Why a career in coding is more creative than you think
We’ve come a long way since working with computers was the domain of only the most clever and mathematically-minded among us. However, we still usually think of working in IT as the reserve of number-crunchers. We’re here to prove that’s not always the case.
Today, coding is one of the world’s most talked-about careers, and is a skill that’s sometimes even taught in schools. Yes, it’s technical, but you don’t have to be a genius to learn it. It’s like learning to speak a new language – tough but totally possible with the right training and practice.
Coding skills are already sought after by employers and, by 2030, it’s expected that there will be a global web developer talent shortage of 85.2 million. Essentially, there’s never been a better time to learn to code, as employers over the coming years will need to compete for qualified coders to fill their positions and you can take your pick of the top jobs.
Another reason to look into coding is that jobs in the industry command a healthy salary, with web developers averaging a payscale of over AU$62,000 per year.
Just as there are an infinite number of ways you can use a new language, there are hundreds of different and creative ways you can use coding.
John Romero, co-founder of id Software and developer of games like Quake and Doom, says:
“You might not think that programmers are artists, but programming is an extremely creative profession. It’s logic-based creativity.”
Looking for a creative coding job? Here are three brilliant ways people are coding creatively.
1. Creating art
Since way back in the ’60s, artists have been using code to create art. Remember the swirling background on your family computer’s Windows Media Player when you were a kid? That was made with code.
Check out the stunning music video below, where the geometric backdrops were created with code.
Hailei Wang, digital design director at IDEO Shanghai, codes mobile apps by day and by night uses his Python coding skills to create art:
Using code to create is growing in popularity – so much so that there are universities that teach classes of fine arts and engineering students to experiment with the technology.
One of the lecturers involved, Ira Greenberg, calls learning code the “ultimate creative power, like paint on steroids.”
2. Diagnosing cancer
One of the biggest scientific challenges of our time, curing cancer is something that everyone wishes they could do. Well, there are some coders working on it in Massachusetts.
They’re using their coding skills to improve cancer diagnoses by testing whether computers can detect signs of breast cancer in mammograms earlier than humans. They’re also working out how to make the most of tons of patient data to help doctors make better treatment decisions. It’s a pretty amazing and creative way to apply coding to the real world.
In part due to the pandemic, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics listed medical coding as one of 20 fastest-growing occupations in 2021. If you’re interested in using your coding skills for the benefit of healthcare, now is the perfect time to get qualified.
3. Developing websites
As a coder hired to develop websites, you’ll usually have a specific brief about what’s needed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative within those boundaries. There are some awesome websites around that show just some of the possibilities.
- This data visualisation of big Hollywood blockbusters shows which scenes were based on verified true events and which were created for cinematic effect.
- This history of computer icons website is a perfect example of how to take a potentially dry subject and make it look engaging and fun.
- This incredible interactive exhibition is a must see. Impeccably coded using CSS, it lists 30 endangered species and why they are under threat.
Time to get creative
The best coders are those that can think beyond the code and see all the amazing possibilities it opens up.
If you’re keen to progress your career and want to learn something that inspires you too, coding could be the option for you.
Whether you’re looking to learn to become a front end, back end or full stack development specialist, our online coding courses will help you learn the skills that will take your career to the next level. Get in touch with our career advisors today to find out which coding courses would best suit your goals.
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