Hardware and software are the tools of the trade in the digital media industry. They assist at almost every stage of the production process. In this Unit candidates will learn about the identification, selection and use of appropriate hardware and software, the creation and capture of content, the editing and manipulation of created and captured content. Candidates will also learn to ensure content is stored appropriately.

This Unit provides candidates with an introduction to the digital media industry across a range of sectors which include radio, television/DVD, digital/computer games and software, publishing and websites as well as other sectors which may increase in the light of emerging technology. The Unit will provide an overview and an awareness of the sectors, what skills are required across a range of jobs and how these are used within each sector; all of which will assist candidates in matching their skills and attributes to the jobs available in the industry.
The Unit allows candidates to participate in various practical activities including gathering industry and career information, investigating development and production processes, matching their career interests to job requirements and evaluating their personal employability skills for the digital media industry.

This Unit provides candidates with opportunities to work individually and as part of a team in all aspects of the practical development and production of two digital media products.

Starting with the development of a project brief, the team will identify two digital media products to satisfy the requirements of the brief and will then move on to the planning phase before undertaking the production of two digital media products.

In this Unit candidates will consider the basics of the creative process based on a given project brief, the job roles involved and the contribution of each role during the development and production process.

Candidates will learn about the creative process from the initiation of a brief, through the planning and development process to the final production and presentation of a creative solution to the brief. This will involve candidates in activities such as interpretation of the brief, research, developing a personal response and participating fully in the development of a team response to the brief.

Candidates will be encouraged to explore different solutions to a given brief and will contribute to a team presentation of the solution. They will also review the team response to the brief.