Collaboration to foster digital design education

A collaboration between RMIT Online, Adobe and Merkle is delivering a course for those looking to improve design skills, upskill or work in a digital team.

The course is being launched in response to the growing demand for design skills in many unrelated areas and professions. According to RMIT Online, analysis of job ads over the last 12 months revealed 13,535 job postings that required Adobe Photoshop or other graphic design skills.

Claire Hopkins, RMIT Online Interim CEO, says digitalisation has drastically increased the demand for design skills. She believes most industry sectors will benefit from a broader understanding of design principles and capabilities, as will individuals ranging from managers — who need to tell stories effectively and sell their ideas — through to anyone planning a career move in the short term.

"Businesses know good design at different levels can increase productivity and sales, and they are increasingly looking at these skills as part of the digital literacy process," Hopkins said.

"Our studies show digital skills increase employability and command a paid premium of around $8000 a year, and design is one of these skills."

As a partner in developing the course, Adobe brings real-world experience and case studies to demonstrate how design can improve day-to-day work in different areas.

"The pandemic has underscored the urgency of increased collaboration between education providers and businesses to deliver real-world skills through tangible programs. These courses provide students with valuable experience to familiarise themselves with industry tools and design principles to succeed in the digital-first economy," said Sasha McQuaid, Adobe's Head of Education, Australia & New Zealand Digital Media.

"Australia's future prosperity is dependent on thriving in a digital-first economy and, with increased digitalisation, the ability to design and understand design concepts is becoming even more important. Organisations that understand the value of digital upskilling, in order to break silos and include more professionals in the design conversation, will capitalise on the opportunities in the digital economy," McQuaid said.

RMIT Online's Digital Graphic Design course launched on 5 July, with the first run kicking off from 8 August 2022.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/bongkarn