Design assistant
A design assistant (GTA for short) is a state-recognized professional qualification ( apprenticeship ) according to state law in Germany. It can be acquired at a vocational school and the vocational college in the vocational college for design assistants.
Offer and requirement
This course is offered in various federal states at vocational schools and private vocational schools. In the vocational colleges in North Rhine-Westphalia , it belongs to the series of so-called assistant training courses, which end in three-year courses with a vocational qualification under state law and the technical college entrance qualification . The entry requirement is an intermediate level of education or the technical college entrance qualification . To be accepted, an application folder with various creative work should be presented to ensure that the person has an artistic inclination. Before an acceptance is granted, an aptitude test is usually held.
education
The training to become a design assistant takes place with many focus areas. The most common are graphic and object design or media / communication. However, the goal can also be a double qualification, such as a technical college entrance qualification and vocational training in one course. The dual qualification two to three year training (depending on the respective federal state) concludes with a state examination. With its passing, one attains the profession of the state-certified design assistant (GTA). The qualification for a university of applied sciences acquired at the same time enables a nationwide degree in a university of applied sciences or a full university. Special forms for students with a university entrance qualification are an exception. Due to the fact that one part of the double qualification - at least the advanced technical college entrance qualification - has already been achieved, the vocational qualification can be achieved in an education course shortened to two years according to state law. During the entire training period, an eight-week internship is done in target-oriented companies. Training is provided in the print and non-print areas, with the print area predominating.
For some years now there has been another form, namely the design assistant with general technical college entrance qualification. This training is a double qualification and lasts three years. You don't need an internship, and in addition to drawing, design lessons on the Apple Macintosh, applications, she teaches materials and techniques from various disciplines (painter / varnisher, monument conservation, stage painting or room design) for one year. The different training directions are:
- Graphic design
- Object design
- Screen design
- Fashion and design
- Media / communication
- layout
This training can be financially supported within the framework of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG).
Training directions
Graphic design
This is the most common GTA training course in Germany. It is possible to achieve the general technical college entrance qualification as a double qualification. Depending on the federal state, however, the training lasts between two and four years.
Here the students are taught the basics of graphic design. At the beginning of the training, color design, typesetting and image composition are dealt with. This means that circles are drawn, photos retouched, figures drawn, colors mixed, etc. Later you learn to use what you have learned in various graphics programs. Often project-related work is carried out. This means that the students are commissioned to design print products or non-print products such as posters, business cards, flyers, advertising banners, website design, logos, magazines, etc. To do this, first come up with a concept after receiving the task and sketch out your ideas on paper. Then the whole thing is implemented digitally on the PC or Mac with professional graphics programs such as Photoshop, Corel, Freehand or InDesign. When the file has been written, it is checked again and, if necessary, compressed for printing.
Typical subjects in the field of graphic design are:
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The training usually includes an eight-week internship.
Fashion and design
Here the GTA conceives, designs and develops individual models and entire collections. In doing so, he converts design drawings into model and initial cuts and, under guidance, converts the model cut into a product-ready cut. After completing his training, he works in design offices or design studios in the fashion and textile industries.
Typical subjects in fashion and design:
- digitalization
- Basics of design
- Fashion drawing
- Color and shape
- illustration
- technology
- Cutting technique
- Costume history
In industry, the GTA can work as a fashion designer, director in drafting, tailor, stylist, buyer or substitute in textile retail or specialist in a fashion editorial team after completing his professional qualification.
Screen design
In the screen design course, a somewhat more technical pillar is used. Here the trainees learn the design of media content in the web area. Depending on the vocational school, this can include the pure design of websites, but also the design of 3D objects or animations.
Typical subjects for this professional field are:
- Basics of design
- Interface design
- Media informatics
- 2D animation
- 3D animation
- image editing
- Art history
- programming
- Web design
- Technologies
layout
A somewhat unknown field of training is that of design. It's a double qualification. The training as a design assistant specializing in design and the acquisition of the general technical college entrance qualification in one. Without an internship, but with a lot of manual practice. This type of training also lasts 3 years. However, in the 1st year you learn the basics in the field of the painter / varnisher, in the 2nd year in monument preservation and in the 3rd year you can choose between stage painting / set design and room design. In addition, you will be taught the subjects of application (subject-related), EDP, drawing, chemistry, physics, German, math, English, social studies, sports and electives.
qualification
On the one hand, the school enables the learning of aesthetic and technical skills and qualifications, as well as the training of comprehensive competencies, without having to strive for economic exploitation. That is why the training is broadly diversified and, in the focus area, also takes into account the economic characteristics of the respective region as well as the staffing of the vocational colleges and vocational schools .
The course conveys ...
- a state-recognized professional qualification (interesting for working life) and
- professional know-how and the acquisition of the technical college entrance qualification (interesting for a study in the field of design) and
- the school part of the advanced technical college entrance qualification (interesting for studying in another area).
Subjects
The following subjects are usually taught in addition to the subject-specific subjects. The focus on modern, action-oriented learning and learning field theory means that the number of job-related subjects is limited, but extended in the weekly hours.
It should be noted that the content of the lessons differs from school to school and not just in different directions. The general education subjects are clearly based on the general school leaving certificate :
- mathematics
- German / communication
- English
- Economics (BWL / VWL / MBL)
- Politics / history
- Process engineering
- typography
- Art history
- Social theory
- Sports / health education
- Religion / values and norms
In most cases, this purely school-based training is also associated with obtaining the technical college entrance qualification. (school and practical part)
At some schools there is the possibility of taking additional, more difficult English and mathematics courses, if the receipt of the technical college entrance qualification is also desired. The workload during the week is increased for the student by up to 10 additional hours per week, which means that a total of 42 hours can be achieved. This does not yet include preparation and follow-up for the students.
Possible jobs
Design assistants mostly work in agencies, since the original task of the designer is in the digital and graphic area. Often they also work in print shops, graphic offices, film and media companies, publishers or newspapers, architects and even as designers in furniture stores .
Future opportunities
Although the technical design assistant has a lot of knowledge, applicants with a university degree or media designer are usually preferred for applications, recruitment and salaries. Due to the different equipment and focuses of the training schools and the associated different qualifications, it is difficult to make general statements about them. The training is often followed by a degree or subsequent training as a media designer.