This course covers a brief history of graphic design and printing as well as an introduction to multi-media communication. Students will also study the prevalence and purpose of graphic design and the applied arts in general. Students will carry out hands-on projects learning to apply aesthetic, typographic, and cultural elements to enhance visual communication. This course will introduce students to the three major, industry-standard design programs, Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

This class introduces the basics of creating graphic design projects. Students will learn fundamentals and theory of visual communication. Students will explore basic typography, color theory and composition with an overview of professional language and tools. Projects include basic layout design and grid systems, logo design, corporate identity systems and poster/ad layout as well as basic technical illustration assignments.

In this course, students will learn about the many resources, tools, filters and techniques that are used in the graphics and advertising industry for the creation and manipulation of digital painting and photo editing. Students will complete projects that will cover the processes of illustrating, designing, retouching and manipulating photographs. Primary software for this course is Adobe Photoshop.

This course studies the history, theory, and application of visual communication in design. Students use design thinking to frame problems, explore visual strategies, and evaluate solutions, while connecting today’s practices to their historical and cultural roots.

This course introduces the basics of digital imaging and graphic design. Students practice using design elements and principles to create strong visuals, build technical skills, and solve design challenges that communicate clearly to an audience.

An introduction to layout design for print and digital publications. Students will learn to organize content using grids, typography, images, graphics, and color while applying core visual communication and design principles.

This course explores typography as a tool for effective visual communication and design. Students will learn the basics of typography from history and anatomy to legibility and composition, applying these principles through projects that strengthen their design skills.

In this course, students discover how illustration can be used to tell stories and communicate visually. Through creative projects, they learn to design characters, environments, and visual concepts while building work to showcase in a portfolio.

This course focuses on professional graphic design practices and the development of integrated visual campaigns from concept to final production. Students will learn skills in creative problem-solving to create portfolio-ready projects that address real-world client and audience needs.

Explore the fundamentals of 2D animation by utilizing contemporary practices, tools, and production strategies. Emphasizing practical skills and creative exploration, students will learn animation principles, techniques, and historical perspectives with traditional, camera-based, and digital methods.

An introduction to digital media production, focusing on the creation and integration of sound, video, motion graphics, and visual effects. Students will develop foundational skills using industry-standard software to produce cohesive multimedia projects.

An introduction to the basics of web design, including layout, navigation, and responsive design. Students apply problem-solving and design thinking strategies to create websites that are clear, engaging, and user-focused.

This course guides students in building a strong portfolio that represents their creative voice and design skills in multimedia and/or graphic design. Students will learn how to curate, refine, and present their projects in a way that communicates their technical skills, design principles, and creative problem-solving to future employers or clients.

This course introduces students to the process of designing and creating business forms, calendars and various multiple-page/multiple-panel documents. Projects will educate students in the usage of tab and table construction, placing and sizing graphics and creating text wrap effects around photos, images and objects, as well as importing text and graphic files from various sources.

The entire graphic design course of study culminates in what we have previously described as “Integrated Graphics”. In this capstone class for graphic design majors, students will build their final portfolios. Projects will be assigned which will give students the experience of working in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, simultaneously. The projects will all be advanced in nature and will compel students to complete assignments with a high degree of skill, knowledge and professionalism.