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Term Effective:
Summer 2025
The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.
Description:
The Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement is a two-year program designed to provide students with entry-level skills for business or industry in the field of graphic design, and is structured to provide a practical, hands-on experience in graphic fundamentals. The program addresses basic design principles, layout techniques, professional typographic treatments, computer applications, digital illustration, computer production techniques, offset printing requirements, and business practices. It provides the most current information, technology and equipment possible. Most of the instructors are practicing professionals in the field of graphic design. Students spend much of their time creating practical design pieces from initial sketches all the way through to final digital output that ultimately becomes an integral part of a professional student portfolio.
The graphics professional is a person who loves problem solving on a visual level. This individual enjoys collaborating with others to create effective communication pieces to address client marketing and advertising goals. The designer helps create identities, business systems, posters, flyers, brochures, book covers, advertisements, billboards, packages, magazines, newsletters, wine labels, web sites, compact disk packaging, etc. etc. Graphic design tends to be a fast-paced, deadline-driven profession that demands creativity, quick thinking, good organization, excellent technology skills and well developed visual as well as verbal communication skills.
The program is designed to address graphic design skill sets. In partnership with the Computer Studies application offerings, the Graphic Design students master the Adobe graphics standard computer application programs: Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign. The companion design, production and illustration classes operate in a workshop manner with lots of real world projects, feedback and group work as part of the curriculum. Additional coursework in business practices, and portfolio development helps to round out this very practical approach to instruction. Students will learn how to:
- develop strong, effective visual communication concepts
- communicate visually with hand-drawn sketches
- create simple graphic treatments using basic illustration techniques
- use the computer as a production and creativity tool
- create mock-ups of all types of graphic design using hand skills
- set-up computer files for off-set printing
- use typography effectively
- work with clients and printers
- set up a freelance studio and bid graphic design projects
- create a professional portfolio
The graphic designer has many employment opportunities in this exciting field including production artist, in-house graphic designer, free-lance designer, or computer illustrator. Many students in the program have jobs in the field before they graduate. We offer an intern program for qualified students to gain on-the-job experience with local businesses while acquiring new skills.
Students who complete the program work for a variety of businesses in the local community. Publishers hire them to do advertising design, production, PhotoShop work, layout, and design. Small businesses require data sheets, newsletters, websites, advertising and brochures. Graphic design studios need employees with strong computer backgrounds, good ideation techniques and precise mock-up skills. Many students graduate with the goal of owning their own free-lance businesses.
This certificate is the second step in a career ladder. Students who have already completed the Graphic Design Production Fundamentals Skills Certificate will have fulfilled a portion of the Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement. For students interested in an Associate degree, a Graphic Design major is available.
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Develop professional level communication visuals from initial concept all the way through printed materials using design principles, an understanding of graphic design history, typographic knowledge, hand mock-up and illustration skills, advanced computer skills using the Adobe Suite, and pre press knowledge;
- Set-up and manage a one person freelance studio complying with governmental regulations, estimating projects, writing up proposals, negotiating with clients, keeping records, billing clients, and managing finances; and
- Create and present a professional portfolio of at least fifteen finished projects to potential employers and clients using professional level interviewing skills and well designed collateral materials.
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