Pursuing Multimedia as a Career in UAE

If you are a creative person and someone who loves to get their hands on the latest computer technologies, then a career in multimedia maybe right for you.

But what all does multimedia include and how do you become a multimedia professional in UAE?

What is Multimedia?

Multimedia is often equated with animation, but it is a much broader term. By definition, multimedia is the use of more than one medium of presentation. The elements of multimedia include text, images, photographs, sound, audio, animation, video and multiple presentations used concurrently.

From movies, television, and advertisements to social media platforms, video games, online tutorials, and live concerts, almost everything we see, read, and experience contains elements multimedia.

Mobile devices such as tablets and mobiles have made it easier to access and merge multimedia technologies. Advancements in storage (for instance, a Blu-ray Disc can store high definition video of 50 GB) has also made it easier to produce and store multimedia.

Applications of Multimedia

Multimedia has diverse applications. The most common use of multimedia is a website. Websites usually have a minimum of two multimedia elements – images and text. That experience can be enhanced using audio, video, and animation. For instance, many museums and hospitals offer a virtual tour of their buildings on their websites.

However, three areas that have benefited the most from the advancements in multimedia technologies are the entertainment industry, education sector, and the workplace.

• Entertainment: Animated films are the best example of the captivating power of multimedia. They combine the magic of animation with high-level 3D graphics. The recently released animated movie ‘The Jungle Book’ was a box-office success globally. Another example of the advancements made in multimedia entertainment are video games that offer virtual user experience.
• Education: Multimedia has revolutionized the field of education. Today students no longer have to commute to the place of instruction. Virtual classrooms have led to the creation of a sub-industry of online tutoring, where students can access the best private tutors wherever they may be based. In fact, thanks to multimedia services you don’t even need a teacher to be present for the session. Students can now study as per their convenience by accessing online presentations and recorded video tutorials.
• Business: Companies are now interacting with their customers and employees at all levels with the aid of multimedia. A customer walks into a banking lobby and as he waits he sees a presentation on the new services of the bank on a TV screen in the hallway. An online fashion website sends a weekly newsletter with images of the latest clothes and includes a link to their website. A CEO broadcasts an employee message live to all the offices in the country. These are just some of the ways in which multimedia is transforming how companies function.

Career in Multimedia

From a career standpoint, it’s never been a better time to be in the multimedia industry. You can choose to become a graphic designer, photographer, videographer, animator, website designer, content provider, multimedia developer, multimedia systems analyst, editor, producer, audio technician, or a video technician.

Post your degree in multimedia you can work with online publishing firms, advertising agencies, movie companies, educational institutions, software companies, and marketing department of a corporate.

As per PayScale.com, the average salary for a Graphic Designer in UAE is AED 83,407 per year, an animator earns an average package of AED 133,556 per year, and a junior web developer makes about AED 69,000 a year.

You can also become a freelancer and work with local and international clients through freelancing websites such as Upwork and Guru.

Studying Multimedia

To learn multimedia, you can either enrol for a diploma course or a graduate degree (and follow it up with a postgraduate course). A basic multimedia program covers website design, graphic design, photography, electronic imaging, animation, multimedia programming, and emerging technology trends.

Following colleges offer courses in multimedia in the UAE –

• The University of Wollongong in Dubai has a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCompSc), which covers Computer Science and Software Development. In addition, they offer Modelling and Animation as a core subject. The fee for the UG course is 217,600 AED approximately.
• College of Fine Art and Design, University of Sharjah, offers a BA in Graphic Design and Multimedia. It is a four-year programme that covers various facets of print and digital media.
• Manipal University Dubai has a Certificate Course in Graphics and Multimedia. The advantage of a program here is that they have a dedicated internship and placement cell to help students fast-track their career.
• Aptech Computer Education Institute also offers courses in multimedia in Dubai. These include Graphics, Web Designing, Audio Video Editing and Special Effects, 3D Modelling Animation, and Digital Portfolio Development.

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