Description

Gatlin International now offers graphic design degree and Web design degree programs.

Once enrolled in the graphic design degree program, you will learn the skills needed to succeed in this exciting career field from highly respected professionals with real-world experience.

The Associate of Occupational Studies in Graphic Design program is an intensive two-year graphic design degree program consisting of six 15-week semesters. First year studies are designed to develop the student’s proficiency in the traditional areas of design. Courses include software and coding classes to help them build their skills using contemporary design tools and techniques. You will also learn the finer points of layout, digital imaging and illustration, as well as Web publishing.

During the second year, students develop a deeper understanding of the professional design process and explore a wide variety of media. You will also receive in-depth instruction in advanced graphic design and layout techniques along with exposure to branding and marketing concepts.

Our graphic design degree program also includes integrated general education courses which help students develop a broader skill set with emphasis on written communication and critical thinking skills.

 Our general education curriculum also provides students with a strong foundation and deeper appreciation for such diverse areas as psychology, business, computer technology and art history.

This holistic approach to graphic design provides our students with the skills needed to succeed in their careers, not just their coursework.

Our degree in graphic design program helps students develop their abilities to:

• Create sophisticated, appropriate color palettes and use color and contrast effectively in their work.
• Create simple, stylized logos, icons, and illustrations in Illustrator.

• Design and layout typography for readability, impact, or expression.
• Create drawings in traditional media that show a command of proportion, perspective, and value contrast.

• Develop competence in various print design genres including poster design, logo/branding design, magazine layouts, cover design, and packaging.
• Prepare images for professional publication with Photoshop retouching, correction, compositing, or collage.
• Create engaging and readable layout designs that attract the eye using fundamental design and composition techniques.
• Develop effective logo designs from a client brief using an iterative design process.
• Identify current areas of strength and prepare and maintain a portfolio of their best design work in print or on the Web.
• Manipulate framing, perspective, distance, and lighting to take professional-level digital photographs in a range of settings.
• Create consistent, engaging, and readable layouts in InDesign for multi-page print publications.
• Create consistent, visually appealing page designs using XHTML and CSS via Dreamweaver or via hand coding.
• Apply in their work an understanding of English composition, business writing, psychology, computer science, marketing, and art history.
• Write papers and presentations that demonstrate critical thinking, clear organization, and professional style, grammar, and spelling.
• Represent their design services to potential clients or employers and manage different aspects of the graphic design process.

 

Classes commence in January, May and September and financial assistance is available.

Get the training you need to succeed with a convenient and affordable graphic design degree from Gatlin International. Our enrollment and financial assistance agents are available to assist you so why not get started today?

Outline

Graphic Design program course descriptions:

DES 101 - Typography I - 1.5 credits

Explore the critical role of typography in graphic design. Course projects build an understanding of the anatomy of the letterform, the distinguishing features of different typefaces, and creative applications of type. An assured grasp of typography is essential in any visual communication project.

DES 102 - Typography II - 3 credits

Learn advanced concepts in typography including type fusion, information hierarchy, expressive type, and 3D type applications. Assignments include advertising, product packaging, civic branding, and currency design. The focus of the course is on improving your design by learning to see type differently.

DES 104 - Color Theory 1.5 - credits

Focus on developing appropriate color systems for graphic design projects. Projects explore the principles, terminology, and applications of color theory, with an emphasis on manipulating color. A working knowledge of the expression and perception of color, and color interaction, lends credibility and sophistication to a designer's work.

DES 105 - Design and Composition - 1.5 credits

Discover the principles of effective composition in print design and advertising. Composition, literally the assembly of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the eye and unifies a design work. Case studies and hands-on projects address closed/open space, negative space, movement, and more.

DES 111 - Drawing I - 3 credits

Learn how to analyze what you see in the world around you and communicate it on paper. Through hands-on projects, and guided by a professional artist, you will explore the critical concepts of line, mass, form, perspective, value, and composition, building a solid foundation for all your art and design work. And most importantly, you'll also discover that drawing can be fun. Did you know that spheres have inner edges? Or why artists measure with their thumbs? Grab your charcoal and chalk pastels... this course is your first step to developing your craft as an artist.

 

DES 121 - Photoshop I - 3 credits

Get a thorough grounding in Adobe Photoshop, the premiere digital imaging program for graphic and digital designers. Hands-on projects show how to select, enhance, distort, color, scale, and manipulate scanned images and artworks—or create them from scratch. Every designer must tame this creative powerhouse of a program.

DES 131 - Logo Design I - 1.5 credits

Explore the philosophy and process behind designing a logo. Students learn the importance of corporate identity and the different stages in a typical logo design project. The course establishes a solid conceptual and practical grounding for anyone interested in pursuing a career in visual identity, from a design or a marketing perspective.

DES 141 - Illustrator I - 3 credits

Build a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, the graphic designer's vector program of choice. Course projects explore selection tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool, transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Tapping the power of vector software allows you to produce detailed and scalable art for almost any application.

DES 151 - Digital Photography I - 3 credits

Explore the interaction of photography techniques and environmental factors to create powerful digital images. Students learn the fundamentals of lighting, perspective, and set up and explore techniques for classic assignments: portraits, product shots, indoor and outdoor location shoots, and fast-action sports. Whether you're a fine artist, graphic designer, or Web developer, a mastery of digital photography gives you creative control of the medium.

DES 201 - InDesign I - 3 credits

Explore fundamental techniques for Adobe InDesign and develop your print design skills. The course will impart a working knowledge of the main InDesign tools and features, everything from basic features to using master pages, importing and manipulating objects, controlling text flow and style, to graphic effects such as transparency, drop shadow, and feathering. Projects give you practice in a range of desktop publication applications from creating a single-page menu to catalog design, visual identity, promotional design, even a wedding invitation.

DES 204 - History of Design - 3 credits

Discover the historical movements and designers that shape today's graphic design environment. You'll examine styles, media, and individuals with a specific focus on 20th century trends and the evolution of print media. This course builds your research skills, preparing you to communicate effectively and professionally with visuals and typography.

DES 211 - Graphic Design I - 3 credits

Establish a firm foundation for taking on professional design work. You’ll gain insights from industry veterans and explore the challenges of designing posters, logos, magazine covers, book layouts, 3D designs, and brand identities. Looking to establish a career as a freelance designer? The course provides you opportunities to hone your design process, as you research each project, develop concepts, work with iterative feedback, and begin to develop quality pieces for your portfolio.

DES 205 - Print Production - 3 credits

Learn the technical fundamentals of producing professional-looking print publications. Areas of focus include managing a print job effectively, communicating with printers, and identifying the best solution within a budget. Course projects build skills in choosing file formats and fonts, specifying or separating colors, and managing the different phases of production.

DES 206 - Branding & Identity - 3 credits

Develop essential skills for designing logos, marketing materials, and advertising programs to establish and promote corporate identities. Case studies focus on giant corporations such as CBS, BMW, and Sony, and how they established their corporate images and business strategically. Course projects require designing or redesigning corporate identities for both existing companies and newly established businesses.

DES 207 - Layout Design - 1.5 credits

Take your layout skills to the next level by studying advanced concepts in page design. Students explore how to use esoteric composition and typography and color to create layout designs that attract attention and challenge the viewer. Open-ended projects provide maximum opportunity for portfolio development.

DES 208 - Packaging Design - 3 credits

Explore the exciting medium of packaging design by creating branded products for retail display. How do you make a product stand out from the shelves? What makes the targeted consumer want to buy it? Students address these questions via course projects including champagne packaging, pizza box, perfume bottle, and mass versus prestige applications.

DES 212 - Graphic Design II - 3 credits

Prepare yourself for high-level graphic design projects. The focus is on understanding different styles that influenced graphic design, in addition to how to conceptualize projects, reinvent clichés, create balanced layouts, distill complex information, and motivate your audience. Course projects include postage design, annual report layout, poster and book design, an art poster, and a direct mail piece.

DES 232 - Logo Design II - 3 credits

Build your portfolio by tackling professional logo and branding design projects. Lessons cover such important concepts as corporate identity, image, branding, and repositioning, with reference to intriguing real-world case studies. Course projects offer a range of challenges from a record company logo to an airline branding system, allowing you to build your personal style within constraints of realistic project briefs.

DES 259 - Capstone Project - 2 credits

The course provides students the opportunity to complete a multidimensional design project in three stages, working closely with a faculty member. The project will challenge students to demonstrate their proficiency in performance standards defined for the graphic design program. The project will require research, concept development, and critical thinking, providing students with the opportunity to explore a professional, iterative design process as well as experience simulated designer-client interactions.

DES 260 - Portfolio Review - 1 credit

The course provides students the opportunity to gather and develop a portfolio of work and present it to a faculty panel for two rounds of feedback. Faculty feedback will help students identify specific works or subject areas that need improvement. The class structure provides the ability to revise a portfolio for a final presentation, during which students present both their final work and a professional summary of their design capabilities. The class not only helps students understand the strengths of their portfolio from a real-world perspective, it also provides experience in developing and presenting their portfolio that will be useful to their future development as creative professionals.

General Education

 

GEN 104 - English Composition - 3 credits

Develop your writing skills and effective use of the English language in professional documents. Learn to guide the reader with a hierarchy of information and writing appropriate for different situations. Explore methods for preparing and revising your writing with a series of essays and a final paper.

 

GEN 105 - Computer Technology - 3 credits

Gain an understanding of computer systems and technology with a focus on hardware components, file structure and formats, and data delivery methods. Learn the setups and roles of hardware and software technology in professional office settings.

 

GEN 106 - History of Art - 3 credits

Build a foundation in art history and gain a deep understanding of art and the artists who create it. Explore profound themes that have concerned artists for centuries: nature, the human body, society, religion, and politics. Through engaging lectures and projects, you’ll learn how to identify the mediums, materials, and techniques artists use and discuss the styles of important artists, art movements, and historical periods from antiquity through the mid-20th century.

 

GEN 107 - General Psychology - 3 credits

Explore topics in behavior, perception, and memory that shape individuals and relationships. You'll gain understanding of the biological basis of human behavior, insight into important theories and individuals in the psychology field, and a survey of developmental and social principles.

 

GEN 204 - Intro to Marketing - 1.5 credits

Lay a foundation for a career in business marketing design by studying marketing concepts and how they impact the design process. Students learn design principles and explore design case studies from the world of marketing communications design. Focus of the class is building a basic understanding how marketing ideas translate into an effective design.

 

GEN 205 - Business and Technical Writing - 3 credits

Build your skills in writing professional documents and documentation. This course explores writing styles essential to business and technical documents such as professional letters, proposals, fact sheets, and tutorials. You'll focus on the clarity and organization of your writing and writing for specific audience types.

Demo

Coming Soon!

Additional Info

Languages

English

Course Length

72.00 hours

Duration of Access

The AOS program is a 2-year program. Student requiring more time to complete may enroll in additional semesters.

Instructor

The program is taught by a faculty of industry-leading artists and designers that bring together decades of professional and educational experience to deliver excellent courses and online instruction. Instructors are exemplary in their knowledge of the industry and excellence in creating and teaching design.

Prerequisites/Audience

Students can enter programs in the spring, summer, and fall. Candidates are required to:

 

• Complete an online application
• Provide official transcripts for high school and/or college.
• Provide two sealed letters of recommendation.
• Write a 500-word essay expressing your interest in studying graphic design.
• Provide via upload 5-10 art or design portfolio pieces or complete a design sample project.
• Recent high school graduates will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
• Students whose first language is not English must provide satisfactory TOEFL, SAT Verbal, or ACT English scores.
• Pay an application fee of $75.

Requirements/Materials Included

Students must have a computer with an Internet connection and the required supplies or software programs for specific classes. There are no required textbooks. Requirements for the Graphic Design program are:

• A Windows or Mac-based computer that meets manufacturers' requirements for the required software below
• Access to the Internet
• A digital camera
• Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver CS4 software
• Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• An account with an ad-free Web hosting service
• Basic drawing supplies

Certification

Associate of Occupational Studies in Graphic Design