Author: Tasnuva Elahi | George Mason University student | Art & Visual Technology, B.A.
Hey guys. Welcome back once again to my blogs. This week I will list and talk about the courses you need to successfully finish and obtain a degree in Graphic Design. It is very important that students sign up for the right classes and work closely with their school advisers not just for Graphic Design but all other majors also. I will begin by writing about the courses I have taken over the years and will be taking in the next couple of years.
First of all, if you are planning on transferring to a four year university after getting an Associates from a community college, please make sure you know where to locate the transfer guide online. It is extremely important that you know what courses you should take while you are in two year college, because one wrong course can make you face a lot of hassles down the line.
TRANSFER GUIDE REMINDER:
I was one of those students who did not know where to begin or what major I should concentrate in. Once I decided I will be transferring to another university, I looked up the transfer guide and started taking courses according the guide. It is usually found on the website of the university of your choice.
COURSES that are MUST:
Before you even get to learn about design aspects, you need to learn about the basics which is areas like color, illustration, and image manipulation--then develop your skills through concept development and implementation courses.
- Drawing 1 - (Focuses on basics - lines, colors, drawing basic shapes, colored pencils)
- Drawing 2 - (More advanced - Drawing nude models, still life, self-portraits, pastels)
- Fundamental of Designs - (Sculptures using chicken wire other hard wares, only black and white; no color)
- Introduction to Graphic Skills - (You work with MAC computers, introduces you to Adobe Creative Suit software, stamp projects - on computer, no hands on work except for drawings/thumbnails which you then transfer it to digital)
- Photography/Digital Photography - (Black and white photography, how to develop photos in a red room, projects dealing with nature, self, model photography)
- Typography 1 - (Teaches you about typefaces, how to create typefaces, edit/design articles on In-Design, teaches you about all the basics that I discussed in my previous blog - Click Here)
- Typography 2 - (More advanced - teaches you how to create a book/children's book, self illustration, magazine covers, spreads and introduces you to printmaking, publishing)
Yes, looks like a lot for just basics, right? Once you transfer and select your concentration in Graphic Design, you will go more into depth. You’ll focus on Graphic Design, following a more directed course of study. Choose the Graphic Design concentration and you’ll take a more traditional approach, studying product packaging, posters, art direction, and publication design. Graphic Design concentration focuses on interactive design and development, working across media platforms from mobile devices to desktop computers.
- Advertising concepts
- Form and space, including advanced layout design
- Package design
- Business of graphic design
- Publication design
- Art direction
- Editorial design
- Corporate design/branding
TECHNOLOGIES/TOOLS
Some of these courses will also introduce you to these software; Adobe Master Collection, including, After Effects, Bridge, Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, Illustrator, In-Design, Photoshop, Premier and hardware including; Apple workstations DSLR cameras Large-format printers HD video cameras.
So, that's about it! I hope I helped those of who are interested to know about the courses in Graphic Design. The sources that I used are linked down below as always. Also, every university catalogs are different, so make sure to talk to an adviser when signing up for classes. A lot of these are very time consuming as I always say but also, very fun as well. If you are interested, I have a very fun short clip that talks about what Graphic Design really is and what do graphic designers do basically. I guarantee you will like it. Click Here to watch the video.
NEXT BLOG:
Next week, I will write about how to build a portfolio; what should you include in it, how and where to add work from so please stay tuned! :)
SOURCES:
Art Institutes | Areas of Study
George Mason University | Programs of Study
So, that's about it! I hope I helped those of who are interested to know about the courses in Graphic Design. The sources that I used are linked down below as always. Also, every university catalogs are different, so make sure to talk to an adviser when signing up for classes. A lot of these are very time consuming as I always say but also, very fun as well. If you are interested, I have a very fun short clip that talks about what Graphic Design really is and what do graphic designers do basically. I guarantee you will like it. Click Here to watch the video.
NEXT BLOG:
Next week, I will write about how to build a portfolio; what should you include in it, how and where to add work from so please stay tuned! :)
SOURCES:
Art Institutes | Areas of Study
George Mason University | Programs of Study
I really really enjoyed this post. Whether or not I found it relevant to myself, I found it very interesting. I have never looked into graphic design but this blog really opened my eyes to a lot of what goes into your degree. I think its very informative and definitely an easy read. I like the format of your blog and your use of pictures helps keep the reader reading. Good job!
ReplyDeleteAww thanks Nicole! :) I am very glad you liked this blog and didn't find boring.
DeleteHey Tasnuva,
DeleteThis is the second week I have read your blog. I like that you described what the curriculum involves, some people may not know that they are interested in Graphic Design until reading your blog posts. You are making this blog part a journey in the world of Graphic Design which is nice. What are some popular jobs that mason students find after graduating with this degree? Im also wondering what the average salary of a Graphic Designer is?
Hey Obaidullah, thanks for your comment and also thanks for coming back :)! I think, as far as I know, most graduates try freelancing at first, which I will write about most likely on my last blog post. Other than that, there was a teacher's assistant in my Type I class, and he has worked for Disney once and also helped create cartoon characters so i was pretty awesome to hear that having a graphic design background led him to Disney. And about the salaries, i think it varies based on what aspect of graphic design you are looking at but it can go as high as $147,000. But then again, it depends on the job. Thanks again for showing interest :)
DeleteYour knowledgeable of how to get a degree will help many students. I like your bullet form of your point of views because it easier to read and understand. Your video also made your blog pop and how you ended your blog makes reader want to come back next week to see your next blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Andrea. I will consider ending my blogs with a short clip then. Thanks.
DeleteYour post is a great read! While I am beyond unartistic, I do admire people who are. It is very interesting to read about the different classes that are required. Before reading your blog, I would have guessed graphic design was just a general major; I was unaware that there are specific concentrations within it. The closest class I have ever taken to graphic design was Digital Photography in high school. Taking pictures was cool, but editing them was a lot of work. I was never very good at choosing the right angle to take a picture either. I have always wished that I was even somewhat creative! I look forward to reading next week about how to build a portfolio!
ReplyDeleteHey Kaylin. Thanks for the feedback. I was too like you and didn't know much about graphic design and I thought all they did was make logos but there are more to that. I am glad you enjoyed Digital Photography and yes editing really is a pain :(. I hope you will come back next week also. :)
DeleteI think your blog is useful for people that aspiring to get a degree in graphic design. Although I am a double major in Community Health and Medical Technology, not graphic design, I feel as if this post can help many people down the right track. I know when researching and choosing a major, anytime other than when you are admitted, can be a hassle. Depending on what classes you have already taken, you need to find a succinct place to find all of the classes you have yet to take. Your post provides this list for people inquiring! It was interesting to me to discover that typography is a two semester course! When I think of typography, all I can think of to learn is placement, color and font choice, but I guess there is more to know than just the basics. I also like that you listed concentrations in graphic design. I have not done much research on the topic so I didn't know there were so many focuses to choose from. I'm sure you have to be versed in many technological platforms in order to find a job and perhaps a future post can be on software knowledge requirements to get a job.
ReplyDeleteI first want to comment on the layout of your post. It is very clean, organized and easy to follow. This aspect makes it a good read and easy for viewers to navigate or go back and point something out if they were showing someone else the post. Second, although I am not graphic design major it is interesting to see what courses are necessary and what online applications get used. It would be interesting to maybe have some courses that are offered as gen eds or electives as an option for those who aren't in the major to take a class and enjoy it!
ReplyDelete