DIPLOMA & BACHELOR DEGREE OF DIGITAL ART
Learn how to translate concepts and ideas into captivating imagery as a concept artist or 2D animator for film and games.
Qualification
Diploma of Digital Art
Bachelor of Digital Art
Study Duration
Diploma - 6 months
Bachelor - 2 year intensive
Part-time options available
Delivery Mode
Weekly online classes
Feedback and support
Total Units
Diploma - 6 units
Bachelor - 18 units
Course Fees
Diploma - $10,500 USD
Bachelor - $31,500 USD
*Prices subject to change based on AUD exchange rate
Start Dates
January 2024
May 2024
September 2024
CAREER-FOCUSED INDUSTRY TRAINING
Paint a vibrant career in digital art with guidance from experienced artists
Become a professional concept artist, illustrator, or 2D animator! Study digital art and develop the skills to effectively translate concepts and ideas into compelling visuals for film, video games, and publishing. With support and feedback from established artists, get hands-on experience creating industry-standard artwork in Photoshop or Toon Boom Harmony and learn how to work with client briefs to ensure you're job-ready.
Why study digital art at CGSI:
- Choose an area of specialisation to build highly focused conceptual, creative, and technical knowledge and skills
- Create industry-level work that studios will notice
- Master relevant industry software
- Graduate in less time than a typical degree - two years instead of three
- Access FEE-HELP to secure no upfront fees (eligible students only)
CG Spectrum Institute is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), ensuring students receive a high-quality education and graduate with reputable qualifications.
COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRY TRAINING
Along with essential training in industry software, we foster creativity and teach critical thinking and problem-solving to produce industry-ready graduates.
Specialised Training
Build industry-focused, specialised technical and creative skills through rigorous practical and theoretical training.
Conceptual Learning
Learn the underlying concepts and principles that govern the creative industries and how to apply them as a working artist.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS FOCUS
Gain essential skills for success in the real world, including communication, problem-solving, management, and leadership.
Industry Leadership
Learn from and network with professionals and academic thought leaders within the world of creative technology.
Interactive Training
Engage in hands-on study and assessments that provide a compelling, practical learning experience to prepare you for the industry.
Career-driven Outcomes
Graduate job-ready with a holistic skillset, polished portfolio or showreel, and support from our career services team.
"CGSI has designed a program that stands out amongst existing competitors through its mentorship which allows students to genuinely engage with industry folk.”
“I'm personally so thrilled these courses are being launched and have been crafted with so much care and real-world industry consideration.”
“CG Spectrum is the first place we look to find quality graduates for junior positions.”
“This course fills a skills gap in our industry that has lasted far too long. It's really great to see a school being so aligned with industry needs.”
CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALISATION
Specialisation is an integral part of our courses and enables students to hone their skills in a focused area within the broader world of animation and visual effects. It promotes a higher level of creative and technical expertise and helps students determine the career pathway that will lead them to the industry.
- 2D Animation
- Concept Art
The 2D animation specialisation will help you develop foundational knowledge in this digital art form through an exploration of the 12 principles of animation, executing core animation principles such as timing, spacing and overlapping action in Toon Boom Harmony. Guided by professional animators with years of experience, you'll also learn principles of biology, physiology and anatomy as you bring humans and quadrupeds to life in 2D.
Add appeal and stylisation to your animated scenes by exploring effects and camera techniques. You will also spend time studying cutout animation, a stop-motion animation technique. Apply these lessons to create a two-character scene with dialogue to add to your portfolio, which you'll spend time curating in the final trimester.
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Creative Concepts & Principles |
Industry Concepts, Processes & Capabilities |
2D Animation Specialisation |
| 1 | Film & Game Principles, Concepts & Innovations | Industry Overview | Fundamentals of 2D Animation |
| 2 | Art & Design Concepts & Principles | Communicate! Mode, Purpose & Context | Acting & Creature Animation |
| DIPLOMA EXIT | |||
| 3 | Concepts & Principles of Story & Visual Narrative | Identifying & Solving Problems | Advanced Acting for 2D Animation |
| 4 | Concepts & Principles of Lighting & Cinematography | Managing Projects & Creative Assets | Cutout Animation |
| 5 | Leading with Integrity | Establishing & Sustaining Your Business | Advanced Cutout Animation |
| 6 | Stepping into Industry | Marketing Yourself & Your Work | 2D Animation Capstone |
| BACHELOR EXIT |
The concept art specialisation covers creature, character, props, and environment design, plus matte painting, photo-bashing, and paint-over techniques. You'll apply line, value and colour theory, human anatomy, clothing, perspective, proportions, and material physics to your work, then lighting and rendering it for a more polished finish. Your artwork will take shape in both 2D and 3D using the latest industry software, including Photoshop, Blender, and Zbrush.
Examine a range of artistic styles as the basis for developing and refining your own style, and use this evolving knowledge to create concept pieces for inclusion in your personal portfolio, which will be a focus in the final trimester along with career development.
|
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Creative Concepts & Principles |
Industry Concepts, Processes & Capabilities |
Concept Art Specialisation |
| 1 | Film & Game Principles, Concepts & Innovations | Industry Overview | Developing Visual Concepts |
| 2 | Art & Design Concepts & Principles | Communicate! Mode, Purpose & Context | Rendering Techniques & Character Drawing |
| DIPLOMA EXIT | |||
| 3 | Concepts & Principles of Story & Visual Narrative | Identifying & Solving Problems | Layout, Level Design & Composition |
| 4 | Concepts & Principles of Lighting & Cinematography | Managing Projects & Creative Assets | Characters, Creatures & Enhanced Workflows |
| 5 | Leading with Integrity | Establishing & Sustaining Your Business | 3D Concept Art Workflows |
| 6 | Stepping into Industry | Marketing Yourself & Your Work | Concept Art Capstone |
| BACHELOR EXIT |
CREATE AN INDUSTRY READY PORTFOLIO
CGSI's curricula are designed with a deep understanding of the importance of building your professional portfolio. We ensure our students produce work that will showcase their skills and professionalism and make a compelling case to potential employers or clients.
TRAINING AND GUIDANCE FROM INDUSTRY PROS
Learning directly from creative industry experts offers invaluable insights and firsthand knowledge that can accelerate your growth and enhance your skills.
"CG Spectrum was hands down the best decision I've made for my career."
The learning material and staff were great and having an industry mentor was an invaluable asset that really helped me get my break in the VFX industry.
Alan Robinson
VFX Compositing Graduate
"CG Spectrum was hands down the best decision I've made for my career."
The learning material and staff were great and having an industry mentor was an invaluable asset that really helped me get my break in the VFX industry.
Alan Robinson
VFX Compositing Graduate
"CG Spectrum was hands down the best decision I've made for my career."
The learning material and staff were great and having an industry mentor was an invaluable asset that really helped me get my break in the VFX industry.
Alan Robinson
VFX Compositing Graduate
"CG Spectrum was hands down the best decision I've made for my career."
The learning material and staff were great and having an industry mentor was an invaluable asset that really helped me get my break in the VFX industry.
Alan Robinson
VFX Compositing Graduate
THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
Creative technology is experiencing remarkable growth, making it an ideal time to start building the in-demand skills needed for a fulfilling career in film and games.
The best thing that has ever happened to my career!
"I feel like I’ve improved not only as an artist but as a professional as a whole. The doors really open for us all, and there’s nothing I’d change."
QUESTIONS? WE'VE GOT ANSWERS
Our FAQ section provides additional information about our digital art courses to help you make an informed decision about your higher education in creative technology.
Below are the entry requirements for both Australian citizens and international students.
Australian Citizens & Residents: School Leavers
School leavers must satisfy the following requirements:
EITHER An Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12 certificate) or equivalent; A Certificate IV or higher qualification (for example, a TAFE Diploma) or higher
AND A portfolio of original work demonstrating skills relevant to the selected major (Digital Art only).
Australian Citizens & Residents: Non-school Leavers
EITHER An Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12 certificate) or equivalent; A Certificate IV or higher qualification (for example, a TAFE Diploma) or higher
AND A portfolio of original work demonstrating skills relevant to the selected major for those applicants who do not meet the requirements of entry criteria 1 or 2 above.
Domestic applicants whose qualifications were completed in programs where English was not the language of instruction must also meet CGSI’s IELTS (or equivalent) entry requirements specified in the English Language Proficiency Assessment Policy (see bullet points below).
Non-visa Holding Online International Student
Non-visa-holding online international students must also satisfy one of the following requirements:
EITHER A Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent; A Certificate IV or higher qualification (for example, a TAFE Diploma) or higher
AND a portfolio of original work demonstrating skills relevant to the selected major for those applicants who do not meet the requirements of entry criteria 1 or 2 above.
Applicants for admission to all courses at the Institute are required to demonstrate and meet one of the following minimum English Language Proficiency standards:
EITHER Successful completion of secondary education, or an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) award at Level 4 or above, in which English was the medium of instruction and assessment, and the final year of study was undertaken during the five (5) years immediately prior to commencement of study with CGSI;
OR achieving the minimum requirements of an approved English Language test (as per the bullet points below) within two (2) years prior to the commencement of study. Minimum requirements for each respective test are as follows:
- IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): Overall Band Score 6.0 with a minimum sub-score of 5.5 in writing, reading, speaking and listening.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet-Based Test (iBT): 75 or better overall and no score less than 17.
- PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic): Overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46.
Applicants to any of the CGSI courses must provide documentary evidence that they meet English Language Proficiency requirements.
Special and/or alternative entry: Articulation pathway admissions Articulation arrangements are being explored with a number of providers for students who meet the entry requirements for CGSI’s courses. These arrangements cover a pathway from AQF level 5 diploma qualifications.
Diploma-holding applicants seeking credit for the first two trimesters of the bachelor program must demonstrate the currency of their technical skills prior to this credit being applied. This may require an interview and/or a technical proficiency assessment.
Your studies will require you to download and get acquainted with a variety of software. Some of your software requirements will depend on your major (specialisation).
General:
2D Animation Specialisation:
- ToonBoom Harmony
Concept Art Specialisation:
Students will require a MAC/PC and a compatible graphics tablet. We recommend a minimum of 32GB RAM.
Please note: Mobile OS tablets can not be used because the software we teach is not available on these devices.
See below for more info on hardware specifications based on the required software.
General:
2D Animation Specialisation:
- ToonBoom Harmony
Concept Art Specialisation:
Please note: as the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enrolling.
CG Spectrum Institute ensures that individuals can access high-quality education and professional development without significant financial barriers, empowering them to achieve their goals and excel in their chosen fields.
Australian Students:
All higher education AQF Award Courses offered at CGSI are supported by the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP program.
Domestic students who meet specific eligibility criteria can access FEE-HELP, which allows them to borrow money for all or part of their tuition fees and repay the loan through the tax system once their income reaches a certain threshold.
For more information, please head to the Tuition and Fees page on our website.
International students:
There is a range of financing options suited to your situation and country. Please contact our friendly admissions team for more information on how we can support your learning journey.
CG Spectrum Institute is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
All CGSI degrees and diplomas are accredited, providing students with credible and recognised qualifications.
About TEQSA:
TEQSA stands for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. It is an independent regulatory body in Australia responsible for assuring the quality and standards of higher education institutions.
TEQSA-accredited qualifications are widely recognised, allowing students to pursue further studies or employment opportunities around the world.
Ready to take the next step toward your future? Head to our application page now to start your creative journey with us. Whether you're aspiring to learn, grow, or advance your career, our application process is your gateway to a world of opportunities. Don't wait any longer; seize the moment and begin your application today. Your future awaits!
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