Graphic Design Degree Programs
Creative individuals with artistic talent who are looking for an interesting and rewarding career may want to major in Graphic Design. Companies hire Graphic Designers to work in many areas including sales and marketing, product packaging, corporate communication, promotional materials and website design. Graphic Designers often use computer software to help create their designs but artistic and creative abilities are the primary ingredients for success.
Graphic Design programs teach students how to create visual images that communicate a message to a target audience. Curriculums include traditional art courses and courses that teach specific skills needed for the profession including typography, the use of graphics design software, 3D design, web page design and interactive design.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree - These programs prepare students for jobs as graphic design assistants or entry level positions in smaller advertising, publishing and website companies.
- Bachelor's Degree - Many companies require job candidates have a bachelor's degree to be considered for entry-level positions.
- Master's Degree - A master's degree program is a good fit for someone with a bachelor's degree in another arts field or for a graphic designer who want s to gain additional specialized training.
Schools
Graphic Design programs are offered at community colleges, art and design schools, career colleges, online schools and traditional colleges and universities. Aside from earning a degree, it is also important for students to create a strong portfolio while in school since employers will select new hires based on their portfolio as much as their education.
Coursework
Graphic Design programs may include basic art courses such as drawing, painting and color theory as well as graphic design courses such as those listed below:
- Principles of Graphic Design - Graphic design elements, principles, and techniques such as: elements of point, line, space and volume; principles of balance, unity, and emphasis; image generation techniques of proportion, contrast, visual impact, rhythm, and illusion; use of graphics software for project presentation.
- Digital Tools - Graphic design software tools such as those for: digital documents (e.g. Quark XPress); vector-based drawings (e.g. Adobe Illustrator); photography (e.g. Adobe Photoshop); web graphics (e.g. Dreamweaver and Flash)
- Typography - Can cover communications through symbols and letterforms, historical perspectives of alphabets to computer technologies, terminology, measurement, composition, and layout of pages.
- Package Design - Development of packaging solutions taking into consideration the materials and processes involved, environmental concerns and the branding and product position.
- Branding Principles - Focuses on understanding the creation of a brand identity and corresponding logos and trademarks that graphically represent a brand. Product-driven and service-driven companies as well as non-profit and government organizations are addressed.
- Print Media - Explores communication effectiveness of various forms of printed media such as brochures, magazines, newsletters and other publications with a focus on layout and visual impact to maximize communication.
- Web Page Design - Includes planning of website designs such as the design process, the goals of the site, audience profiles, content, architecture, pre-production, and building and maintaining sites.
Internships
Upper-level students in many graphic design programs may be able to intern in actual graphic design agencies, advertising agencies, web and print publishers and corporate design departments. These internships provide valuable real-world experience that will provide job-seeking advantages to graduates who have participated in them.
Aptitudes and Interests
Graphic Designers should be detail-oriented, able to communicate visually, able to work under pressure and be self-motivated. Awareness of changing cultural trends and consumer tastes is also important.
Career Options
Graphic Designers can work for a specialized design agency, as an employee of a company or freelance on their own. Some examples of typical work they may undertake include:
- Package design
- Website design
- Advertising
- Signage
- Marketing brochures
- Catalog layout
- Corporate literature
Related Programs
Programs that are similar to Graphic Design in some respects include:
- Digital Design - These programs overlap graphic design programs but focus solely on design for digital media such as websites, videos and computer animation. The coursework involves art and design as well as technology topics.
- Computer Graphics - These computer science programs teach students technical and artistic skills and include courses in programming, website design, computer animation and human-computer interface design.
- Interior Design - Coursework will train students to design interior spaces and include topics such as space planning, building codes, construction documents and environmental design.
- Fine Art - These art programs allow students to develop their artistic talents in many areas such as painting, sculpture, drawing and jewelry design.
How to Evaluate Graphic Design Programs
The below factors should be considered when evaluating graphic design programs:
- Curriculum Focus - Graphic design programs may have a particular focus in one aspect of graphic design such as website design, publishing or advertising, so prospective students should make sure their career goals are supported by the curriculum.
- Internships - Graphic design is a field where completion of an internship can really help when it comes time to find a job so programs that help students find internships are preferable.
- Type of School - Students who want a broad education and the option to take electives in other fields such as business or liberal arts, should consider what other programs are offered by the school.
- Accreditation - The program should be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Free Online Courses
The following free courses are available online and give an sense of what a program in Graphic Design would be like:
- Web Design from Scratch - Use of 3D Effects in Web Design
- PageLab - Before and After: How to Design Cool Stuff
- University of Southern Queensland - Creating Interactive Multimedia
Resources
American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
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