Author: Mary McCabe

The Irish Printing Federation, in partnership with Design Print and Packaging Skillnet, is delighted to announce the launch of an innovative educational initiative – the Print Media Technician Programme.

This groundbreaking program represents a collaborative effort between the Irish Printing Federation and Design Print & Packaging Skillnet, aiming to provide the print industry with a comprehensive training pathway designed to nurture the essential human talent required to propel our sector into the future.

The development of this training solution comes in the wake of the discontinuation of the Print Apprenticeship program in Ireland. In recent years, the loss of training expertise and the infrastructure supporting apprenticeships left the industry with no choice but to create a new training regime.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the esteemed companies and industry leaders for attending the launch – Your attendance added immense value and prestige to the occasion, making it a memorable and inspiring gathering. Your insights, expertise, and shared experiences have enriched our understanding of the industry’s dynamics and provided invaluable perspectives for our collective growth. We deeply appreciate your commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, which are pivotal for driving positive change and advancements. Thank you for your time, contributions, and for being an integral part of this event. We look forward to continuing this journey of collaboration and forging enduring partnerships in the pursuit of mutual success and progress.

Photos by Rick Taylor – First Focus Photography.

Captivating Communication: Harnessing the Power of Infographics in Motion with After Effects

In the digital age, where attention spans are shorter than ever, the art of communication has evolved beyond traditional text and static visuals. Enter the dynamic world of infographics in motion, brought to life through the magic of Adobe After Effects. This blog post explores the fascinating realm of using infographics in motion to convey complex information, engage your audience, and elevate your content to new heights.

The Power of Infographics in Motion

Infographics have long been celebrated for their ability to distill complex concepts into easily digestible visuals. However, taking these infographics a step further and infusing them with motion can unlock a realm of possibilities. Motion infographics, often referred to as animated infographics or “infographics in motion,” bring data, statistics, and narratives to life through captivating animations, transitions, and effects. This dynamic approach to visual storytelling enhances engagement, comprehension, and retention, making it an invaluable tool for content creators, educators, marketers, and beyond.

Why Choose After Effects?

Adobe After Effects is a professional-grade software that empowers creators to craft stunning visual effects and animations. Its versatility and comprehensive toolset make it the go-to choice for bringing infographics to life. From animated charts and graphs to kinetic typography and interactive elements, After Effects provides the canvas for turning static data into a dynamic visual narrative.

Steps to Creating Compelling Infographics in Motion with After Effects

1. Conceptualization and Storyboarding: Begin by defining the objective of your motion infographic. What story or message do you want to convey? Create a storyboard outlining the flow of information, visual elements, and transitions.
2. Data Gathering and Visualization: Collect the relevant data and choose the most appropriate ways to visualize it. After Effects offers various tools for creating animated charts, graphs, and data-driven visuals.
3. Design and Layout: Design the visual elements, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing aesthetic. Pay attention to color schemes, typography, and iconography to maintain consistency.
4. Animating Elements: This is where After Effects truly shines. Utilize keyframes, motion paths, and easing effects to add movement to your infographics. Animations can include sliding, scaling, rotating, fading, and more.
5. Transitions and Effects: Smooth transitions between scenes or data points enhance the viewer’s experience. Apply effects like motion blur, camera movements, and stylized transitions to create a polished and seamless flow.
6. Kinetic Typography: Incorporate animated text to emphasize key points or narration. Kinetic typography adds a dynamic layer of engagement and visual interest.
7. Audio and Sound Effects: Enhance the viewer’s immersion by adding relevant background music, sound effects, or voiceovers that complement the narrative.
8. Interactive Elements (Optional): Depending on the platform and purpose of your motion infographic, you can add interactive elements like clickable buttons or hover effects to engage the viewer further.
9. Testing and Iteration: Review your motion infographic carefully, seeking feedback from peers if possible. Make necessary adjustments to timing, pacing, and visual elements.
10. Export and Sharing: Once you’re satisfied with the final product, export your motion infographic in a suitable format for your intended platform, whether it’s social media, a website, or a presentation.

Infographics in motion represent a dynamic evolution in visual communication, breathing life into data and information that would otherwise remain static. Adobe After Effects is your gateway to crafting captivating, engaging, and informative animations that resonate with your audience. By combining the power of infographics with the versatility of motion graphics, you can create content that not only educates but entertains, leaving a lasting impact in the minds of your viewers. Whether you’re a digital content creator, marketer, educator, or simply a creative enthusiast, embracing infographics in motion can elevate your storytelling to an entirely new level.

See our upcoming course on Intro To Infographics in Motion | After Effects

A master’s programme is an advanced degree that provides students with the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge and expertise in a particular field of study. The importance of pursuing a master’s programme for one’s career cannot be overstated, as it can have a significant impact on career prospects and earnings potential.

Firstly, a master’s programme can provide students with a deeper understanding of their chosen field of study, which can help them become experts in their area of interest. This specialized knowledge can be invaluable in many professions, as it allows individuals to offer unique insights and solutions to complex problems. In addition, this expertise can make individuals more marketable to employers, as they will have a rare skill set that can be difficult to find in other candidates.

Secondly, a master’s degree can open up a range of career opportunities that may not be available to those with only a bachelor’s degree. For example, many high-level positions in business, healthcare, education, and technology require a master’s degree as a minimum qualification. Additionally, some career paths, such as research or academia, require a master’s degree as a prerequisite for entry.

Thirdly, pursuing a master’s programme can increase one’s earning potential. On average, individuals with a master’s degree earn more than those with only a bachelor’s degree. This is especially true in fields such as healthcare, engineering, and business, where the average salaries for those with a master’s degree can be significantly higher than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Finally, a master’s degree can help individuals develop important skills that are highly valued by employers, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership. These skills are essential in many professional settings and can help individuals advance in their careers and take on more challenging roles.

In conclusion, a master’s programme can be a valuable investment in one’s career. It can provide individuals with specialized knowledge, open up new career opportunities, increase earning potential, and help develop important skills that are highly valued by employers. For those looking to take their career to the next level, pursuing a master’s programme may be the ideal next step.

DPP Skillnet offer a Masters in Professional Practice – to find out more email Brian at brain@dppskillnet.ie

Diploma in Packaging Technology Programme in association with the Irish Packaging Society and accredited by TU Dublin

Who should complete a Diploma in Packaging?

*Persons responsible for specifying packaging or working in a role as a Packaging Technician.

*Also suited to those buying or selling packaging or those using / packing / filling in the Food, Drink and Pharmaceutical sectors.

*Brand / NPD team members, Brand Owners and FMCG Product Category Managers.

*People working with packaging in manufacturing or filling on a day to day basis

See more details on this course

The TU Dublin accredited Masters in Professional Practice is designed specifically for experienced professionals who are now seeking a practical yet challenging programme to build their business skills in the latest digital marketing and strategic marketing techniques and to provide the business communications and coaching skills, finance and leadership skills to bring their career to the next level. This course will commence in November 2023 and is now open for applications.
 

Who is it for

If you have been considering doing a Masters programme this year but have been put off by lengthy academic programmes and concerns about going back to education when you’re trying to run a small business, the TU Dublin awarded Masters in Professional Practice, kicking off this November, is just the right programme for you.

This highly regarded programme has three major advantages over other taught Masters programmes:

Time : Taking just 11 months, it is one of the most condensed Business Masters programmes available in Ireland. Subsidised Cost : Supported by the Design, Print & Packaging Skillnet it is heavily subsidised, Normal Subsidised price €4,500 Now with EXTRA SUBSIDY BOOST for 2023-24 €3,000 (Non Subsidised Price €9,935)

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE

Congratulations to P+D on receiving their ISO 14001 Environmental Standard Accreditation which DPP Skillnet are delighted to support through training with SMSC. #training #environmental

This series includes three interactive online sessions.  Sign up for the whole set, or simply the sessions that you will find most valuable.

Price: €135 or €45 per session

Time and Date:

• Session 1: Weds 7th June 12:00 – 13:30
• Session 2: Weds 21st June 12:00 – 13:30
• Session 3: Fri 7th July 12:00 – 13:30

About Russell Beck:

Russell’s drive is inspired by the belief that people are the only USP of any organisation. Widely acknowledged as a thought leader in people and leadership, Russell blends an engineer’s desire for knowledge, an inquisitive need for evidence and a belief that things can be better with an inspirational, charismatic and thought-provoking style. He connects dots in an informative way to help organisations take tangible actions to unlock the potential and productivity of their most expensive asset, their people. Often acting as a catalyst, he captivates people, motivating them to think differently, providing the impetus to change and transform, enabling them to move quicker and further than they previously thought possible.

Russell draws on a diverse background having worked as an engineering project leader with client projects in 26 countries and as a leader in the recruitment industry for the past 2 decades. Here his experience includes being the Global Head of Consulting for a people and talent strategy organisation; Managing Director for a £120m t/o recruitment outsourcing business; European Head of Talent for Yahoo!; and managing delivery teams that (for example) delivered over 1% of all UK recruitment in 2009. During this work he has consulted with and supported leadership teams of companies of all sizes from SME to FTSE100 to Fortune500.

Session 1:

What is innovation? What is happening in the external environment and how do you shape up?

Weds 7th June 12:00 – 13:30

In this session we will cover:

• What is innovation?  From creating ideas through to realising value from them.
• Why bother: What is happening externally – where is the opportunity versus the hype/myths?
• What are you currently doing well (including recognising and savouring successes) and where do you need help?

Session 2:

How to identify innovation potential and choose creativity techniques to suit every member of your team. 

Weds 21st June 12:00 – 13:30

• Innovation potential: self-awareness on what it takes to be innovative
• Identifying innovation strengths in our people.
• How to have a good idea: exploring different creativity techniques that you can try out
• Practical application using topical issues as subject matter.

Session 3:

How to establish an environment for creating value from innovation and embed it into your organisation / culture. 

Fri 7th July 12:00 – 13:30

• How to convert ideas into tangible value.
• How to filter and nurture ideas
• How to handle failures.
• How to notice, savour and recognise success.

To register an interest or reserve a place – please contact info@irishpritingfederation.ie

Design Print and Packaging Skillnet  is proud to support Ireland’s Launch of the #EUYearOfSkills. Through the Skillnet Ireland ecosystem, we are #SpearheadingTalent development initiatives that enhance the competitiveness of Ireland’s businesses and workforce.

The Masters in Professional Practice is our Flagship programme and is a general business Masters open to people with five years or more experience in the workplace.