Education in digital media designer

I want to tell you in this article a little of my job, the training and the final examination.

The job

I like editing photos in Photoshop …

… is often heard on the question of why someone just wants to learn media designer (digital/print). Sure, editing pictures, have something to do with the media – that all sounds awesome. But hardly anyone really knows what is behind this profession. The fact is that, unfortunately, this job is a very popular job, many young people apply for a training for this and as a result the market is overcrowded and there are not many time-served designers, who are dedicated and create really good works.

Looking at this development, then you realize that the job of a digital media designer is not seen as "real" work. So the son of the neighbor can just create the website and a few business cards. So why spend so much money for an agency?

Many young people absolutely want to "do something with media". Unfortunately it will not often researched to this. Therefore, there are many, many applications for one training as a digital media designer. Those who weren't able to get any of the coveted training, try puttering around a bit with pictures and websites in their free time. A new website with a few clicks of a known Internet AG is completely sufficient. And you can also earn a little money. Also, if this does not apply to all young people, but then the common man will be enticed by advertising and other influences of media into thinking that it's totally easy and hardly makes work to create a website.

This has the consequence that the work of a designer is not really appreciated. It's not true that flyers and websites can be created by the way. Behind this there is a lot more work, especially mental work and creativity. A good design is not created in a few minutes by moving pixels around in Photoshop. The thoughts that must be made ​​before a project are very important. The preliminary work, the ideas, the designs, the whole concept is mostly work, which hardly anyone notices when looking at a finished product.

In my opinion this totally unfortunate and somewhat sad, though these facts affect my future career in the end …

Well, I can suggest to all digital-media-designers-to-be and all who think of becoming one to give thought to this lines. Because there are enough people who call themselves a "designer" or a "graphic artist" when they are able to put together two images in Photoshop. The world needs creative minds, good ideas, and no shift-click-products.

But still I want to tell you in the following something about this education.

The education

Apprenticed professions

If you have decided to become a media designer, then you have the choice between the following professions:

1. Media designer Digital and Print
2. Media designer Image and Sound
3. Media designer Flexographic printing
4. Media designer Porous printing

More information I can give you only for media designer digital and print, because I'm learning this profession and accordingly have almost finished learning. But more you can simply pick out on the web!

Media designer digital and print - specialization

In "digital and print" there is additionally the subdivision into different specializations:

1. Consulting and Planning
2. Design and Visualization
3. Design and Technology (Print or Digital)

The specializations go without saying. For consultants and planners are planning and calculating media products and the "creation of media" in the foreground. As a concept developer concepts must often be written and presented, in addition to design. In the specialization Design and Technology Print the creation of different print products is one of the main task. And Design and Technology Digital (my specialization) includes designing and implementing websites in everyday life.

Content of teaching

For content of teaching for the specializations "Media designer Digital and Print" and "Media designer Flexographic printing" I can recommend you this PDF document: MediengestalterDigitalPrint07-01-18idF11-02-04.pdf
On page 8 you can read the entire learning areas of the curriculum framework.

From my own experience I can tell you that some of the topics you have to learn are rarely used in practice. Especially depending on the training company your tasks may be even completely different which you solve in your everyday life. But everything is to do and learn! But I must also say that I have much appropriated me privately at home, such as the technology of photography. Many CSS3 innovations I primarily got to know more closely when upgrading my blog. The handling with domains and the WWW came up with the time, even by reading various articles. The last studied topic is responsive web design, where you always and constantly learn. Especially in this industry is it a necessity.

The intermediate examination (June 2012)

In the intermediate examination of the media designer for digital and print the following three areas will be tested:

1: Design and realization of a media product (practical)

• Task 1 - Testing of Media Integration (mastery of graphic and image editing programs)
• Task 2 - Testing area design (design and implementation of a Print/Digital product)

In my IE 2011, I had as Digital (Digital Design and Technology) a vector task and a task to design and implement a website.

2: Design principles and media production (in writing)

It will be provided to the previously treated 7 learning fields, of which only 6 have to be processed (one of your choice can be canceled).

• LF1: Present the media company and its products
• LF2: Lay out media products typographically
• LF3: Create output files printing process oriented
• LF4: Use, maintain and configure networks and computer workplace
• LF5: Design and implement a website
• LF6: Create, capture and edit images
• LF7: Prepare data for different output processes

A few weeks before the theoretical intermediate examination the ZFA (Central Committee of Experts) of Training Printing and Media publish approximately topics of the learning areas. Thus, the candidates can prepare and learn more targeted for the IE.

In my intermediate examination 2011, the following topics have been published:

• LF1: Present the media company and its products:
  Cost types, cost behavior
• LF2: Lay out media products typographically:
  Layout
• LF3: Create output files printing process oriented:
  Imposition
• LF4: Use, maintain and configure networks and computer workplace:
  Monitor Technology
• LF5: Design and implement a website:
  Internet address
• LF6: Create, capture and edit images:
  Color spaces
• LF7: Prepare data for different output processes:
  Create PDF for online media

To these topics there were each about 2-4 questions divided into a), b), c), etc. So no novels and no theses – short and simple and everything is possible.

3: Communication/Labour and Social Law (in writing)

• German task
• English task
• Labour and Social Law (Economy and Social)

Current and more information can be found on www.zfamedien.de.

The final exam (June 2012)

In the final examination of media designer for digital and print in the specialization of design and technology (digital) following areas are tested:

1: Implementation of design and technical realization (practically)

• Test area I:
  Proposed solution with work planning (within 10 working days)
  Creating a sub-product of media production (in 7 hours)
• Test area II:
  W3-qualification unit (in 2 hours)

I had in my final exam 2012 to design and implement a website and to write a work plan with a small concept. As W3 module I have chosen "W04 Product-oriented design (digital)". The W3 module is chosen at the beginning of training, depending on the field and main task in the operation. The chosen topic is then practically tested on the final exam. Here is an overview of W3 modules: W3-Qualifikationen.pdf (cross = possible in this specialization)

When the tests have been completed fully in each state, then I will present you my practical results.

2: Concept and design (in writing)

• 12 open tasks of which 10 are to be processed

For each topic, there were also approximately 2 to 4 questions divided into a), b), c) etc.

The subjects in my final exams summer 2012 in the specialization design and technology (Digital):

• U1: Presentation
• U2: Capacity Planning
• U3: Microtypography
• U4: Grid systems
• U5: Screen typography
• U6: Advertisement analysis
• U7: QR codes in printed products
• U8: Databases
• U9: Redesign
• U10: Calculate screen layout (specialization specific)
• U11: Design laws (specialization specific)
• U12: Dynamic website (specialization specific)

3: Media Production (in writing)

• 12 open tasks of which 10 are to be processed

Approx. 2-4 questions divided into a), b), c), etc., there were also here on any topic.

The subjects in my final exams summer 2012 in the specialization design and technology (Digital):

• U1: Output resolution
• U2: Color separations
• U3: Network speed
• U4: Noise at work
• U5: CSS positioning
• U6: Crop factor
• U7: Audio editing
• U8: Implement logos and corporate design
• U9: Variable data printing
• U10: Embed videos in websites (specialization specific)
• U11: Database access (specialization specific)
• U12: Audio data calculation (specialization specific)

4: Communication (in writing)

• 1 German task
• 1 English task

5: Economic and Social Studies (in writing)

• 21 multiple-choice questions of which 18 are tp be processed
• 7 unbound tasks of which 6 are to be processed

Current and more information can be found on www.zfamedien.de .

My final exam Summer 2012

When eight weeks before the theoretical final examination the subjects were announced, I started like most other immediately to research the topics. Pretty quickly it became a huge mountain of paper. First, I have compiled all the information I could find on the Internet, in books and school papers. In this step, I have not yet read all in detail. First I wanted to collect everything and then work through it step by step.

Then I worked through each topic. The collected texts had read, marked important and a brief summary listed in manuscript. This was, in effect, most of the work, because I have in addition to the technical issues still calculated through exercises. I wanted to be well prepared, although you may not actually be. Because in each topic there can hide a mass of questions from A to Z, from superficial to very in depth. So I had to try to find a healthy level, so it's just not too much.

Unfortunately, I had to realize as in the intermediate examination, that if I would have done almost nothing, the theoretical final examination would not have been much worse. Because the questions that were asked … to something I never would have thought in the preparation time. My first training and my general knowledge I can thank that I could ever solve some tasks. I suspect that some in some tasks were pretty desperate, also rightly, I think. But still it was all somehow manage. After all, one could cancel two out of twelve tasks in the large test areas.

And the most important: the theory I have passed! Now I just have to pass well the practical tasks to pass entirely … My grades in the theory are the following:

• Concept and design – 82 points – Mark: 2
• Media production – 80 points – Mark: 3
• Communication – 87 points – Mark: 2
• Economic and Social Studies – 71 points – Mark: 3

Der Notenschlüssel:

• 100 - 92 points – Mark 1
• less than 92 - 81 points – Mark 2
• less than 81 - 67 points – Mark 3
• less than 67 - 50 points – Mark 4
• less than 50 - 30 points – Mark 5
• less than 30 - 0 points – Mark 6

So I think it could have been better – but of course worse. On the whole, I am ever satisfied. However, it annoys me a little that only one point is missing to get the mark two in Media production …

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