courses

illustration - digital photography - print design - motion graphics / animation -
digital video effects - interactive design - internships

Topics for course study and areas for experimentation listed below are offered in the Graphic Design area of the Art Department and can be taken by Fine Arts and Graphic Design BA and BFA students. Some courses emphasize hands on traditional craft approaches to visual image making and design while others focus more on electronic methods of creative production. Areas of study range from still image and publication design through interactive media and animation. All courses wish to instill in students a critical awareness of the power and impact of visual imagery, concept development and formal design systems mastery, while offering students concrete training in the techniques used by professional artists and designers for the creation of visual effective systems for fine art, communication, advertising and information graphics.

Multimedia related course topics are the newest additions to our program providing students background and career development in the creation of rich visual approaches for emerging electronic media communications and on-line advertising industries. Browse the course areas below and if you're interested select to see student work that was created in some of those courses.

graphic design for print

Several courses focus on the development of concepts and visual design solutions that will be produced through the printing industry. Typography, graphic design, electronic pre-press production are areas of study.
- view student work

illustration and electronic illustration

Several courses are offered which focus students on both traditional craft techniques for the creative development of illustration works. Courses can include digital techniques well.
- view student work

digital photography

Students are introduced to digital photography and digital imaging as creative arts and business communications visual development medium. Multiple picture visual imaging techniques, low resolution through high resolution professional studio photographic camera and lighting procedures are developed along with critical visual awareness and compostion. Photography methods and concepts are explored both for art and industry still image creation. Additionally 360 degree virtual reality photographic imagery is explored for fine art, graphic design, web, and interactive interface delivery application.
- view student work


motion graphics / animation / sound design

This area introduces students to the power and impact of animation and sound effects. Students will use a variety of professional software applications and will develop complex art and design ideas as animated presentations. Creative projects and problem solving relate to television graphic animation, motion picture visual and sound special effects, and incorporate experimental instruction in blue screen image compositing resulting in digital video portfolio works that can serve as individual works or be used as component animations in other multimedia venues..
- view student work

digital video editing and effects

Digital video imaging, digital video camerawork, studio lighting, editing, script and production planning development are all aspects of this area of creative graphic communications. Students learn to compose digital video productions, invent narrative and scripts, draw storyboard planning documents, select locations, shoot and produce raw digital video footage. Footage is logged for editing and students use digital editing software products to assemble final video productions which include sound and special effects processing.
- view student work

interactive interface design

We offer several avenues for student study in the creation of visual user interface design. Web site design and animation are offered within our program and lead students to be designers of visually effective systems for internet based design. CD-ROM and DVD visual interface design and interactive lingo scripting are other areas of application for students which result in effective visual systems for CD and DVD, advertising, information communication and disk based distribution. Included in these areas are instruction in digital video and the creation of audio, sound and visual effects and animation.
- view student work

internships

The Art Department has a field internship program which is encouraged for all students offering credit for participation in professional art and business activities outside of the classoom. Students are encouraged to use this opportunity to gain valuable hands on experience in their discipline out side of the university. The art department internship coordinator is Amy Arntson. You may contact her through the faculty page for questions and procedures for participation.