... accomplished using digital tools such as Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. ... publishes online the results of it
Career Guide
welcome to digital art & design Digital Art and Design is an intensive, 60-week program that prepares its graduates for careers in the field of graphic design. The program teaches fundamental design principles and tool skills, as well as examining industry-wide processes and technologies. It also offers instruction in essential general skills, including written communications, career management and management of intellectual property. The rest of this document will provide an overview of the profession of graphic design, and a description of your courses, as well as some time-tested advice for getting the most out of your college experience. But before we get started, we would like to stress that open communication is our fundamental operating principle, whether in matters of curriculum, job searches or networking opportunities. We will always respect your individuality, and while we think that grades are a vital measure of your progress, they are not the goal of the DAD program.
We want to see you graduate with a eye-catching portfolio, and the skills to back it up and a realistic sense of the road ahead. We can provide the teaching, but you provide the learning.
1.800.236.4997 MediaInstitute.edu
digital art & design What is Digital Art & Design? Graphic designers solve visual problems. They work with images, symbols and typography to create messages that inform and persuade audiences. Audiences are groups of people that might be very large, such as “all travelers passing through an international airport”, or relatively small, such as “dark chocolate lovers with a taste for chili peppers”.
What are Some Examples of Graphic Design? Posters, corporate logos, magazine layouts, websites, downloadable brochures, maps, catalogs, broadcast graphics, sign systems, billboards, album covers, and advertisements are just a few of the items that might be produced by a graphic designer.
What Skills Does a Graphic Designer Need? Good Hand-Eye Coordination Not all successful graphic designers are great illustrators, but they all have skills in visual thinking, in working out visual ideas on paper. Fortunately these are skills that most people can develop with patience and practice. Design Skills A graphic designer needs to understand the use of fundamental elements such as line, tone, color, form and typography. While every graphic design represents a unique solution, these fundamentals provide a framework of best design practice. Tool Skills Most graphic design is now accomplished using digital tools such as Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. These programs have removed some of the more tedious aspects of the design process, but they have also increased the designer’s responsibility for the design workflow.
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Knowledge of Publication Processes
All graphic designs must be published, whether by printing in some form or by being displayed on a monitor. The graphic designer needs a thorough understanding of the challenges and limitations of the various media that might be used.
Creativity is the ability to make something new and valuable, while curiosity is the desire to know more.
An Understanding of Audiences The graphic designer needs to know about the processes of visual perception that are common to everybody, as well as the challenges that might be faced by people with poor distance vision or color blindness. Demographics, psychology and marketing are also important in designing for specific audiences. Soft Skills A graphic designer needs to interact successfully with clients, suppliers, subcontractors and business offices, among others, and this requires skills in verbal and written communication as well as general and media-specific business practices. One of the most important skills is the ability to actively listen; this is what enables the successful designer to discover the specific needs of a project, and to suggest a variety of possible solutions from which the best one can be chosen. Creativity and Curiosity Creativity is the ability to make something new and valuable, while curiosity is the desire to know more. Neither of these qualities can be taught, but they can be nurtured through a process of thoughtful critique and self-evaluation. The successful designer always looks back at the rich history of art and design to seek inspiration, and looks forward to evolving media and technologies to find new applications for visual design. As the saying goes, there is no cure for curiosity.
What Kinds of Things Does a Graphic Designer Do? • Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts. • Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type. • Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design. • Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites. • Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed. • Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes. • Use computer software to generate new images. • Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor. • Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products. • Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.
Is Graphic Design Art? Graphic design is sometimes referred to as graphic art, and often looks like art, but the two differ in their audience and their intent. The artist has an audience of one, himself or herself, and works with personal intentions. The graphic designer has a mass audience, and works with the intentions of his or her client. Because their materials and techniques are similar, many artists have also worked in the graphic arts at some point in their career, for example Toulouse-Lautrec, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, and Andy Warhol
What is the Graphic Design Industry Like? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 281,000 people work as graphic designers 1 Of this total, approximately 75,000 work as freelancers. Total annual industry revenues are more than $11 Billion. Working conditions are generally good, though designers may be expected to work overtime hours if publication deadlines demand it. Salaries vary with the skills and experience required of a position, and with geographical location, with large cities on the East and West Coasts commanding the highest salaries. AIGA publishes online the results of its annual salary survey,2 which also includes useful job descriptions of the various roles within the graphic design industry.
What Are the Future Prospects for Graphic Designers? The graphic design industry as a whole is expected to grow in step with the overall economy, with a predicted growth of 13% in the period 2008-2018. While demand for design for print media will remain strong, there will be a growing need for designers of online media, including websites and information systems, and motion graphics for television and film. AIGA believes that designers with an understanding of the social sciences, especially psychology and sociology, and a willingness to adapt to changing technologies will be especially in demand in the years to come.3
1.800.236.4997 MediaInstitute.edu
1 http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos090.htm 2 http://www.aiga.org/salary-survey/ 3 AIGA, op cit., “What can designers do to improve their prospects?”
