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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I never had the chance to study multimedia in high school,
nor am I a teacher teaching multimedia, so this years exam does not affect me personally,
but I wanted to share my thoughts on some good points Peter raised. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I completed my adv diploma in interactive multimedia a
couple of years ago at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Victoria</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. I commenced
the course not having any prior knowledge of design or programming ability other
than what I had taught myself over countless nights in front of the computer at
home. What was surprising was the level of expectation of already acquired design
skills elsewhere. The design part (all aspects of good design and visual aesthetics)
was really not touched on throughout the entire course. Well, aspects were
covered, but no where near enough that I felt qualified & confident enough
to apply for a job afterward under the title of a designer. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Incidentally, I am now doing Computer Science at RMIT,
because while I felt that my while my design skills weren’t bad, my
programming was certainly my strength.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Design should never be under-estimated. It is an area that is
essential to multimedia. Without design knowledge, you will always be stuck in
the rut of producing run of the mill - ordinary work, regardless of how
polished the back-end may be. I have seen it many times now, that the people
who make excellent multimedia artists and those who have a solid understanding
of design (coming from graphic/visual arts background) and can also adapt to
the programmatic side as well.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>So to hear that only 1/5 of assessable material is design
related is a bit disappointing. I not having any design theory on the exam is even
more of a shame. It sends the message that design isn’t important, which
is wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>My 2 cents worth anyway<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Matt Ward<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Interactive Designer<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Youthcentral, Department for Victorian Government<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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