Graphic & Web Design

In your first quarter, you will learn traditional art techniques, graphic file management, core graphic and web design applications, branding and target market research to serve as a foundation for the remainder of your program. In Foundation of Art and Design, you will explore the evolution of imagery from primitive art through to today’s digital creations, with a focus on the elemental themes in design, composition, and content. This will allow you to understand the artistic direction demanded by future clients. You will also be introduced to branding concepts, target marketing and messaging as well as foundational computer graphics skills.

In your second quarter, you will add InDesign to your computer graphics tool kit, further expanding your project workflow and scope. This quarter will also deepen your knowledge of computer graphics, and through the application of Adobe Photoshop and other manipulation programs, you will create projects inspired by key artistic movements. Two separate layout and design classes will strengthen your understanding of principles for both print and web designs, including typography, color selection, hierarchy, and user experience.

In your third quarter, you will explore digital video and the art of storytelling and learn about the essential tools and methods of digital illustration. You will also gain deeper understanding of advertising design principles, packaging concepts and promotion basics. You will also be introduced to workflow concepts, learning how to communicate design progress, and output a final design for various printing methods. Rounding out your third quarter is an introduction to front-end website development, creating basic web pages with introductory-level Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and HTML.

In your fourth quarter you begin to explore the realities of this exciting industry through a variety of real-world case studies and begin to understand the complex interactions between humans and interfaces, ultimately allowing you to create effortless, straightforward designs. You will also be exposed to the fundamentals of digital marketing concepts, including market characteristics, strategic planning, economics, and research techniques. Lastly, your fourth quarter will also cover foundational concepts of magazine design.

Your fifth and final quarter is all about getting you career ready! Through classes such as Career Management and Employability Skills you will begin to hone your professional persona, including defining your career goals and developing your career action plan. This quarter will also extend your knowledge of working with open-source website creation platforms such as WordPress which can be translated to your own portfolio website! Weaving through the final quarter is your Final Grad Project class, where you will finalize your “style”, prepare your work for potential clients, and understand how to select the best designs for your final portfolio.