Choose Engineering, Graphics & Design As A Subject | Grade 9 Guidance

Colin Northmore, Principal at Abbotts College JHB South and Dr Yolandi Burger, Programme Manager for Graphic Design at Vega School • August 20, 2019

What is EGD & Who Should Chose It As A Subject Choice?

A woman is holding a chalkboard with the words `` choose your future '' written on it.

Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD) offered at Abbotts College JHB South, teaches students internationally acknowledged principles that have both an academic and technical focus on knowledge and skills that centre on mechanical, civil and electrical technology.

This creates a skill-set that includes critical thinking, time management, synthesis of information, creation and visual adaptation of ideas.

Although it is not a requirement by Universities to have EGD at a school level to complete an Engineering or Architectural degree, it is essential to have drawing experience at school level to excel at university.

Colin Northmore, Principal at Abbotts College JHBSouth states that EDG will provide students with skills that will embrace challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Choosing Engineering Graphics and Design as a subject for Grade 10 provides fundamental knowledge and drawing skills required for several career opportunities, namely architecture, engineering, medical technician, industrial designer, interior designer, city planner, graphic illustrator and artisan.

Types of Career Opportunities:

As advised by Dr. Yolandi Burger, the Programme Manager for Graphic Design at Vega School provides, brief job descriptions of possible career opportunities:

Interior Designer

This career opportunity is ideal for a creative problem solver, perceptive and visual individual. As an interior designer, you will analyse problems, applying creative conceptual design processes to affect practical, considered and innovative solutions. If you choose this career you will manage an interior design project from inception to completion, and present these solutions using relevant technology. If you want to pursue this as your career, you will need a formal qualification in Interior Design. There are many academic routes you can follow as outlined in the image below, but not all higher education institutions offer each of these qualifications.

YourNational Senior Certificate dictates where you can gain entry to in order to become an interior designer in conjunction with the minimum admission requirements of the institution you chose to study at. You have a variety of public and private higher education institutions to choose from if being an interior designer is your passion. So, explore what the relationship between theory and practical modules/subjects included in the curriculum of the institutions you are interested in and discover the unique attributes of each institution’s interior design programme.

You need to study an interior design qualification to make this your future career. As an interior designer, you can become a corporate (space planner), retail, residential, hospitality and exhibition designer. You can register with the African Institute ofthe Interior Design Professions (IID) within the three following specialisations:

Professional Interior Designer: Three-year diploma or degree with a minimum of three years of practical experience.

Professional Senior Interior Designer : Four-year degree or Bachelor of Arts (NQF 8) with a minimum of three years of practical experience.

Professional Interior Architect : Five-year degree or professional Masters (NQF 9) which is affiliated with a Faculty ofArchitecture with a minimum of one-year practical experience.

A diagram showing the different levels of higher education

Graphic Illustrator or Graphic Designer

This career opportunity is ideal for you if you are creative, a problem solver, visual narrator, innovative and enjoy telling stories through both traditional and visual imagery. As a graphic designer, you will strategically plan and design innovative concepts for integrated visual communication solutions. If you opt for this career you will fuse complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and branding to create user-centred designs. If you want to make this your career, you will need a formal qualification in Graphic Design.

There are many academic routes you can follow as outlined in the image below, but not all higher education institutions offer each of these qualifications. Your National Senior Certificate dictates where you can gain entry to becoming a graphic designer in conjunction with the minimum admission requirements of the institution you chose to study at. You have a variety of public and private higher education institutions to choose from if you want to become a well-rounded graphic designer. So, explore what modules/subjects are included in the curriculum of the institutions you are interested in and discover the unique attributes of each institution’s graphic design programme. Qualifications that you can consider pursuing to become a graphic designer includes graphic design, visual communication and information design.