Course Descriptions

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DES 212: Graphic Design II

Stretch your graphic design skills with advanced projects

Graphic design is the art of visual communication, the visual representation of ideas or concepts. In this advanced graphic design course, you'll study the movements that shaped today's design world. Working with a professional designer, you'll discover how to conceptualize projects, reinvent clichés, distill complex information, and motivate your audience. Class assignments include postage design, annual report layout, poster and book design, an art poster, and a direct mail piece.

DES 222: Photoshop II

Take your Photoshop to new levels

How well do you know Adobe Photoshop, the industry-standard imaging app? In this advanced online Photoshop course you'll transcend your current skill set with vector illustration techniques, photo-realistic painting, high-impact typography, and professional editing methods that preserve the editability of your original images. Working with a Photoshop pro, you'll build proficiency with the Pen tool, Adobe Color, Smart Objects and Filters, and more.

DES 232: Logo Design II

Portfolio projects in identity design

In the words of the late, great Paul Rand, logos should be like flags: universal, timeless, and durable. Do you have have the skills to create identities that endure? Find out, in this advanced online logo design course. Working with an expert instructor, you'll study important identity design concepts including corporate identity, image, branding, and repositioning. The focus will be on learning how to approach each stage of the logo design process, from concept to execution and client presentation.

DES 301: Typography III

Take your typography designs to a new level

Typography can be endless. In this course, you will take a “deep dive” into the world of type to research and explore how typographic letterforms have been and can be presented in creative and innovative ways. You will demonstrate the ability to iterate multiple design solutions, employ advanced aesthetic judgement, and show the ability to communicate with diverse audiences and cultures. You will synthesize multiple design principles as you produce a variety of compelling designs prominently featuring typographic elements.

DES 302: Beyond Branding

Conceptualize and design memorable visual identity systems

Building upon your branding expertise, you will focus on effectively producing strategic and compelling graphic identity and branding materials. Your designs will be informed by your research of branding for product-driven and service-driven companies, as well as non-profit and cultural organizations. In this class, you will select or develop a signature project and carry it through a classic process: research, brainstorming, feedback, finalizing, client presentation, and final adjustments. An important aspect of this class will be the production of a graphic design standards manual, demonstrating your ability to establish and communicate professional standards.

DES 333: Design Deconstruction

Unpacking the fundamental elements of design

During this class, your approach to generating design ideas will be “turned on its head” through the process of deconstruction and reconstruction. You will be encouraged to expand your view of design, typography, composition, ideation, and effectively communicating with diverse audiences. Throughout the course, you will solve design problems by exploring and applying creative strategies. By the conclusion of this course, you will have generated a host of basic and refined conceptual pieces and acquired new methodologies for individual or team creative work.

DES 360: Design Systems and Planning

Creative and consistent design thinking starts here

A design is more than an individual piece, it needs to be integrated into a system. You will begin your exploration of contemporary design systems with a focus on how to apply them when planning, developing, and advancing your design work. What kind of professional designer do you aspire to be? In collaboration with faculty advisors you will review and analyze your current portfolio and identify what kinds of design you want to develop and produce during your program of study and beyond. Together, we will create an individualized education plan will serve as a roadmap for the remainder of your Bachelor’s degree program. To put your plan into action, during this class, you’ll research design trends and potential careers, develop and execute a quality portfolio project, and develop a list of potential employers to contact for your internship.

DES 411: Interactive Marketing

Learn to design for interactive and social media

As a designer working today, you'll likely need to develop designs deployed through a wide range of interactive media and/or social media. How will you react when a client wants you to direct their web strategy or coordinate their social media campaigns? In this class, we will research and discuss current interactive marketing strategies and venues. You will then translate your research into the development of practical interactive media projects that can expand the depth of your portfolio. The final presentation should reflect your research and include finalized designs that demonstrate your design expertise and ability to strategically plan the development of interactive graphic design.

DES 422: Global Design

Design projects for an international audience

A contemporary designer must be prepared to produce work that can appeal to an global audience. During this course, you will research designs produced by a range of international designers in different countries. Based upon your findings, you will develop and produce a multi-faceted design project focused on gaining the attention of an international audience. By considering cultural differences, you will develop the cultural sensitivity required to be a global citizen and the skills to effectively research projects for domestic and international audiences.

Design and Composition

Learn to apply fundamental 2D design principles

What makes any image work, in graphic design or photography? Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye and unifies your work. In this online 2D design course, you'll develop your compositional skills by analyzing everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste. Through a series of artistic projects, you'll learn the principles of effective composition.

Design Business

How to represent your design services and get work

You've spent years building a portfolio brimming with beautiful work. You can have all the talent in the world, but you also need to know how to position yourself for successful career. In this online design business course, you'll learn the essentials of finding work as a creative professional, whether in a design firm, in-house art department, or freelance. You'll gain feedback from a design pro on everything from how to present your portfolio and resume, find work opportunities, and market yourself, to building a professional persona and networking with your peers.

Design Foundations

Master color, type, and composition, adding impact to your art and design projects.

Color is a fundamental medium for any artist or designer. Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye through an image. In this course, you will analyze everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste, and discover how color, type, and composition are combined to create effective and powerful visual communications. Class projects challenge you to build and apply your design skills in application to real-life creative scenarios.

Design Foundations

Master color, type, and composition, adding impact to your art and design projects.

Color is a fundamental medium for any artist or designer. Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye through an image. In this course, you will analyze everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste, and discover how color, type, and composition are combined to create effective and powerful visual communications. Class projects challenge you to build and apply your design skills in application to real-life creative scenarios.

DIG 201: Digital Video Editing I

Build a foundation in digital editing

Digital video is an exciting field, recently described by FaceBook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as a megatrend. In this online video editing course, you'll learn the art and craft of editing videos using Adobe Premier, or equivalent NLE program. Working with a pro digital artist, you'll learn time-honored concepts in editing, including shot types, story structure, scripting, editing sound, continuity editing, CODECs, adding text and graphics, compressing and expanding time, and storytelling strategies. Through a series of creative projects, you'll learn how to create polished movies for digital and social media applications.

DIG 204: Digital Video Production

Make movies that matter

Can you hear Sundance calling? In this online video production course, you'll learn the basics of planning and shooting videos. You'll learn how to control your video camera, execute different kinds of shots, and maintain continuity in your projects. Working with an expert instructor, you'll gain experience in shooting different kinds of videos, focusing on storytelling, production planning, and sound editing, with the ultimate goal of telling stories that move audiences. This course will empower you with the knowledge to tell compelling stories for news, corporate video, and social media.

DIG 205: Intro to Motion

Learn the ABCs of animation

How does animation actually work? In this online introductory animation course, you'll learn the 12 essential principles of animation including squash and stretch, anticipation, and exaggeration. Working with a professional animator, you'll explore how fundamental concepts in physics and motion are used to create sophisticated, convincing motion art in sequential art, video, 2D animation, and 3D animation, and more. Practical projects include stop-motion and flipbook-style animation.

DIG 208: After Effects I

Learn motion graphics for today's media applications

Adobe After Effects is a powerful application for motion graphics and visual effects for film and video. After Effects is used for broadcast graphics, music videos, feature films, video rotoscoping, corporate presentations, and conferences. In this online After Effects course, you can study with a leading animator and learn how to use After Effects to create sophisticated motion graphics—using text and object animations, compositing videos and images, and adding audio and effects. You'll learn how to set keyframes on a timeline and work with transform properties, motion paths, masks, effects, and more.

Digital Illustration II

Create editorial illustrations using Adobe Illustrator

Digital illustration is a challenging and expressive area of graphic design. With Adobe Illustrator, you can develop your unique personal style as an artist. In this online advanced digital illustration course, you'll learn professional illustration and Adobe Illustrator techniques for communicating your creative concepts. Working with a pro designer, illustrator, you'll learn approaches for creating editorial illustrations, icons, retro poster designs, 3D illustrations, and restaurant identity designs.

Digital Media Capstone and Portfolio Review

A portfolio project and portfolio review for Digital Media majors

The Digital Media Capstone and Portfolio Review class offers an opportunity to analyze and develop your areas of creative strength and hone your creative work into a polished presentation for future clients and employers.

The Digital Media Capstone Project provides you with a series of assignments focused on skill evaluation, multitasking, visual storytelling, interviewing and project pitching. Each assignment provides a context for developing a professional niche for your talents.

Students participate in Portfolio Review in weeks 9-15 of the semester. This provides students the opportunity to gather and develop a portfolio of work and present it to faculty and classmates for feedback. Students will learn to recognize strengths and weaknesses in their work, and feedback will help students identify specific works or subject areas that need improvement.

Digital Photography Capstone and Portfolio Review

A portfolio project and portfolio review for Digital Photography majors

The Digital Photography Capstone and Portfolio Review class offers an opportunity to develop a multifaceted portfolio piece and hone your creative work into a polished presentation for future clients and employers.

The Digital Photography Capstone Project provides a simulation of an extended photography project. Students will take a photography project from concept to final presentation. Students work closely with the department head, developing a client brief for a project that provides a deep exploration of an area of photography.

Students participate in Portfolio Review in weeks 9-15 of the semester. This provides students the opportunity to gather and develop a portfolio of work and present it to faculty and classmates for feedback. Students will learn to recognize strengths and weaknesses in their work, and feedback will help students identify specific works or subject areas that need improvement.