Animation festival to get inspired and seek out new tips for his aspiring animation students. Nik will share what he has learnt over the coming weeks to help aspiring animators realise their potential! This is the first part of a 3 part series where Nik will share some things he learned from this Animation conference.</blockquote>
Amongst the many gems of advice, one of my core beliefs was reaffirmed :
Do a lot of drawing.
In particular, regular life drawing. I have always urged my students to participate in life drawing. The stronger you are at drawing, the stronger you are at understanding forms, movement, anatomy and the stronger you will be at animating in general.
A strong portfolio for an animation job displays life drawing sketches in dynamic poses and not copied manga drawings.
Don’t ever submit copied artwork. Those types of things may have been great for you to find your feet in controlling your mediums and learning how to produce certain lines and shapes but they don’t help you in any other way especially when trying to impress a prospective director.
Your showreel should be short and snappy with lots of variety. It is not advised to feature long chunks of your student film. The point of your showreel is to show your ability in 30 seconds.
Displaying your knowledge of the principles of animation is what is going to impress. Don’t focus on displaying your polished media projects too much because drawing skills are valued much more.
Be sure also to cut it to a beat and make the transitions and choices match the music. This will display to the employer that you have a sense of timing and some skill in editing,  this is important.
One student was spoken about who had a showreel showing very strong animation principles and then was hired by a studio and taught Maya from scratch. The skill to represent dynamic anatomy in motion and timing it correctly will be the “fighting spirit” you need to enter the tournament without a black belt.
A good character animator will get jobs.
Teacher Bio &#8211; Nik Sutila
Nik Sutila is an AIT Animation and Concept Art teacher. He has a Masters in Animation from UTS and has created animation for such companies as MTV, Sydney Opera House, FujiXerox and Google. His passion as a teacher is helping his students achieve their artistic goals.

Advice for careers in animation – Part 2: The importance of a good showreel

<blockquote>AIT Animation teacher Nik Sutila attended the 2015 Melbourne International Animation festival to get inspired and seek out new tips for his aspiring animation students. Nik will share what he has learnt over the coming weeks to help aspiring animators realise their potential! 
This is the first part of a 3 part series where Nik will share some things he learned from this Animation conference.</blockquote>
Watching a seminar presented by the Holmesglen institute, I absorbed and digested some really inspirational advice for aspiring animators. As someone who has worked for a long time as an animation teacher and been fleetingly involved with industry projects, it’s enlightening to hear some valuable advice cutting straight to the chase of what matters when looking for a career in animation..
To begin, a panel of industry members displayed student character sheets and discussed different aspects of what should really concern aspiring animators on how to crack into the industry. Of the strategies discussed, it was agreed that networking is a very important aspect to getting seen. Word of mouth can go a long way and it was put forward that working abroad can help your career very much.
What programs should I learn?
According to the panel, being familiar with a variety of software is a good idea. They mentioned that studios that have used Flash are transitioning to Toon Boom. While Toon Boom is much more feature rich, it has a steep learning curve. Flash, having a dirty name (due primarily to its insularity in website application and incompatibility with Apple products), is still a cheaper option that can be used to create decent frame by frame animation and can export to an image sequence or movie and taken to After Effects, unlike the new Adobe Edge software which does not even feature drawing at all.
There are many people who insist on animating with Photoshop’s timeline feature. While this can and does yield amazing results, it was discussed that this method may have timing issues for the uninitiated. They recommended a tutorial for animating with photoshop by Alex Grigg. <a href="http://www.alexgrigg.com/Photoshop-Animation-Techniques">http://www.alexgrigg.com/Photoshop-Animation-Techniques</a>
After Effects is a very useful ingredient to add to this mix (and in my opinion necessary) in order to composite and apply visual effects to animations. It provides ability to produce motion graphics which is a huge part of animated presentations. As After Effects is part of the Adobe Suite, an animator who uses Flash and After Effects together can produce quicker animations for cheaper, while Toon Boom remains quite expensive (and now superseded by their new product Harmony).
Another name that was mentioned was TVPaint. “TVPaint keeps popping up” mentioned one panelist. I felt proud about this since TVPaint has been my personal program of choice for animation for a few years now. TVPaint is a French developed, bitmap based animation program originating on the Commodore Amiga. Now up to version 11,  it contains a lot of features important to animators that are overlooked on other software packages (such as a very complex configurable onion skin tool)  and is highly customisable and even scriptable. I was glad to hear that RMIT has adopted it. It is great for really professional level traditional animations without the glaring vectorish “webtoon” look a lot of animations have succumbed to these days.
After conversing and discussing the differing features of the programs, the panel agreed that the choice of program doesn’t matter too much. After all, the student work on display used paper.
Being a good animator is not about what kind of technology you have or what kind of cutting edge automation your computers can afford you.
If you are a computer whizz, it doesn’t guarantee that you will be a valuable animator. Primarily , your knowledge of the animation principles is of key importance and software is just a way of expressing it.
&nbsp;
Teacher Bio &#8211; Nik Sutila
Nik Sutila is an AIT Animation and Concept Art teacher. He has a Masters in Animation from UTS and has created animation for such companies as MTV, Sydney Opera House, FujiXerox and Google. His passion as a teacher is helping his students achieve their artistic goals.

Advice for careers in animation – Part 1: Programs

AIT&#8217;s annual game presentation was held on the 19th of June, as a celebration of all things gaming. Advanced game presentation students Shelley Li Gai, Jesse Allmey-Marcina, Effendy Setiady and Phuong Thao Nguyen presented their final completed game project called &#8216;Sooshilicious&#8217;,  a mobile speed runner where the character tries to match as many sushi dishes with their corresponding plates in a limited timeframe! This impressive game was created using Unity and 3DSmax in only 14 weeks! Check out the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpN0VqJxgbE">trailer</a> , or check out the <a href="https://chopstiix1.wixsite.com/sooshilicious">website</a>!
The Board Games club were present as always  and many students decided bring along their Nintendo DS&#8217; to get into the spirit of game day. AIT&#8217;s gaming students are definitely passionate! Looking forward to seeing more creative games being made next term!

Student game showcase: Sooshilicious!

AIT was an exhibitor at GameON Interactive, an event held during the first weekend of Vivid for the first time ever. Hosted over three  days at the Australian Technology Park (Friday 22nd May – Sunday 24th May 2015), Game ON was an interactive games and online video showcase celebrating innovation and creativity as part of Vivid Sydney 2015. We ran free workshops all weekend in Zbrush, Film Editing and Game development which gave attendees the chance to try a sampling of how we teach our creative courses.

IMG_5051

Interactive Oculus Rift at GameON

AIT is proud to showcase its involvement in the world renowned VIVID light festival, with its premiere interactive display of student art, animations and film. A collaboration between students and teachers, Lightwell explores the concept of collective expression and discovery. Participants work together using hand gestures to ‘splash’ and scatter rippling coloured lights over a textured brick wall, revealing hidden designs and animations. Large-scale illustrations and images are illuminated by the scattered light-paint, and when specific sections of the wall are touched by the light, other gems explode into life, in the forms of small animations, short film sequences and vibrantly coloured, animated designs. Further interaction triggers an ambient soundscape – a collection of rhythms and amusing one-liners – to accompany the animations and film sequences.
<blockquote>The combination of colour, light, music, vibrant designs and amusing animations makes for a very entertaining wall that can be enjoyed by both participants and onlookers</blockquote>

Lightwell

AIT showcase at VIVID Festival

You’ve spent time and resources finely crafting content that’s engaging, helpful &amp; entertaining, now you need it to be seen and shared. 
How can you reach your audience and increase the exposure of your brand or service?
Today I wanted to show you a few tools that will help you increase the reach of your content, as well as some great tips to help drive engagement. Here are three ways to think about deploying your content to your audience:
Earned: Media support, blogger support, social networks
Paid: Online advertising which can include banner ads, Google AdWords, Promoted Tweets, Facebook Sponsored Stories and content widgets like Outbrain
Owned: Your website, Email, Packaging, Staff Here’s 3 ways to think about deploying your content to your audience:
Let’s get started with these 8 steps.
1. Social Sharing: This is a simple and quick win. Ensure that you include social sharing buttons around your site and content. Doing so makes it a lot easier for people to actively share your content. This offers a diverse set of social sharing widgets for free, along with analytics so you can see who is share which articles on which network.
2. Look At Your Insights: Google Analytics, Facebook and Twitter provide detailed information on your audience. Including their location, times of day they are active and demographic. You can use this information to ensure you’re sharing content when your audience are most active on those platforms.
For example: Facebook gives Page Administrations the ability to see when their fans are online. If you were the owner of this page, you would schedule your content between midnight and 5am when the majority of your audience is online. If you posted content at 1pm (off-peak) less than half of your audience is active.
It’s a good idea to review all of your digital properties to discover more about your audience, this way you can ensure you’re getting as many eyeballs as possible on your content. Using Google Analytics you might find that you receive a lot of web traffic in the morning and less at night. To capitalise on that, post any new content early so they can wake up to it. This puts you a day ahead of your competitors and not a day behind.
For Twitter, services such as Buffer and Hootsuite will automatically see when you are getting the most engagement and offer a suggested schedule for your tweets. You can also access Twitters insight right <a title="twitter analytics" href="https://analytics.twitter.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a>.
3. Re-Work Your Content: Lists and infographics are two of the most shared formats across the social web. Format your blog post into a list, this makes your content easier for readers to consume and understand.
For example if your blog is titled “Paul Smith Look At How You Can Improve Your Garden” rename it “14 Great Tips To Bring Your Garden To Life” it’s more likely people will read and share this because it’s in a format they can understand.
<blockquote>Utilise eye-catching visuals and strong images to entice readers to keep scrolling. Blogs which include images are frequently shared more than those without. It’s ok to recycle your content, but be smart about it.</blockquote>
You could also translate elements of the blog into a visual infographic, it’s the same content, but repurposed in a different medium. This is an efficient and effective way to really maximise the value you can create out of your content.
If your brand is active on Twitter, send 3 tweets with different titles that link to the same article and see which one performs the best. Then you can change the title of your post to reflect this.
At the end of each month, look at your most shared / commented or viewed content and then create a list “The Most Popular Stories Of The Month” and include links to each individual article. This requires little effort on your part, but adds a lot of value for your audience.
4. Get Personal: Tap into the emotions of your audience, if you don&#8217;t they are less likely to feel compelled to share your work. For example, if you have a new unique product, make sure you include high resolution photographs to create a sense of awe or surprise.
5. Social Bookmarking: Social bookmarking and user submitted sites like Digg, StumbleUpon and Reddit should form an essential part of your content deployment strategy.
Due to their large community, they can introduce your content to a new audience with similar tastes, drive valuable web traffic and also provide you with backlinks which will help lift your search engine rank.
Simply create an account, select a category, include a description and submit your link. If the title is informative and the story fits the niche category, there’s a good chance you’ll see positive results from your efforts.  
6. Paid Promotion: Let’s look at premium distribution platforms. These are content widgets that publishers opt to feature on their site.
If a user clicks on your article, the publisher receives a small payment. There are different companies that run these networks, the most well-known is called <a href="https://www.outbrain.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outbrain.</a> They provide you with the ability to target your content geographically and by category. It costs around 25c to 35c per click and whilst you can’t target to the same levels as you can on Facebook, it’s worthwhile to experiment with the platform and seeing the results.
Other distribution platforms include Stumbleupon, Taboola, Nativo Nrelate and Disqus so make sure you shop around.
<blockquote>Native advertising is a fairly new term, but essentially its advertorial with a new twist. It’s a form of advertising where publishers are willing to integrate branded content into the overall style and tone of their site. This allows to higher engagement from their community as a whole, rather than seeing display media.</blockquote>
For example, music streaming service Spotify might create a playlist titled ‘Music To Motivate You By Nike’ which features songs suited to working out. As Nike is a sports brand, it’s a great way to reach Spotify’s audience, in their environment whilst still relating to the core values of the brand around fitness and exercise. If there are websites or blogs that you think might appeal to your audience, ask them about native advertising &#8211; but expect premium pricing.
7. Track Down &amp; Engage Influencers: Find out which thought-leaders and those with the biggest reach are sharing your content already. buzzsumo.com allows you to see which individuals are sharing content from specific websites.
If you’re just starting out, look at your competitor sites and see who is sharing their articles, videos or updates. Once you discover these influencers, you can then tweet them asking them to share your content instead.
If you are a cafe, you might ask a popular food blogger to share your blog featuring your new recipes for the month. It certainly takes time to build these individual niche relationships, but if you can get your content shared by someone with influence or who has a large audience &#8211; the hard work is infinitely worth it.
8. Don’t Forget Newsletters: The great thing about newsletters is that you already have a list of willing customers who want to engage with you. Ensure you keep it that way by providing compelling content to them.
Look to hone your subject line, give people a reason to open and read your content. Trying sending it at different times (early morning, whilst your audience is on the way to work on the bus for example or Friday afternoon when they’re winding down) to see if these effects the open-rate.
There is also no shame in asking them to share your work, it can be a simple line included in the newsletter that says “If you’ve enjoyed this, please forward onto a friend” Generally speaking, people are willing to help if you’ve given them value and aren’t overstepping the mark. In the era of smartphones, it’s vital you test your newsletter on a mobile device to make sure its correctly formatted.
And finally, don’t forget your co-workers many of which will now have a social presence on the web. It’s estimated the average Facebook user has around 300 friends &#8211; if you can get 10 staff members to share your video, article or blog that’s a potential new audience of 3,000 customers.
Author Profile: Alex Wain is one of Australia’s leading bloggers, and co founder of popular culture website So Bad So Good. He is a digital professional with a rich &amp; unique mix of online expertise spanning 11 years across media, digital and entertainment portals and is the presenter of AIT&#8217;s online course Content Marketing Fundaments.

The Art Of Distribution: How To Get Your Content Seen & Shared

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We all know that running a small business comes with its own fair share of challenges, from finding and enticing customers, to keeping a close eye on the competition and even staff retention and moral.
You might be surprised to know however, that the world of social media can play a key role in helping you plug the gaps and streamline these areas in your business. Let me show you how, in these 3 simple steps.
<h4 align="center">Step One: Finding Leads </h4>
First let’s look at how social media can help you find and entice customers. In this example, let’s assume you own a small gym in Sydney and you’re looking to increase your membership. Start by using Twitter’s <a title="twitter advanced search" href="https://twitter.com/search-advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advanced search tool</a> to discover individuals who are already talking about fitness in your area.
<blockquote>For example, you might choose to search for #sydney #fitness. Doing so will display a list of Twitter users, tweeting about that subject, in that location. You can then reply to them on Twitter, either offering them a discounted membership or link to a part on your site which lists all the types of incentives and reasons to join your gym.</blockquote>
Another way to find potential customers who are passionate about fitness and health, is by following users who also follow influencers in that industry.
Let’s use influential health and fitness expert <a title="Michelle bridges" href="https://twitter.com/MishBridges/followers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michelle Bridges</a> She has around 99K followers, there’s a strong chance that many are interested in keeping fit and staying healthy so follow 20-30 of these each day from your account. They won’t all follow you back, but over time if 5-10 return the favour, it’s a simple and effective way to help build up your following.
Whenever you tweet, always use 2 hashtags which to the content or topic you’re sharing. This allows your content to be surfaced and seen by a targeted audience who are actively searching those hashtags. An good example might be #relaxation #yoga This next step will require you to spend some money, however, you’ll be able to monitor and measure your campaign every step of the way so you can track how successful it is.
Facebook has an immense about of data on the individuals that Like and interact with your Page. There’s two very handy features in their Power Editor tool, they both focus on the same concept &#8211; creating a targeted custom audience. The first option allows you to import your email database into Facebook.
Lets say you have 5K email addresses that you contact each week with a newsletter. Facebook allows you to upload these into their Power Editor tool and then matches those 5K email addresses with the same ones an individual used to register on the site. You will never get a 100% match, but its very likely that a large proportion of your email database, also use Facebook. Facebook then allows you to target ads, only to that list. So not only are you members getting your newsletter, they’re seeing your Facebook promotions as well. There might be people who have joined your newsletter, but haven’t yet Liked you on Facebook &#8211; this simple solution overcomes that problem.
The second option, is a little more complex but no less ingenious. Again you upload your email list and from the 5K email addresses you have, lets pretend Facebook matched 4K of them to Facebook profiles. In the example above, you can target those 4K users &#8211; but Facebook also allows you to create an entirely new “clone list” to target. It looks at the demographic data of those users, their age, location, gender, interests, updates and activity and then generates a clone list, of entirely different users, people who haven’t liked your page or joined your email address, and gives your he ability to target them with ads. It’s a great way to expand your audience, without using a scatter gun approach. The benefits are two fold, not only are you attracting new Likes and therefore higher engagement, you’re attracting new customers based on the existing demographic of your current audience.
<h4 align="center">Step Two: Keeping An Eye On The Competition</h4>
Now, that we’ve found and engaged your customers, its vital you keep a close on the competition to make sure your customers aren’t enticed to take their money elsewhere. But it can be extremely time consuming keeping up to date with the local competition. Here’s how to make it really easy:
<ol>
<li>Subscribe to their newsletter. Look at how frequently they email, the type of content they include and the offers they have. Are they more or less active than you? Is the design good? Can you read it on a mobile device? Do the pictures load? What would you do differently?</li>
<li>Create a ‘Private List’ on Twitter. If you follow a large number of people on Twitter, you’ll know that your home stream can become cluttered and noisy. Use Twitter’s List feature to place particular users into clearly defined categories. You don’t even have to follow them to do this. Create a list titled ‘Competitors’, make sure you set it to private (so only you can view) and then add the Twitter feeds of your competition into the list. Once a day login and look at that list, to see the type of content, offers and promotions they are talking about. It saves you having to visit each Twitter profile individually and means you’ll able to get a sense of how they’re using the platform.</li>
<li>Utilise Facebook’s ‘<a title="Smart list" href="https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=all&amp;ad_type=all&amp;country=AU&amp;q=AIT&amp;sort_data[direction]=desc&amp;sort_data[mode]=relevancy_monthly_grouped&amp;search_type=keyword_unordered&amp;media_type=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ad Library</a>’ feature  it essentially works the same way as Twitter Lists and means you won’t have to endure seeing competitors content in your personal feed and ensure you won’t miss it either. Simply visit your newly created “Competitor’ list on Facebook to view all the content those pages are posting and sharing.</li>
</ol>
Once a customer comes to the stand, ask if its ok to shoot a quick video asking them what they thought of the taste. You can then use these on your site and in your newsletter. If you have a sale, special announcement or event you want to promote Every day is an opportunity to create new content.
<h4 align="center">Step Three: Staff Retention &amp; Moral</h4>
Every small business knows that staff retention and moral can have positive effect on their bottom line. If your staff are telling their friends and family what a great work environment you offer, you’re likely to attract and retain better candidates. If staff enjoy working for you, their loyalty is a key asset. They will have a deeper understanding of the business over the longer term, vital knowledge that can be shared with the rest of your team.
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So how can social help your staff feel more included?
Firstly, create a private Facebook Group and encourage staff to share ideas, articles they enjoy or resources that aid your business. This will reduce your emails and keeps everything unified &#8211; where everyone has a seat at the table.
A good idea can come from anywhere, so the concept behind giving your staff a group, is to open up those lines of communication. If you have an employee of the month award, take it social.
Rather than having to create content for a blog, simply ask them questions and share their answers as the blog entry itself. Include a photo and then post this across your social networks &#8211; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For example “We’re very proud to say Emma Brown is our Employee Of The Month, not only did she sign up 45 new members, she completed the local marathon in record time! But did you know Emma is actually also an amazing photographer? Here’s a few other things you may not know about her….” That level of engagement, not only shows you appreciate your staff, but for customers it creates the sense your a family friendly workplace, with genuine people, with real stories powering your business.
<blockquote>&nbsp;
Alex Wain is one of Australia’ s leading bloggers, and co founder of popular culture website <a title="sobadsogood" href="http://sobadsogood.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">So Bad So Good</a>. He is a digital professional with a rich &amp; unique mix of online expertise spanning 11 years across media, digital and entertainment portals </blockquote>
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3 Essential Social Media Strategies for your Small Business

The decision to switch careers is not something that should be taken lightly. Deciding to study again or starting from the bottom can seem time consuming and financially draining. However cliché’ it sounds, if you feel like something is missing in your life some introspection may be required to find happiness in your working life.
Here are five warning signs that your current career may not be the right one for you.
<ol>
<li>You feel your talents skills do not reflect your current responsibilities and could be used in a more productive and creative way. You lack satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in your tasks.</li>
<li>You are bored at work, often feeling fatigued before the day even begins. You are not being challenged and often feel like the day is a grind.</li>
<li>You have come to a point where your current salary is your only motivating factor for your current job.</li>
<li>Despite making the “right” choices when selecting a career path, you still feel like something is missing from your working life and you want something new.</li>
<li>You have conflicting ideals and values than your current line of work offers and you find it difficult to empathise with your current company.</li>
</ol>
If you have found yourself with any of these recurring thoughts, you may want to consider taking the leap and switching to a career that is more fulfilling. It is a scary proposition, but overcoming the fear and recognising the need to change is the first step!
<h4 align="center">The process</h4>
The next step is the research phase. This is where heavy introspection, research and “soul searching” come together to help you arrive at your next step. There are several ways to do this, but you need a focus area to begin with. Start by writing a simple list in a few different columns. Write down:
<ul>
<li>All your current skills and talents (However outrageous they may be, you never know what skills you may use throughout your career)</li>
<li>Your areas of interest. This can include your favourite pastimes, movies, television shows you enjoy watching or anything that you are particularly passionate about. Leave nothing out!</li>
<li>A list of people you look up to and what they do. This can include family, friends or even celebrities. Think about why you look up to them and what is so appealing about what they do.</li>
<li>What is important in a job to you? This can include working hours, location and what you DON’T want in a job to help you narrow it down.</li>
</ul>
If there is any overlap in these categories, this is where you should focus. Once you have a short list, you need to be proactive about making sure the decision is correct. Email people in the industry, try some short courses and get work experience on weekends if possible.
The more you engross yourself in your desired industry, the better you will feel about leaving your current job.
<h4 align="center">The decision &#8211; Studying digital media</h4>
Congratulations! If you have arrived at the decision that digital media is your destination, you have a potentially exciting career to look forwards to. You might have a deep yearning to be creative and ultimately be able to gain employment in a job that will allow you to use your unique skills on a daily basis.
Digital Media encompasses a number of areas, including Film, Animation, Digital Design, Game Design, IT and app design and much more. These are specialised careers that are growing fields within the Australian landscape.
<blockquote>You might have a deep yearning to be creative and ultimately be able to gain employment in a job that will allow you to use your unique skills on a daily basis.  Digital Media encompasses a number of areas, including Film, Animation, Digital Design, Game Design, IT and app design and much more. These are specialised careers that are growing fields within the Australian landscape.</blockquote>
AIT Student Hugo Leitao believes that following his digital passions has inspired him to learn as much about the art industry as possible.
&#8220;I believe art is the perfect medium to express yourself and your passions in the most creative of ways. I find it brings new light and understanding to mine. As an artist, I see myself as a 3D Environment Modeler first and a Photographer second although there is no way to separate the arts in life, in your career and the impact they have in shaping your style. I am a dedicated researcher and lack no energy when it comes to my artistic endeavors. The main thing that pulled me into AIT was the energy about it. The place itself feels alive with creative energy, and the ongoing communication and sharing of ideas makes for a great artistic environment&#8221;
<h4 align="center">Finding a job &#8211; Digital media is the future</h4>
Are you worried about getting a job in the industry once you finish your studies? You shouldn’t be.
The digital fields are consistently growing, many students do not realise is that there is a big shortage of skilled digital professionals in Australia.
Global management consulting firm <a title="Mckinsey" href="http://www.mckinsey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mckinsey</a> has estimated that by 2020 there will be a shortfall of around 85 milllion skilled jobs worldwide due to the constant changes in technology and the lack of people studying in the field.
Popular job listing sites for the digital media field include <a title="Seek" href="http://www.seek.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seek</a>, <a title="Mumbrella" href="http://mumbrella.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mumbrella</a>, <a title="Tsumea " href="http://www.tsumea.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tsmuea</a> and <a title="The loop" href="http://www.theloop.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Loop</a> where entry level jobs are consistently advertised.
The most important aspect of getting a job will be the quality of your portfolio. This is where studying at AIT is a massive benefit, as every project you complete in class will go towards a portfolio that you can present to potential employers. This will be a big advantage over other candidates.
Remember: Only you can take responsibility for finding employment in your industry. Leave no stone unturned and don’t discount a job because it isn’t perfect. Have a goal in mind, and learn the skills you need on the way to get there.
Make connections, educate yourself and do what you love.

Changing careers – Pursuing your creative aspirations

<h4 align="center">The Challenge</h4>
You are about to undertake your HSC studies and the pressures of study and the impending choices you must make about your future are weighing you down. You have advice being thrown at you from every direction. Your parents, teachers, friends and career advisors are telling you that your creative passions should be kept as a hobby, and that you should focus on getting a “real job”. Everyone is telling you to choose a mode of study that will look best on your resume, such as the bigger universities. Teachers may even be telling you that you must go to uni because that is just what you are expected to do.
All of this can be quite intimidating, especially if you don’t want to study science, history or psychology.  These days a degree at uni can barely qualify you for a job at McDonalds, let alone a job that requires real skill and creativity. You may be hesitant to commit to four years of university, where you are just one amongst a huge crowd of 40,000 students being herded in and out of large lecture halls with hundreds of other students who are taking notes and writing essays.
In the back of your mind you have a deep yearning to be creative. You might have some skill in illustration, storytelling or working with computers. You may be experimenting with film making, or have a passion to work in the ever growing video game industry. You want to be surrounded by creative people and ultimately be able to gain employment in a job that will allow you to use your digital skills on a daily basis. What do you do?
<h4 align="center">The Options &#8211; What should I study?</h4>
Choosing a study path after year 12 can be a daunting task. The sheer number of options available can often leave school leavers confused about what career is right for them. Truthfully, the best answer is always simple: do what you love.
 “Education is an investment and you shouldn&#8217;t spend time and money on something you don&#8217;t love”
Ask any person in the working world, regardless of the industry and they will respond that happiness in your job will translate to happiness in your life. It sounds like a cliché but if you choose to go into a field that doesn’t get your heart racing, you may end up regretting it rather quickly into your working career.
If you are a creative person, the growing field of digital media offers numerous options that can lead to all sorts of job opportunities. The world of digital media is great as it allows to you take traditionally manual tasks and expand them rapidly using a range of amazing computer programs and distribution methods. Choose to study a field that will capitalise on your strengths and passions, and your studies are now an extension of your interests, not a boring chore.
<h4 align="center">The Solution &#8211; How do I get started?</h4>
Once you have reached the decision to study in your digital field of choice, you need to start looking at which institutions are best for you. Universities offer degrees in IT and Arts programs. There are vocational courses, such as certificates in multimedia at TAFE. Then there are private institutions such as the Academy of Information Technology.
AIT delivers highly specialised, focused and hands on courses in Animation, Game Design, Film, Digital Design and IT. There are several advantages to studying at a private institution like AIT. Smaller class sizes means a more personalised tertiary education experience that can foster creativity and there is better access to industry standard equipment and software.
Most importantly, private education offers a far more practical and specialised learning experience from teachers who are actually practicing in the industry. AIT Student Francis Caro believes that following his digital passions has inspired him to work harder and makes studying less a chore.
<blockquote>“I love being creative and thinking ‘outside of the box’. I enjoy coming up with ideas in my head and making them into a reality. I realised that I could never work in a ‘traditional’ field. It doesn’t excite me and I would be wasting my talents. That is why I like the environment at AIT. It’s not as strict as university. Universities can be quite bleak, grey and confined whereas here it’s really open and colourful. You have the freedom to express yourself. It is a fantastic creative space that is helping me realise my potential.”</blockquote>
Are you worried about getting a job in the industry once you finish your studies? You shouldn’t be. The digital fields are consistently growing, many students do not realise is that there is a big shortage of skilled digital professionals in Australia.
Global management consulting firm <a title="Mckinsey" href="http://www.mckinsey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mckinsey</a> has estimated that by 2020 there will be a shortfall of around 85 milllion skilled jobs worldwide due to the constant changes in technology and the lack of people studying in the field.
&nbsp;
AIT specialises in translating digital skills into achievable career outcomes. Every project you work on in class will go towards a portfolio that will help you show off your work to potential employers. For more information on our courses for Year 12 leavers, contact us <a title="Contact us" href="http://www.ait.nsw.edu.au/contact-ait/?__hstc=198919408.77e6c38e8dcec878d23c409770e38cae.1622514962785.1622514962785.1622514962785.1&amp;__hssc=198919408.51.1622514962785&amp;__hsfp=1561754925" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>

Life after year 12 – A survival guide for creative students

Creating a successful app isn’t always about having a million dollar idea. In an industry that often rewards being first, a 19 year old student named <a href="http://gabrielecirulli.com/">Gabrielle Cirulli</a> simply struck lucky when he wanted to test his programming skills on an already established concept. 2048 is the latest in a long line of “clone” apps that became infinitely more popular than its successor. Cirulli’s story demonstrates that even the simplest of student work can be a viral success.
<h2 align="center">Threes &#8211; The original concept</h2>
A game called Threes was launched on the iOS store on February 6th 2014 for $1.99. Created by a company called <a href="http://asherv.com/threes/presskit/">Sirvo</a>, Threes involves sliding around tiles to combine numbers into multiples of threes to create the biggest number possible. It was extremely well received, gaining a <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/">Metacritic</a> score of 92/100. Threes was worked on by a development team for several months, and was built from the ground up as a game that could challenge a user for several months. Despite critical success, the app failed to outsell the iterations of the game which followed.
<h2 align="center"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.veewo.a1024">1024</a> &#8211; The first clone</h2>
A month later, Veewo studio released a free app called 1024 which simplified the concept by allowing tiles of two to be matched rather than three. It gave the user an endgame goal of achieving the number 1024. 1024 was clearly a direct clone of Threes, even marketing itself with the phrase “No need to pay for Threes”. However even 1024 paled in comparison to the success of 2048, which was released less than a week later.
<h2 align="center"><a href="http://gabrielecirulli.github.io/2048/">2048</a> – An overnight success   </h2>
2048 was a weekend project by Italian student Gabriele Cirulli. He took the app 1024, fused it with Threes and posted it for free on his website. His project further streamlined the concept, sliding two tiles at a time and provided the same end goal, this time to reach the number 2048. He added in simple and clean animations to brighten the concept. After only a few days of being live, 2048 got thousands of hits. This was completely unexpected for Cirulli, who’s only goal for this project was to test out his programming ability. After his site got over 4 million views in less than a week, Cirulli tweeted:
 <a href="https://twitter.com/gabrielecirulli">@gabrielecirulli</a> “28000 people playing #2048game right now. The amount of man-hours spent playing this game will never be returned to humanity.”
Recognising that his game was not a completely original creation, Cirulli allowed his creation to be an open source on <a href="https://github.com/">GitHub</a>, allowing other programmers to access his code and create fun themed versions of his game for free. Ironically, dozens of clones of 2048 are available from both IOS and Android and have been downloaded even more than the original. He recognises the origins of his game at the bottom of his website, citing that 2048 is “Created by Gabriele Cirulli, based on 1024 by Veewo studio and conceptually similar to Threes by Asher Vollmer”
2048 is testament that with the right programming skills, anyone can create successful and fun apps. The Academy of Information Technology specialises in delivering hands on, portfolio focused courses for students seeking careers in the digital industries. AIT was the first institution in the country to offer a <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology/diploma-of-it">Bachelor of IT</a> specializing in Mobile App Development. This degree gives students all the tools they need to build and program successful mobile apps. Learn more about this and other digital courses <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses">here</a>.

2048 – Originality doesn’t always determine success in the app market

(And why you should be wary of colleges that do)
More and more colleges and universities are now trying to entice prospective students with promises of free laptops, IPads or similar giveaways. This is a tactic which appears to be at odds with delivering quality course outcomes.
The Academy of Information Technology proudly does NOT offer free laptops or anything similar to our students to encourage them to study with us.
Here are some reasons why you should be careful about colleges and universities that do. 
1. Quality higher education institutions should not need to bribe you. Free offers upon enrolment are usually symptomatic of other problems. A university or college should be selling itself on the basis of the quality of its student experience, not giveaways and special timed offers. Some of these institutions have student quotas to fill to remain financially viable, and are using the quickest and crudest way possible to get the numbers they need. Because of this, these colleges may attract students who are pulled in by the gimmick of the offer, instead of selecting a course and institution based on far more important criteria.
2. Nothing is ever free. [two_third last=&#8221;no&#8221;]Institutions who offer you a ‘free’ laptop have most likely built this cost into their course and other fees. It is not free. Moreover, if you read the terms and conditions of these free giveaways, you  might be in for a shock. Often, you won’t receive your “free” item until you have cleared at least two census dates and paid certain levels of tuition, and you won’t be able to keep it unless you graduate. If you drop out of the course because it is not what you were hoping for, you don’t keep the laptop even though you have paid for it. The devil is usually in the detail.
3. Your money can be better spent Facebook, careers fairs and even shopping centres are awash with colleges and universities luring in the unsuspecting public with the promise of Alienware laptops, iPads and more.
<blockquote>As the National Tertiary Education Union pointed out in 2012 when this first started occurring at UWS – these giveaways come at a price and this money should be invested into course development, updating content and improving facilities.</blockquote>
So what does AIT offer instead? [one_half last=&#8221;no&#8221;]AIT’s students enjoy small class sizes, a personalised educational experience with a quality academic team, access to industry leading equipment and software, and all other facilities on our modern campus to deliver a positive experience. Our students develop amazing portfolios, are exposed to industry events and gain real world experience to help secure their dream job. We invest heavily in making sure we have the most up-to date resources for your learning experience, and don’t spruik them to you under the guise of being free gifts.
<blockquote>The lure of free hardware and delayed payments is naturally going to appear attractive to anyone at first glance – but education is about investing in your future and ensuring you get a high quality learning experience and the opportunity to achieve your dreams.</blockquote>
AIT urges all students to do their research, be sceptical of offers and gimmicks, and above all, ask serious questions about the value they are receiving from their education provider. For more information on IT and Digital media courses offered through AIT, please visit <a href="https://ait.edu.au/">www.ait.nsw.edu.au</a>

Why we won’t give you a free laptop or IPad when studying at AIT

Did you know that AIT is UDK’s Academic Partner?
<div>Epic’s Unreal Development Kit (UDK) is no stranger to game developers and publishers, as it is responsible for producing many of the award winning triple-A game titles from the past decade. The latest version of UDK is the backbone to many best selling games such as Epic Games’ Gears of War, Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham City, and EA’s Alice: Madness Returns which were produced for a range of popular gaming platforms like the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Play Station 3, and Apple iOS.</div>
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<div>AIT acknowledges the relevance of UDK in today’s growing digital media industry by collaborating with game developers, industry associations and some of Australia’s top universities to develop a rich and solid curriculum that explores the tools within this powerful game engine.</div>
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<div>The AIT curriculum puts emphasis on storytelling, game theory and games aesthetics; while ensuring students learn the industry techniques and principles needed to make a successful game on UDK.</div>
<div>Students are also introduced to UDK’s kismet scripting language to help create an interactive environment that will offer an immersive gameplay experience to the audience. The outcome is a cinematic showreel of a next-generation game levels design that students could proudly add to their professional portfolio. Using the most current and recognised software, along with up-to-date workflow and techniques, we aim to gear up students with solid learning experience to put them at an advantage in pursuing a game design career. <a title="ait-udk" href="http://www.udk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.udk.com</a></div>
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Learn UDK Game Development & Epic’s Unreal Development Kit

Many people never realise that game design and game programming are two very different things. It’s easy to get confused, especially for individuals not involved in the game industry.
Understanding the difference between game programming and design is even more crucial for individuals interested in a career within the game industry. Although there are several similarities between the two, game design focuses on the creative vision for a game while game programming focuses on the technological methods of implementing the ideas of designers, using computer code to bring those games to life.
<h2>Game Designer</h2>
Game design focuses on creativity, how a game flows, as well as how end users will like the game. Game design involves understanding what gamers want in games, then using their skills to meet the demands of gamers.
Not all individuals involved in game design have a formal education in design or art, but many designers have a background in game programming or software development. Game designing requires the ability to see the big picture, getting a vision of what the game should become once it is complete. Individuals with experience in game design often enjoy lucrative offers from top game companies.
<h2>Game Programmer</h2>
Game programming differs from game design, since this job involves writing and analysing programming code. Programmers work to write lines of code used to make a game work and each game development project often has several game programmers working on the project.
Not only do programmers write code for games, but they often tweak codes and fix bugs found within the software. Within game programming, several sub-specialties exist, including network programming and graphics programming.
Most game programmers have software development training, extensive experience writing programs or a combination of experience and a software development degree. Both game designers and game programmers have the potential to earn excellent salaries, but both jobs do require education and experience.
Once you fully understand the difference between game design and game programming, then you will be ready to take the next step, deciding which option to pursue as you get your education.

What is the difference between game design and games programming?

Game design is one of the most essential components of game production. It is during this phase that the game designer begins the process of working out the characters, game play, storyline and visual concepts for a game that a studio will be producing.
<h2>The Process of Game Design</h2>
The process of game designing generally starts with a concept for a game and the acceptable genres for the title are explored. In this initial stage, the concept, systems and features of the game are considered and the initial cost estimate to produce the game is prepared. It is at this time, that the publishers decide whether they will move forward with the concept. They will often consider the genre of the game, the style of game – if it is technology driven or story and art driven and if they are able to put up enough funding to make the title. A game programmer may be brought in to determine if current scripting languages in a particular system’s code base can handle the game that is being presented.
<h2>Game Designing Team</h2>
As part of the game design process, a design team is generally formed. These are the people who will help ensure that the game play is smooth and the game has clear rules and structure. Others on the team will be hired to review items and ensure that mistakes are caught in the early stages of development. A typical game design team will consist of:
<ul>
<li>Lead Designer – Responsible for the vision of the game and to ensure that the team works together with open communication. They will make critical decisions that impact the final project.</li>
<li>Level designer – Handles the game’s environment, including missions and world maps.</li>
<li>System designer – Will be in charge of the game’s rules and core operations for the game.</li>
<li>Writer – Will develop the story and the necessary dialogues. They will often be on hand when journals and cut scenes are added to games to ensure that the flow is consistent. Often, they will also write the video game description for marketing purposes.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Game Designing Elements</h2>
Certain areas that are focused on during the game design stage include:
<ul>
<li>Content Design</li>
<li>Level Design</li>
<li>Narrative</li>
<li>User Interface</li>
<li>System</li>
<li>World Environment</li>
</ul>
Once these areas have been given due consideration, the focus shifts from game design to beta testing so bugs can be explored and the project team can work on finalizing the content.

What is Game Designing?

What are careers in digital media like these days? How are these careers making an impact around the world? Digital media careers have actually taken off in the last twenty years, and we have seen evidence of that in nearly every media outlet.
Does anyone remember the show ‘Beast Wars’? This was a program that showcases digital media before 3D modeling was even mainstream. There are now a vast number of commercials that utilize 3D modeling, and the field is only getting bigger as days go by.
Opportunities for Careers in Digital Media What kind of opportunities are you looking at when it comes to digital media careers? We mentioned 3D modeling, of course, but the field is much more expansive than that. Digital media encompasses anything electronic, and anything that the consumer might find useful. The following are just a few examples of digital media:
<ul>
<li>Website Design</li>
<li>Blogging</li>
<li>Social Media</li>
<li>3D Modeling</li>
<li>Sound Design</li>
</ul>
Though this is a very small sampling of the the careers available in digital media, you can clearly see that it makes a serious impact in the world.
Are There Employment Opportunities? There are plenty of digital media opportunities out there, and the field is only expanding. The problem however, is that companies are seeking a very specific type of individual. Such an individual needs to be highly trained and experienced in a number of different applications. For example a 3D modeler should be familiar with 3Ds Max as well as Blender and Maya. These skills may not be taught at the basic level, and they may in fact require you to seek out the knowledge on your own.
From video editing to website design, companies want someone who is ready to go right out of the gate. They typically do not want to train, and they do not want to answer a lot of questions. You need to be prepared for a number of challenges, and for this, you will need the proper training.
Career Training If you want to jump start your chances of careers in digital media you will need the proper training. <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses">The Academy of Information Technology(AIT)</a> is a school that specializes in vocational education in Sydney Australia. From animation courses, to filmmaking, and even game design courses, they can set you on the right path, ensuring you get exactly what you need to progress in your chosen field.

Careers in Digital Media

The 3D animation field offers endless opportunities for the right person. After all, all kinds of companies use this medium, from video game producers to major film studios. If you’re a creative person with a knack for technology, it might be time to check out possible careers in 3D animation and make your artistic talent work for you. Here’s a look at what you need to know.
<h2>What Is 3D Animation?</h2>
This type of animation relies on most of the same skills as more traditional 2D animation, but it adds a literal extra dimension. Unlike 2D animations, which start as flat drawings, 3D animations rely on a digital 3D mesh. This mesh gives the character or objects its basic shape.
Animators apply textures, fur, hair and other effects on top of the mesh to produce an incredibly realistic effect. This kind of animation allows for special effects in films and on TV, creates immersive game environments, digital narratives and is expanding into new areas all the time.
<h2>3D Animation Careers Are Growing</h2>
At a time when opportunities in many fields have begun to shrink, the 3D animation field has experienced strong growth. In Australia and across the globe, animators are finding new career possibilities. Australian professionals can expect a “very strong growth” according to the recent government job outlook reports.
<h2>Available Careers in Animation</h2>
You might wonder just what kinds of jobs are available in this growing field. The answers are as varied as the people seeking careers in 3D animation. You could get a position as a software developer working on games or digital apps. You might be called upon to create 3D characters and environments for immersive digital narrative presentations or a large company’s web portal. There are other positions available in the Australian 3D animation market, too. With a background in this kind of creative work, you could supervise projects or work as an art director. You might become an agent or work with an advertising agency using your animation knowledge to help you find the best material for your clients.
Whether you’re a full-time, in-house employee or a contract worker who sets his or her own hours, you’ll have plenty of opportunities as far as careers in animation are concerned.
<h2>What Makes a Great Animator?</h2>
Of course, not all animators are equal. Employers look for very specific skills and traits in candidates for 3D animation careers. To get the job, you’ll need to be detail-oriented and capable of working independently to a deadline. You’ll also have to be familiar with the major 3D animation programs, including Lightwave and Maya.
Most animators will need to occasionally work long or irregular hours to get a project finished. You may need to be a great communicator with good people skills, too; many animators also need to help with promotion efforts or work directly with clients.
<h2>How to Get Started</h2>
The best way to get involved in 3D animation careers is to start with a solid educational background. Choose a school that offers a variety of different options and focuses on the latest technology and methods. Practice your art regularly to ensure that you’ll have a competitive edge when it’s time to hit the job market, and you’ll be ready to find the perfect career in 3D animation for you. <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/3d-animation">Read more about Animation Courses at AIT.</a>

3D Animation Careers – Become a 3D Animator

&#8216;Australians are a Nation of Gamers&#8217; &#8211; <a href="http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/australians-are-a-nation-of-gamers-the-digital-australia-14-igea-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian Interactive Games &amp; Entertainment Association (iGEA)</a>
Gaming is not just a hobby it&#8217;s a calling. For as long as you can remember, you&#8217;ve loved gaming and now that you&#8217;re growing up, what could be more natural than making your passion a career? It sounds like it should be just a lifetime of fun, and realistically if you like what you&#8217;re doing, it is fun, but gaming development is also precision work that requires careful attention to detail.
<h2>Game Design Careers Historically</h2>
In the old days, you jotted it all down on a note pad and started working on what you thought was going to be the next million selling multi-player hit game.
Today gaming requires a vast array of different skills and puts together specialists from all areas who collaborate on games that are played on advanced systems in diverse languages around the globe.
<h2>Careers in Game Design Today</h2>
<a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/game-design">Video game design</a> and computer gaming development require that you have at least a rudimentary understanding of a wide range of different skills and disciplines. This is true even if you aren&#8217;t going to be developing specifically but will be managing the development.
The US Bureau of Labour says that more than half of all animators, multimedia experts and videographers are self-employed today. This includes video game and computer game designers. Some work from a home office with larger companies as independent contractors and/or consultants, but most are employed.
People who want to work in this field are going to require:
• Artistic bent
• High level of self-motivation
• Solid level of graphic skills
• Hands on technical experience
• Educational background in technology or computer graphics and design.
It stands to reason that if you&#8217;re interested in a gaming career, exploring your options for education is a good first move.
You&#8217;ll find that you can waive the need to know some aspects of gaming if your skills are strong enough in other areas. For example if you are a strong coder, you may need to know a little less about graphics or if you are a remarkable graphic designer you will get away with less technical or coding skills, but the best option for you is to know a little about all of it.
Considering this kind of career means you&#8217;re going to want to consider ways to get the overall broad based education that you need in order to be effective in what is a very demanding and fast paced environment.
The competition for positions in gaming teams is quite fierce. The more you know, the more well-rounded you are in your skillset, the more readily you are going to find work in this environment.
For more information on getting the skills that you need to succeed in gaming, contact an AIT student adviser today! We offer a range of <a href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/game-design">game design courses</a> with exciting career opportunities!

Careers in Game Design

Virtools, a behaviour engine and real-time render was introduced into AIT’s curriculum back in 2003 to accelerate the understanding of the elements of complex programming. Virtools is one of the very few commercial tools that offer a complete range of features that enable users to create virtual environments with a simple click-of-a-mouse, without the need for complex coding. A user does not have to be proficient in any specific programming language to be able to give their object behaviour and reaction to human input within its environments.
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Adding physics to an object such as gravity or elasticity can easily be done on Virtools. Unusual behaviour can be given to objects within a virtual environment thereby, creating an interactive world of one’s own imagination. Some examples of commercial Virtools games are: Mercury Meltdown (available on Sony PSP and Nintendo Wii); Sarkaban Game Studio’s Lazy Raiders (available on Microsoft xBox Live Arcade); and Facebook’s first ever 3D game called Billions, Save Them All. This powerful technology is not simply restricted to creating games. Virtools is widely used in industry as it allows individuals to create rapid prototype through the modern visual scripting. This allows businesses to harvest their capabilities for the efficient development of complex 3D visual models or simulations. Virtools was also used to support the first ever World Expo Online experience that brought unprecedented real-time 3D interactivity and 360-degree immersive walkthrough experience to hundreds of millions of online visitors of the recent World Expo 2010 Shanghai event.
AIT remains the sole training provider of 3DVIA Virtools in Australia. <a title="ait-virtools-3dvia" href="http://www.3dvia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.3dvia.com</a>

Learn 3D via Virtools

Why an online Portfolio is so important? Electronic portfolios can be one of your greatest assets during a job hunt. Remember, once a company receives your application, it’s inevitable that, as they begin to decide who to bring in to interview, someone will go to Google and type in your name.
A solid online portfolio makes a very good impression and gives you an online visibility and presence, especially when many of the other applicants didn’t even bother putting the time and energy into electronic portfolios of their own.
Having an impressive online portfolio before you send a job application actually means that, rather than waiting for employers to Google your name, you can put the link to your online portfolio directly on your résumé. The fact that you took the time to prepare your online career portfolio will make a great impression on the people looking through applications.
REMEMBER: Your online portfolio is the showcase of your work, your skills and your potential for your future employers. The more time and effort you dedicate for a usable and nice-looking design, the higher are your chances for getting better account balance in the end of the month.
Online portfolio benefits:
<ul>
<li>Professional way to display your work</li>
<li>Enhances your visibility and Online Presence</li>
<li>Great first impression to employers</li>
<li>Presents you are more than just a resume</li>
<li>Flexibility: you can change Portfolio contents in one click</li>
</ul>
How to make an impressive portfolio online? Creating an impressive and successful portfolio is easier than you think. Focus on simplicity, ease of use, hitting your objectives, professionally managing the project, and you’ll end up with a successful portfolio. First and foremost, it is very important that your portfolio:
<ul>
<li>Looks professional and accurately reflects your skills</li>
<li>Is specific and occupationally focused</li>
<li>Is easy to update and view</li>
<li>Is self-explanatory if need be</li>
<li>Supports information presented in your resume</li>
</ul>
Free online Portfolio Hosting site links: <a href="http://www.portfoliobox.net/">http://www.portfoliobox.net/</a> <a href="http://www.theloop.com.au/">http://www.theloop.com.au/</a> <a href="http://carbonmade.com/">http://carbonmade.com/</a> <a href="http://dunked.com/">http://dunked.com/</a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/">http://vimeo.com</a>

How to make an impressive Online Portfolio for Creative Thinkers

Popular among mobile and indie game developers, Unity3D is a game engine used by over a million developers across the world! Unity3D is a powerful cross-platform 3D engine and provides a user friendly game development environment perfect for students aspiring to become the next big thing. The tools are easy enough for novice game developers and powerful enough for the experts. The latest version of Unity3D is primarily used to create mobile and web applications, but it also has the added feature of deploying games for desktop and game consoles like Sony Play Station 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii U.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bpi4J11ZE1o?embeds_euri=https" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Unity3D is taught is now taught as the tool. It is where students are trained to program in Java, and utilise tools and assets already made available. Paired with Epic’s Unreal Development Kit, students at AIT will have the skills they need to succeed in today’s rapidly growing mobile applications industry. Rovio’s Bad Piggies Imangi Studios’s Temple Run 2 Spooky Coll Labs – The Wizard of Oz ™ Brenden Watts &amp; Shaun Eustace – Ski Safari Parsec Productions and Blue Isle Studios – Slender: The Arrival <a title="ait-unity-3d" href="http://www.unity3d.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.unity3d.com</a>

Learn Unity 3D Game Development & Unity 3D Courses

Do you want to <a title="web design courses" href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">become a web designer</a>? If you do, then the time to begin is right now! Today a website is not an option or a luxury, it is an absolute imperative for any business which wants to make money. Statistics tell us that more and more people today are shopping online for products and services. That means that the one career which is growing and will continue to do so, according to labour statistics is digital design – specifically website design and mobile website design.
<h2>What Does a Website Designer Do?</h2>
Website designers create websites for individuals, small businesses and corporations. In this design process they will make use of a wide range of technologies. The web designer will use various software and tools that are going to be combined with their own skill to produce a website application that is effective and efficient for the site owner.
Exploring the requirements of the site and making a determination of what is required to achieve those needs is the primary job of the web designer. A high level of organisation and project planning skill goes into most websites.
Today’s website designer needs to know a great deal about a vast array of different technologies. The website might incorporate coding such as flash and JavaScript. It will require an efficient and easy to use navigation, eye-catching graphics, and solid security. The scope of things that enter into just one website design can be vast.
<h2>Careers in Website Design</h2>
In many instances today, website designers are on staff with larger companies who typically keep their own design team on board to work with clients and keep the company site updated. Likewise large corporations and even some smaller ones often keep a web consultant on retainer to assist them with the day-to-day tasks and changes that are required.
Statistically speaking, in the United States as well as in Canada and in Australia, more than fifty percent of web designers work from home. While many are engaged in work attached to a larger business, most are telecommuting in order to save both time and money for the company in question.
<h2>Web Design Salaries – How much money do the web designers make?</h2>
The website designer may – depending a great deal on the area in which they work geographically, expect to make between $50,000 and $85,000 annually – more details on salaries can be found on the website of industry associations like <a title="AIMIA" href="http://www.aimia.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AIMIA</a>, <a title="DIA" href="http://dia.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DIA</a> and <a title="AGDA" href="http://www.agda.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AGDA</a>.
<h2>How to Begin a Career as a Website Designer</h2>
When you consider ways to become a website designer, most people feel that the least costly way will be self-study. While to a point this may be the most inexpensive, it is also the least efficient. I
n reality, self-study courses often take a great deal longer compared to on campus <a title="web design courses" href="https://ait.edu.au/courses/information-technology">web design courses</a> such as those offered by Academy of Information Technology (AIT). If you’re interested in learning more about how you can become a website designer, contact one of the student advisors at AIT.

Careers in Web Design

With the film industry becoming more competitive now than ever, it is vital that you choose your correct form of education.
In 2007, the Australian Bureau of Statistics discovered that of those employed in film production, only 34% were paid for their work*. It is therefore clear that securing a position in the Australian film industry is challenging.
Though it is impossible to specify which path a person should take to guarantee their career in film, there is evidence that students with hands-on experience are more likely to be working on a film set as opposed to those who study the theoretical side of it.
<blockquote>In this fiercely competitive industry, selecting the correct method of education is vital when employees are hand-picking who to take under their wing. Knowing which form of education you are best suited to in your envisioned career is imperative.</blockquote>
Not only are you paying tuition fees, but you are also investing your valuable time. While a theoretical university degree is tailored for professions associated with teaching and film criticism, practical courses are far more beneficial for students who wish to pursue roles related to production on a set.
<h2>Theoretical</h2>
Highlighting film’s aesthetic, social and political importance, the theoretical side to film is taught at universities. By earning a bachelor’s degree at the end of a university education, the outcomes resulting in this are valuable analytical and historical perspectives.
This allows students to enrich their appreciation for this particular medium of art which will follow them not only within but beyond the duration of their education.
During the span of their degree, students also enhance their skills in research and critical writing which is ideal for those who wish to pursue careers in film criticism or teaching at a university level.
Moreover, the schooling environment gives students the opportunity to make connections among their diverse range of classmates.
However this approach to education is heavily based on theoretical methods and only provides a minimal amount of practical experience.
While this is not a problem for students who wish to become film scholars, for those who want to make films an alternative would be more suitable.
<h2>Practical</h2>
Hands-on courses often provide more networking connections than can be obtained from a university. More importantly they also allow students to develop a portfolio that employers prioritise.
Additionally, practical experience ensures that graduates are not thrown in the deep end and left to swim for themselves. The smooth transition from the classroom to the working film environment translates to a comfortable shift from education as well as the opportunity to impress employers with advanced skills.
There are several film schools that offer this hands-on approach; one of which is the <a href="https://ait.edu.au/">Academy of Information Technology</a>.
AIT provides a vast range of courses including the Bachelor of Interactive Media, Diploma of Digital Media Technologies in addition to a myriad of short courses. Whichever form of education you choose is up to you, just remember to keep your career in mind when deciding between practical and theoretical education. The world is your oyster!
More Information: <a href="http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/resources/reports_and_publications/subjects/artists/employment_in_film_and_video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia Council Website</a>

Theoretical vs. Practical Education in the Film Industry

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