At Oakfields College, creativity meets capability.
Whether you're shaping 3D worlds, mixing studio-level sound, or crafting a portfolio that stands out in a saturated design market—the software you master matters.
We don’t just teach the theory—we train you on the tools the industry expects. So if you're serious about turning your talent into a career, it’s time to get fluent in the platforms that power the creative world.
Here’s your no-fluff, real-world breakdown of the essential software every Oakfields student should know—sorted by field, with pro tips from lecturers and insight into why mastering these platforms gives you a head start.
🎨 Graphic Design & Digital Marketing: Adobe Creative Cloud is Your Playground
If you’re in Graphic Design, Digital Marketing, or even Photography, Adobe is your daily gym.
🛠️ Core Tools:
- Adobe Photoshop – For photo editing, digital manipulation, retouching, and social post design.
- Adobe Illustrator – Logo design, vector graphics, icons.
- Adobe InDesign – Layout design for magazines, brochures, presentations.
- Adobe XD – UI/UX and app prototyping (especially valuable in digital marketing roles).
💡 Lecturer Tip (Design Faculty):
“Mastering keyboard shortcuts alone in Photoshop can cut your project time in half. We challenge students to design under timed conditions so that fluency becomes instinct.”
📌 Bonus: Digital marketers also get exposure to Canva Pro, Meta Business Suite, and Google Ads UI—especially during the short courses.
🎬 Film & Video Production: Adobe Premiere Pro + After Effects = Hollywood in Your Hands
Oakfields filmmaking students don’t just shoot—they edit, animate, and produce with industry-grade tools.
🛠️ Core Tools:
- Adobe Premiere Pro – For cutting, colour grading, editing entire short films.
- Adobe After Effects – Motion graphics, intro sequences, visual FX.
- DaVinci Resolve (Advanced students) – For professional colour grading.
- Final Draft – Industry-standard for screenwriting and script formatting.
💡 Lecturer Tip (Film Faculty):
“We treat our film students like professionals from day one. Learning Premiere Pro is non-negotiable—it’s the global standard.”
🎥 Campus Bonus:
Students get access to full filming gear and on-campus editing suites loaded with licensed software.
🎭 Sound Engineering & Music Production: Pro Tools Isn’t Just a Skill—It’s Currency
In the Sound Engineering programme, fluency in production software isn’t optional. It's the difference between a passion project and a paying gig.
🛠️ Core Tools:
- Pro Tools – Industry gold standard for recording, editing, mixing.
- Cubase – Powerful DAW for electronic music and sound design.
- FL Studio – Common in indie/hip-hop production (extra resource).
- Ableton Live (Optional for EDM-focused students)
🎧 Real-World Edge:
Students record in fully equipped studios using analog + digital hardware, learning mic placement, mixing boards, and mastering tools.
💡 Lecturer Tip (Sound Faculty):
“We teach you how to set up a live rig and mix on Pro Tools the way it’s done at Oppikoppi or on a commercial album. No fluff.”
👗 Fashion Design: CLO3D & Adobe Illustrator Rule the Runway
Oakfields Fashion Design is moving beyond sketchbooks. You're designing digital-first and production-ready.
🛠️ Core Tools:
- Adobe Illustrator – Essential for creating technical flats and garment specs.
- CLO3D – Cutting-edge 3D garment visualisation for realistic draping and simulations.
- Photoshop – For mood boards, print manipulation, and digital patterns.
💡 Lecturer Tip (Fashion Faculty):
“CLO3D is what international fashion houses are using now. We train our students to present collections in both physical and virtual formats.”
🧵 Career Tip:
Mastering these tools also prepares you for roles in fashion merchandising, technical drawing, and sustainable digital fashion design.
🕹️ 3D Animation & Game Design: Blender, Unreal Engine & Adobe Animate
Animation students blend (literally) art and code to bring worlds to life. Expect to model, rig, render, and export by your second term.
🛠️ Core Tools:
- Blender – Full 3D modelling, rigging, animation, and rendering suite.
- Unreal Engine – For real-time animation and gaming projects.
- Adobe Animate – For 2D animation and web/mobile interaction.
- ZBrush – For high-detail sculpting (advanced students).
💡 Lecturer Tip (Animation Faculty):
“If you can create a smooth rig in Blender and make it dance in Unreal Engine—you’re already job-ready.”
🎮 Career Edge:
Oakfields animation grads go on to work in TV, advertising, game design, and even NFT/Metaverse asset creation.
🧠 Why This Matters for Your Career
Knowing these tools doesn’t just help you pass your course—it sets you up to:
- Build a standout portfolio
- Apply for jobs with real technical skills
- Freelance confidently from day one
- Work across disciplines (e.g., a photographer who can design, or a filmmaker who can animate)
✅ Final Word: Learn It, Live It, Use It
At Oakfields, software training isn’t an afterthought—it’s baked into your journey from orientation to graduation.
Whether you're editing your first demo reel in Premiere Pro or designing a 3D fashion collection in CLO3D, you're working on the same platforms your future employers use. We don’t just prepare you to graduate—we prepare you to get hired.
📣 Want to Experience the Tools First-Hand?
Join our next “Be A Student For A Day” event and get hands-on with the actual tools taught in class.
🔗 Book Your Spot Here
