JOIN USFrom building brands to notching up better sales
Communication design seeks to attract, inspire and motivate people to respond to messages, with a view to making a favourable impact on the bottom line of the commissioning body, which could be either to build a brand, move sales or achieve a humanitarian purpose. Its process involves strategic business thinking, utilising market research, creativity and problem-solving skills.
If you are planning to make your career in communication design, you must have to have a strong portfolio, a good sense of design, colour and typography, an understanding of visual design for the web, good communication skills, and the ability to demonstrate a clear ‘point-of-view’ relating to your design.
You should be a team player who is passionate about the craft. If you possess the ability to thrive in ambiguity, you are sure to do well in your chosen field.
Career prospects
There is a growing trend of digitalisation all over the world. Creative industries such as publishing, film, television, radio and music have plenty of opportunities. Communication across these industries is changing rapidly because of technological innovations and a global idiom combined with integration.
Creating a personal and visual vocabulary through form, proportion, image and word has become an integral part of communication today. Communication design activities include designing for print media, such as books, magazines, brochures, posters, newspapers, information graphics, and creating symbols for corporate identification.
The scope of the subject also includes packaging, point-of- purchase display, product graphics and environmental graphic design, as well as animation, computer-based multimedia, interface and interactive design.
Opportunities galore
Job prospects in communication design are bright for talented professionals who have the necessary drive. There is a lot of scope for freelancing and entrepren-eurship.
Graduates in commun-ication design can work as creative directors in design houses, advertising agencies, publishing houses, event management firms, multi-media and web-design firms, television production houses, animation design firms etc.
Communication designers find placement in the packaging industry, in designing motifs for use on all of a hotel or airline’s equipment from cutlery to napkins to the delivery van, uniforms, letterheads, etc.
The animation film designer has wide scope for employment in advertising agencies, in television production houses, or in studios producing children’s films and educational films/ videos. The returns are lucrative whatever the area of specialisation.
Video programmers have never had it so good. The video has become a major medium of communication and offers a lot of scope even to the freelancer.
Communication designers must possess a vibrant imagination, creative drawing skills, interest in the social environment, perseverance, self confidence, the ability to visualise concepts and ideas, curiosity and exceptional talent.
Salary and perks
Fresh graduates in this industry can expect to take home Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 a month. With some years of experience and talent, they can earn Rs 50,000-60,000 a month.
In India, many colleges, institutes and universities offer degree, diploma and certificate courses in communication design. The minimum eligibility criterion is 10+2 pass in any stream. Some institutions have an admission test. An interested candidate can seek admission to this course even if he/ she does not have a degree as practical experience in design is what counts.
Though a full-fledge degree course in this field may take three or four years, short-term diploma courses of one-year duration are also available. Communication design courses can also be pursued at the post-graduation level.
Apart from undergraduate and post graduate courses, some institutes also offer certificate courses.
Where to study
Institutes offering communication design course:
Symbiosis Institute of
Design
S No. 231/4 A, Viman Nagar
Pune-411014,
Ph: +91-20-26634546/47
NIFT Campus
Hauz Khas
Near Gulmohar Park
New Delhi-110 016
Ph: +91-11-26542000
Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Near Indroda Circle
Gandhinagar-382007
Ph: +91-079-3052-0000
Pearl Academy of Fashion
A-21/13, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase II
New Delhi-110028
Ph: +91-41417693-94
* The list of institutes is not exhaustive.