A first-year student in Discovering Digital Professions, we met Florian Baron, who looks back on
his story, his journey at Digital Campus, and his future goals.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Florian Baron and I come from Quimper, in southern Finistère. I'm turning 24 soon and I'm currently in my first year of the Bachelor's in Digital Project Management at Digital Campus Nantes. I have a huge love for the world of video games, digital, and music, particularly rock and metal, as I'm a guitarist.
Can you briefly describe your background?
My journey was full of obstacles. I started with various higher-education programmes without success. A year of Law, two years of Applied Foreign Languages and a year of Computer Science. These iterations made me realise just how biased the university system was and how it didn't suit me at all. This was followed by a difficult year during which I questioned my career path.
What made you want to join Digital Campus?
Since I wasn't comfortable with absorbing hundreds of hours of theory and gambling my whole year on a coin toss during exams, I wanted more than anything to find a programme that would instil real know-how in me, showcase my skills and teach me to redouble my efforts in the event of failure. It was thanks to my attraction to design and digital that I chose the Digital Campus school.
Why did you choose Digital Campus Nantes rather than another school?
First of all, for logistical reasons. Nantes was a city I already knew before moving there and close enough to my family. But mainly for the diversity of the Bachelor's programme. Indeed, I was able to get the diversity of a university curriculum but one that rewarded practice rather than the ability to learn from PowerPoint slides.
The subjects are varied and cover many different areas, such as motion design, mastering the Adobe suite and the approach to graphic design, web development, but also many specific professional concepts such as marketing, project management methods and digital law. For the first time, I feel like I'm learning concrete things in a post-baccalaureate programme rather than generalities.
What did this school bring you?
A huge amount. Of course, I developed many skills, such as creating print materials, logos and UX/UI-oriented web pages thanks to Adobe Illustrator and XD, using CMS, HTML, CSS and JavaScript to build websites, but also video editing and motion design in After Effects and Premiere Pro.
Beyond all this knowledge, the school gave me a fulfilling environment, equipped according to our needs (both in terms of equipment and logistics) and in which it is pleasant to work.
This experience is very enriching professionally speaking, not to mention the many people I met, both academically thanks to a high-quality teaching team and on a personal level, thanks to the small class sizes made up of people who were each more lovely than the last.
How would you describe this school?
I would describe it as a modern and career-focused school. It's a place where it's calming to study, particularly because of its small size, especially for someone like me who doesn't like being in an overcrowded space. Everyone has their own personality, passions and ideals, which creates enriching encounters and a living space where everyone is different and respects one another, something I had never experienced before now.
You are currently in your first year of the Bachelor's. What is your next step?
Starting by getting my degree would already be a first big step for me. When I joined this school, I had in mind the idea of going into web development. Today, I'm involved in so many interesting things that I no longer even know which branch to specialise in. I still have a certain attraction to design, and I think I'll move closer to logo creation or UX/UI.
Do you have any advice for students who would like to pursue their studies in digital?
Regarding studies in general, I think it's reasonable to take the time to ask yourself the right questions and make the right choice. I personally took a long time before asking myself what I really wanted to do later in life, and I lost a lot of time, energy, friends and hope along the way, which affected me greatly. I recommend that you take your time and think about what is best for you.
Most of what you learned before will be of no use to you later. Your destiny is being decided now, and that's why it's all the more important to be extra vigilant when choosing your career path.
As for digital, I can only recommend that you go for it if you have an affinity for the field. The sector is flourishing, and the many skills you will develop will allow you to become the creators of tomorrow.