Courses

This course offers an overview of visual communication fields and the programs of study in the Visual Media Design Department. The class introduces students to professional practice in fields such as graphic design, illustration, imaging, publication design and web front end development. Students will identify potential career options, explore the necessary skills to succeed in these fields, and outline a future program of study.

Foundational design course, covering the theories, processes, vocabulary, and techniques common to visual design disciplines. Students will develop and apply their knowledge through analysis, critique and individual and collaborative exercises and projects.

Design thinking is an iterative process of discovery, ideation, and experimentation to gain insight and produce innovative experiences, processes, and products. This course will introduce design thinking models and processes through historical and contemporary practice. Hands-on exercises will provide practice with design thinking activities for visual artists, designers, engineers, makers, and others.

A foundational hands-on Mac computer class for all Visual Media Design students. Topics of instruction will include computer hardware and OS software, networks, type and text formatting, raster and vector graphics, time-based media, layout for print and web, and best practices. Topics will be covered through lecture and practical exercises.

A study of the development of visual communication in art, graphic design, illustration and popular culture from the prehistory to the present. The influence of political, social technological and commercial forces will be discussed and analyzed, with an emphasis on the use and interpretation of imagery, symbols, and type in design.

A practical course to familiarize design students with processes and workflows involved in producing digital and offset printed materials. Students complete in-class exercises for the stages of print production - prepress, press, and finishing - using digital and traditional equipment.

Quick sketching methods for ideation and visual problem solving for designers, animators, illustrators and makers. Terminology, techniques and conventions of rapid visualization are covered, with hands-on practice with line, shape, form, perspective, lighting, shade and shadow.

The art and craft of letterpress printing, hand set type and use of proofing presses. Emphasis is placed on skills development in hand set type, layout, proofreading, makeup, shop safety and press operations.

Continued study of the art and craft of letterpress printing using the platen jobbing press. Further development of skills in the letterpress printing processes, polymer plate production and usage, stock selection and calculation, and presswork.

An introduction to the various practical methods of contemporary book design and production within the historical development of book structures.

Intermediate study of the various practical methods of contemporary book design and production, including codex structures, tunnel, and accordion books, using both adhesive and sewn binding techniques.

Advanced study of contemporary book design and production including pop-ups and box structures using both traditional and non-traditional materials.

An exploration and application of the historical, cultural symbolic personal and professional uses of color through individual and collaborative projects. Topics include the properties and theory of color; creating color relationships and harmonies; and optical, psychological and spatial uses of color in various media and design disciplines.

A beginning graphic design course focusing on fundamental visual problem-solving skills for print and screen. Principles of visual communication, iterative design process, introduction to typography, page layout, grids, identity, and branding.

Continued study of visual communication design, covering both interactive (web/mobile) and print projects. Topics of study include research, design processes and deliverables for a range of interactive and print projects.

An exploration of the visual design and presentation of numeric or objective data through exercises and a design project. The pace and scope of the class is intended for advanced design students looking to expand their skills and design portfolio.

An exploration of package design through practical exercises and a design project. The pace and scope of the class is intended for advanced design students looking to expand their skills and design portfolio.

The exploration of user interface design through exercises and projects. The pace and scope of the class is intended for advanced students looking to expand their skills and portfolio.

This course focuses on industry-standard User Experience (UX) concepts and processes including user-centered design, information architecture, interaction design and prototyping used in digital product design and development. Students explore key topics through a series of hands-on exercises and projects.

Introduction to typography as key element of visual communication. Exploration of the fundamental aspects of typographic form and use. Students will develop the ability to see, select and use type in meaningful ways through exercises and assignments.

Continued study of typography with emphasis on the development of an awareness of typographic form and structure. The role of typography in communication will be explored through practical exercises in typesetting and typographic design.

Instruction in calligraphic tools, materials, and techniques. Study and practice of various historical and contemporary calligraphic styles and techniques, creative exercises in calligraphic layout, and discussion of contemporary lettering art and artists.

Instruction in hand lettering tools, materials, and techniques. Practice with various lettering styles, creative exercises in lettering design, and examination of contemporary lettering art and artists.

Hands-on experience in creating digital fonts. Practice in all aspects of the process, from concept to execution. Discussion of the standards and techniques of type design, and of the current state of the type design profession.

This course will provide students with an overview of web site planning, development and production through a hands-on approach. Topics include web pre-production, design and production techniques. Assignments will focus on pre-production planning and production of web sites.

This is a hands-on intermediate course covering responsive web design processes and production. Students will learn the requirements of responsive design and how to plan and create responsive assets and pages.

An introductory course in Adobe Illustrator, covering concepts of vector-based image creation. Students will reproduce existing images to learn the various tools available within the application. Document construction and accuracy with vector tools are emphasized.

Continued study and use of Adobe Illustrator for print and screen with emphasis on advanced features and creative projects.

An introduction to Adobe InDesign for page layout and design. Topics include the interface, typesetting, styles, master pages, creating objects, importing graphics, layers, transparency, preflight and packaging. Emphasis on best practices.

This course offers students an opportunity for continued study of Adobe InDesign with an emphasis on advanced software features and publication design. Class assignments focus on grid-based layout, typographic hierarchy, typesetting, and multi-page documents.

An introduction to Adobe Photoshop for digital image editing. Topics include interface, layers, painting, compositing, color correction, retouching, asset optimization and prototyping. Emphasis on best practices.

Continued study and use of Adobe Photoshop with an emphasis on advanced features. This course focuses on complex document construction, smart objects, masking, compositing, color correction, retouching, and screen workflows.

An overview of the techniques and principles of 2D animation as well as the specific tools used and roles found in the animation industry.

An advanced course in the techniques and principles of 2D animation using digital tools, including emphasis on advanced visual effects and developing original visual narratives.

Referencing and using traditional storytelling methods, the student will explore multiple ways to generate and script content for digital animation projects. Emphasis on development of skills and techniques of storyboarding.

An overview of techniques of visual development for animation. Students will be exposed to developmental stages including character development, layout design, props, concept art, and story boarding.

This course covers techniques in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator for illustrators. While gaining technical knowledge, students will also begin to explore stylistic options and build a body of work. Sketching and other techniques for developing concepts are also covered.

An advanced course in digital illustration focusing on the development of conceptual and narrative skills as they apply to a range of illustration projects.

Portfolio development for visual media design students. The course will cover design strategies, content editing and sequencing, format options for print and interactive media, and portfolio presentation. Students will design and produce an online portfolio, sequenced portfolio, marketing materials and résume. A group of at least 10 high-quality pieces as determined by the instructor for portfolio development are strongly recommended for success in this course.

This course teaches students how to use social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube to develop, integrate and leverage social networks. Students will learn how to create personal and professional brands and critique current social media practices.

This is an advanced course focusing on visual media design professional practices such as pricing methods, taxes, copyright, contracts, freelancing, running a small design business, and working with subcontractors.

Application of visual media design skills and development of proficiency in a supervised work environment. One unit of credit is earned for 54 hours of unpaid or paid work.

Application of visual media design skills and development of proficiency in a supervised work environment. One unit of credit is earned for each 60 hours of unpaid work or 75 hours of paid work.

Emerge Studio, an in-house visual media design studio, provides an environment for students to gain real-world skills creating and producing projects for actual clients. Students will gain practice with client communications, iterative design process, technical problem-solving, and project management for individual and collaborative design projects including websites, posters, marks, brochures, and other communications projects.

Continued experience in Emerge Studio, the VMD Department's in-house visual media design studio. Students take on greater responsibilities in project management, client relations, critiques, and overall project planning and implementation. Students will also encounter larger and more complex communications projects and work with greater autonomy and independence.