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Graphic Design is a broad field that involves the creation of visual solutions for the purpose of communicating a clientʼs message to an intended audience. Also sometimes called Visual Communications, graphic design balances creative and technical skills in order to address the content and context of a message in the appropriate media. Building upon the foundation skills of the visual arts, graphic design blends innovative visual and creative design thinking in order to support the objectives of society, business, education, or the wider community.

Students who are interested in pursuing graphic design in print, web, multimedia, video and motion graphics, illustration, comics or animation may find one of the three main tracks in the Graphic Design degree program a fulfilling and challenging objective.

Associates of Applied Science

General Track- Prepares you for a wide range of creative and technical skills in Visual Communications, from print to web, illustration to aadvertising design.
Illustration Track - Blends traditional studio art skills with commercial Graphic Design skills.
Motion & Media Graphics Track - Prepares you for taking your Graphic Design and creative digital media skills to the fields of motion graphics used in film and video.

General Education Requirements

ENGL-101:English Composition I
ENGL-102:English Composition II
Complete any 100 level or higher Social Science course
Test out by placing into MATH 120 or higher on the MCC Placement test OR Complete any 100 level or higher Mathematics course
Humanities Course: ART.-110, ART.-111, ART.-112, or ART.116

Required Courses for All Tracks

ART.-131: Drawing
ART.-132:Drawing II
ART.-133: Basic Illustration
ART.-141: Basic Two-Dimensional Design
ART.-145: Intro to Digital Design
ART.-146: Typography and Type Design
ART.-246: Self-Promotion & Portfolio Design
ART.-248: Graphic Design Internship
PHOT-180: Basic Photography

General Track

ART.-110: Art Appreciation
or ART.-111: Art History Survey Prehistoric to 14 C
or ART.-112: Art History Survey Renaissance to Modern
or ART.-116: Art History Survey Non Western Art
ART.-121: Intro to Graphic Design Theory & Process
ART.-122: Graphic Design Survey
ART.-242: Corporate ID & Promo Design
ART.-243: Communication Design Across Cultures
ART.-244: Publication Design for Print
ART.-245: Publication Design for Web I

Illustration Track

ART.-110: Art Appreciation
or ART.-111: Art History Survey Prehistoric to 14 C
or ART.-112: Art History Survey Renaissance to Modern
or ART.-116: Art History Survey Non Western Art
ART.-121: Intro to Graphic Design Theory & Process
ART.-122: Graphic Design Survey
ART.-142: Basic Three-Dimensional Design
ART.-233: Advanced Illustration
ART.-242: Corporate ID & Promo Design
ART.-243: Communication Design Across Cultures
ART.-244: Publication Design for Print
ART.-245: Publication Design for Web I
ART.-235: Printmaking I
or ART.-231: Advanced Drawing

Motion and Media Graphics Track

ART.-121: Intro to Graphic Design Theory & Process
or MAET-110: Media History and Theory
ART.-122: Graphic Design Survey
or MAET-120: Media Aesthetics
ART.-275: Intro to Creative Digital Video
ART.-276: Motion Graphics for TV and Video
MAET-100: Intro to Media Production
MAET-180: Intro to Screenwriting
MAET-200: Television & Commerical Production
MUS.-186: Introduction to Film Music

The Advanced Certificate in Graphic Design

The Advanced Certificate in Graphic Design is designed to advance the skills of designers already working in the field but who need to strengthen, extend or replenish their creative and technical skills in Graphic Design. Participants in the Advanced Certificate must already have a degree in Graphic Design or a related field and will be required either to fulfill the pre-requisites for the courses through their prior degree coursework or submit to the coordinator a portfolio for consideration of pre-requisite waivers. As the graphic design industry encompasses a wider range of media, this certificate is meant to strengthen the skills in design and alternative media in order to improve a graduate's marketability in this fast-changing industry. Individual students can emphasize a specific area of Graphic Design by selecting elective courses that meet their goals.

Requirements

ART.-112: Art Survey (or ART.-111, 116 or 110)
ART.-133: Basic Illustration
ART.-242: Corporate ID & Promo Design
ART.-243: Communication Design X Cultures
ART.-244: Publication Design for Print I
ART.-245: Publication Design for Web
ART.-246: Self-Promotion & Portfolio
ART.-248: Graphic Design Internship
Two Advanced GD Course Electives
Any approved Social Science course

Careers in Graphic Design

Graduates of our program have gone on to work in creative and technical areas for a variety of different industries including:

communications & marketing
magazine & newspaper design
advertising & promotional design
medical information design
sports promotional design
fashion catalog design
fashion graphics
website design
tv on-air graphics
video game design
web animation
comic book publishing
commercial printing
signage design
financial information design
education, teaching & service

Coordinator

James W. Shurter, Program Coordinator/Associate Professor of DesignOffice Phone: (810) 232-2075Visual Arts & Design Center, Room 100Cjames.shurter@mcc.edu