Graphic Design Learning Options

[Ellen Shades]

The creation of images and motion make up the focal point of the graphic design industry. The areas of work that students can enter are vast leaving them with several learning options. Colleges offer degree programs most prominently at the associate's, bachelors, and master's level within a variety of concentrated fields.

Students that enter a graphic design degree learn how to create visual images that can be used in a plethora of mediums. Degree programs at the undergraduate level teach students the fundamentals of the industry when it comes to using type, color, and photography to generate a graphic. General education studies center on 2-D and 3-D design, animation, digital imaging, color theory, visual composition, and illustration. Graduate degree programs explore advanced concepts. Students can expect to learn to develop graphic design for newspaper layouts, advertising campaigns, videogames, and websites. Professional work consists of creating animation for movie credits, magazines, book covers, promotional brochures, and more. Some standard courses include:

• Typography
• Students learn the structure, history, technology, and application of typography. The visualization of language is explored by looking at the functional and experimental areas of typography. The interaction of form and word meaning is also discussed.
• Graphic Design Principles
• This is a beginner's course that examines visual communication and its application. Design methodology, problem solving, and visual meaning are all areas this type of course teaches.

Graphic design degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate level can be completed with a concentration. Concentrated areas allow students to enter parts of the industry they have the most talent in or careers they want to work in. Areas can include advertising design, animation, motion graphic design, and website design.

An advertising design concentration prepares students to work in the industry by creating ads for companies and business. Study centers on the different visual mediums professionals use to not only create ads but also distribute them. Education works to mix the graphic design side and advertising side of the major together. Students can expect to learn about demographics and the latest industry computer software. Design skills in this field can be gained at the associate's and bachelor's degree level.

Students that want to work to create websites by building them from scratch can enter a degree program in website design. This concentration teaches students to work with the specific computer software that they will use to develop interactive websites and databases. Students learn by working through courses in web design, technology, and graphic design. Courses examine how to identify bad and good layout principles and incorporate the right industry techniques into a design.

Whether students work towards a general graphic design degree or decide to branch off into one of the sub categories education is essential. Students have plenty of options when it comes to deciding on what type of accredited degree they would like. Accreditation is provided by agencies like the national Association of Schools of Art and Design (nasad.arts-accredit.org) to programs that offer students the quality education they deserve. Colleges recommend students research various options before choosing a program. Educational study is waiting; begin the search for the right degree today.

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