The Bachelor of Applied Science degree program in Graphic Design is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the commercial art, graphic design, and multimedia industries. Students can examine corporate design strategies, promotional design tactics, advertising principles, and graphic design theories that can be used to help enhance the development of professional design skills. Web design, multimedia, page layout, typography, advertising, digital video, digital photography, and business solutions and techniques are explored through the completion of selected visual communication projects.

Educational Objectives of the Program:

• Examine historic and cultural art forms as a means for improving one’s own work and developing innovative solutions for graphic design projects.
• Analyze both the creative and practical aspects of design solutions during the completion of graphic design and multimedia projects and during classroom critiques.
• Design Web pages and sites using both design software and hand coding.
• Utilize various features of Web design, including the use of graphics, video, audio, and animation; tables, frames, forms, and hyperlinks; selected HTML, javascript, and XML tags and scripts; and the use of cascading style sheets.
• Examine advanced topics in Web design during the completion of individual and group assignments, including browser targeting, integrating databases and digital media, and improving Web site performance.
• Demonstrate advanced page layout principles and techniques during the completion of individual and group projects; develop creative solutions for project needs across various media (e.g. print, Web, multimedia).
• Create well-crafted page layouts, focusing on the processes and technical design choices necessary to produce consistent and professional proofs and multiples; examine advanced printing, software, and hardware issues related to typical graphic design projects.
• Experiment with scanning, page layout, digital imaging, and computer illustration techniques to create more effective designs in response to project needs.
• Create interactive, vector-based animation for the Web and other media utilizing audio, video, graphic, and textual content; prepare multimedia content for use on various computer platforms and in selected user interfaces.
• Experiment with drawing techniques and digital rendering, and manipulate scanned images using computer software.
• Develop promotional materials for advertising campaigns, including print, Web, and multimedia design solutions.
• Experiment with video and audio production techniques used to visually communicate information; capture and edit digital footage using standard techniques and special effects.
• Explore the use of various camera settings, lighting methods, storyboards, shooting scripts, and cinematographic techniques in the production of digital video.
• Create professional quality digital video for distribution in various formats (e.g. DV, QuickTime, AVI, MPEG, WMA, etc.) utilizing post-production software and computer hardware.
• Use sound capture, video production, and editing equipment; and discuss the use of sound and video capture, production, and editing used in visual communication projects.
• Examine market research, consumer behavior, and merchandising principles involved in advertising projects, and design graphical materials in response to product and consumer needs.
• Develop project management skills through the creation of business plans that analyze client needs, research market needs, estimate project costs, and meet project timelines.
• Apply business principles, legal and ethical issues, and professional requirements used in visual communication that satisfy project needs.
• Complete a visual communication internship while practicing professional skills and techniques that are used in the industry.
• Critique and refine a professional visual communication portfolio.