Do you enjoy expressing your originality and like being innovative in your spare time?
Are you often told by your friends that you are good with out-of-the-box thinking?
Do you prefer working in an unstructured environment that provides you room to come up with novel ideas?
If the answer to all the above questions is yes, then the chances are, your Creative Right Brain is more dominant than your Analytical Left Brain. Now, this doesn’t mean you are not an analytical person. But if given two tasks, you would prefer the one requiring creative skills over the one requiring analytical skills.
With new businesses coming up and the marketplace becoming more competitive by the day, the advancement of an individual (and the company) rests on the ability to think and act creatively.
So, let’s explore a wide array of promising careers that allow you to utilise your creative abilities, and even get paid well!
Creative Career Options in India
1. Photography
Photography is an exceptional medium that can provide you with an outlet for your creativity. This field allows you to share your perspective and create visual art by capturing moments. While many begin with Photography as a hobby, if you have an eye for detail and your pictures make other people think, then with some formal training you can venture into the field of professional photography. With the expansion of E-Commerce, Mobile-Commerce, Media Publications (magazines, newspapers), Advertising and Mass Communication, there is a huge demand for quality Photographers.
Today this field provides abundant career options and specialisations, such as Lifestyle Photography, Fashion Photography, Food Photography, Wildlife Photography, and the list goes on! So, if you are an out-of-the-box thinker, have a good visual imagination, and like to spend your spare time capturing moments then you should surely explore this field.
Career Opportunities in Photography
As a photographer, you can work with newspaper agencies, advertising agencies, and fashion houses. You can even freelance and work for individual projects in fields such as Wildlife Photography, Wedding Photography, Sports Photography, Food Photography, Fashion Photography, Landscape Photography, Architectural Photography, Underwater Photography, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Photography
While a career in photography doesn’t call for a degree or diploma in the subject, it is highly recommended, as it can help you polish your skills and learn important techniques. Some top institutes include Delhi College of Photography, Delhi, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Symbiosis School of Visual Arts and Photography, Pune, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication, Delhi, etc.
Recommended Read: How to Start a Career in Photography – All About the Career Path & Colleges
2. Architecture
The Taj Mahal in India, the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, and the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, all have one thing in common: their stunning architecture.
Architects are professionals who use their knowledge of structures, cultural aesthetics and creativity to design and build the world around us. They design new buildings and make alterations to existing buildings and landscapes, such as housing complexes, hospitals, parks, monuments, etc. They specialise in different phases of work such as designing, planning, construction management, etc. and make sure that the buildings they design are safe and functional, to suit the needs of potential users.
Career Opportunities in Architecture
With a degree in Architecture, you can work as an Urban Planner, who specialise in planning how lands are used in cities and make the best use of available space. They design city layouts, streets, buildings, etc. and can work with government officials, developers, independent architecture firms, etc.
Restoration Architects specialize in preserving and conserving historical monuments and buildings to prevent their deterioration. They work with private non-profit preservation and conservation groups, architectural and engineering consulting firms, private building owners, etc.
Landscape Architects are involved in designing the outdoor landscapes such as public areas, playground and parks, college campuses, etc. In residential areas, they plan the location of buildings, roads, and trees around the space.
Besides the above-mentioned sectors, other fields of specialization are Residential Architecture, Commercial Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Industrial Architecture.
Some Top Colleges for Architecture
IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT BHU, National Institute of Technology, Multiple locations, Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, , etc.
3. Film-Making
Cinema is a powerful medium, which when used well, can alter one’s perception of the world around us, and accelerate social change. A filmmaker is a storyteller, a visionary. The film-maker has to be adept at not only envisioning how a story will be expressed but also take care of the day-to-day activities that go into making a film. He/she is the leader of the film crew and oversees departments made up of many professionals such as cinematographers, editors, special effect technicians, visual effects technicians, transportation, etc. All in all, a job of a filmmaker involves everything from translating the script into moving pictures, to casting, directing, editing, screening, and budgeting, etc.
Career Opportunities in Film-Making
The knowledge and skills gained in this career will allow you to work in film production companies, television channels, advertising agencies, education sector, independent films, documentaries, theater, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Film-Making
Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, University of Mumbai, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune,, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida, etc.
Recommended Read: Lights Camera Action: The Fascinating Career of Film-Making in India
4. Design
The term ‘Design’ is a broad one and can be found in various fields, from fashion to technology to manufacturing. Whatever we see or wear has been designed by someone else. In general, a designer needs to be creative, should have an eye for detail, and be spatially inclined (individual with a high aptitude for identifying 2-D/3-D structures). There are various subfields of design such as Interior Design, Fashion Design, Jewellery Design, Product Design, Automobile Design, etc.
Career Opportunities in Design
There are specific fields of design one can work in, depending on one’s expertise, such as Graphic Design, Cartoon Design, Product Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Jewellery Design, UI/UX Design, Automobile Design, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Design
National Institute of Design (Multiple Locations), Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT- Bombay, Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bengaluru, Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru, MIT Institute of Design, Pune, NIFT (Multiple Locations), etc.
Recommended Read: Sky Is The Limit: 11 Careers For The Love Of Design
While there are varied fields available in the domain of Design, I am also mentioning two specific fields that are highly upcoming: UI/UX Design and Automobile Design. These fields let you combine your creative flair with technology.
4A. UI/UX Design
We now have thousands of apps and websites available to make our life simpler. Each of these websites differ in the look, feel and the experience of using them, and in a more technical usage, this is called the UI and UX of a website.
UI Design, which stands for “User Interface’, refers to the visual appeal of the product (app/website) which helps in enhancing the overall experience of the user. For example- When you open a website, the first thing you see is the graphics, i.e. how the menu bar looks, how the buttons are placed, etc. This is called the UI of the website.
On the other hand, UX design, which stands for User Experience design, looks into the functional aspect of the product, for example, when you like a certain product on a website, you move the product to your cart and make the payment. While on some websites you feel the ease of buying a product, on others, it is harder. This is the difference UX design creates in enhancing a user’s experience on a website.
Career Opportunities in UI/UX Design
Typical employment opportunities include working with Website Design Agencies, App Development Agencies, Publishing Houses, Advertising Agencies, Graphic Studios, etc. You can also work with any company that has a functional website, app or web-based product.
Some Institutes for UI/ UX Design
National Institute of Design (Multiple Locations), Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, MIT Institute of Design, Pune, etc. There are various certification courses offered by e-learning platforms like Coursera, Edx, Simplilearn, Udemy which are widely recognised. These programs help you gain knowledge in developing a successful UI or UX and help facilitate good user experience.
4B. Automobile Design
Automobile Design is a branch of design concerned with the development of vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, etc. Automobile designers are involved in the whole product design life cycle, right from the look and feel of a car, to its safety and security check. The design sector of automobile engineering is rapidly growing as consumers today are constantly looking out for new designs and technology in their vehicles. Therefore, this field requires you to possess art and design skills and will provide you with a great opportunity to showcase your ability, talent and innovation.
Career Opportunities in Automobile Design
A specialization in the design sector of automobile design will make you eligible to work in the research and development departments of automotive firms such as Maruti Suzuki, General Motors, Honda, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Cummins India, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Automobile Design
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad; Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad, Roorkee & Guwahati; IIITDM Jabalpur, Netaji Subhash University of Technology, Delhi
5. Advertising
With an abundance of companies in the marketplace, companies need to do much more than manufacturing the best product and providing the best service to attract the target audience. This is where advertising professionals come in. They design adverts and make use of marketing collateral to help their clients reach their consumers and establish a positive brand image. Advertising professionals need to be quick on their feet, have a creative bent of mind, and be good with time management to be successful in this field.
Career Opportunities in Advertising
Depending on their area of interest, Advertising professionals perform varied roles such as client-servicing, research, copywriting, editing, scriptwriting, and much more like this. As an advertising professional, you will be able to work with corporate houses, publication houses, media or advertising firms, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Advertising
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (Multiple Locations), Mudra Institute of Communication Studies (MICA), Ahmedabad, Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai, NMIMS, Mumbai, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai etc.
6. Content Writing
As social media marketing has gained momentum, companies are beginning to realise that no product or service can make it big without good relevant content to accompany it. Good content is important because it helps to communicate with the target audience, direct visitors to the website and obtain a high-ranking placement in search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Hence, companies are in search of good content writers with a passion for writing, excellent research skills, a good understanding of grammar and an ability to meet deadlines.
Career Opportunities in Content Writing
The sky is the limit if you have a flair for writing. Companies of various sizes hire good content writers actively these days to write varied types of content. One specific type of content writer is a Subject Matter Expert, who is an authority in a particular industry or has extensive knowledge of a particular product. They often write blogs and E-books.
Another type of content writer is a Brand Journalist who writes journalistic content to showcase a brand or its products. These type of content writers work with magazines, newspapers, entertainment websites, etc.
Social media writers or advertising copywriters write content about on-going topics on social media and can also work in advertising agencies, publication houses, production houses, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Content Writing
Although there are no specific degree programs that make you eligible to become a content writer, candidates with a Bachelor’s in English, Journalism or Mass Communication are at an advantage due to their well-developed language and writing skills. Colleges from where you can pursue these courses include, Delhi University, Christ College, Mumbai University, etc.
Recommended Read: Get Writing: 5 Steps to Start A Career in Blogging
7. Radio Jockey/ Video Jockey/Anchoring
With the unprecedented growth in the entertainment industry, careers such as Radio Jockey, Video Jockey, and Anchoring are some of the trending new age careers. Professionals in these fields engage with a live audience, present information to or entertain the audience, conduct different types of shows, engage in debates, etc. It is a talent-based profession that requires a good command over language, sense of humour, quick wit, and a thorough knowledge of the world and current happenings. If you are someone who likes to engage with people and have a high level of creativity, spontaneity, and a dynamic personality, then you can surely look at this field.
Career Opportunities in Radio Jockeying/ Video Jockeying/Anchoring
If you know the art of talking your way out of uncomfortable situations and have a thorough knowledge of what’s happening around the world, then there are plenty of opportunities that lie ahead of you. You can work in radio stations, TV channels, reality shows, live events, news channels, etc.
Some Top Colleges for Radio Jockey/ Video Jockey/ Anchoring
This is not a degree specific course. However, you can pursue a degree or short-term diploma course to hone your skills and work as a VJ, RJ, or an anchor. Institutes from where you can pursue these courses are Radio City School of Broadcasting, Mumbai, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, , Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, etc.
So, if you have a curious mind, and always have your thinking cap on, then it’s time you validate your skills and understand if a creative career will suit you best.
Want to know if you have the right orientation to pursue the above-mentioned careers? Start by taking our Free Orientation Style Test today!
