A Diploma in Graphic Communication offers versatile skills highly sought-after in diverse industries. From creating striking ads to defining brand visuals and designing user-friendly websites, it equips you for roles where visual communication is crucial.
An Associate degree in Graphic Design is your gateway to a world where imagination merges with technology, turning your love for visual storytelling into a profession. This program dives into the art and science of visual communication, teaching you to wield design as a powerful tool that resonates across platforms. Whether crafting brand identities, shaping digital landscapes, or revolutionizing user experiences, this degree equips you with the expertise needed to excel.
But it's not just about skills. It's about nurturing your creativity, refining critical thinking, and honing your unique artistic voice. Collaborate with professionals, engage in hands-on projects, and build a standout portfolio.
Join us in this visual adventure where creativity knows no bounds. With an Associate degree in Graphic Design, you'll redefine the future of visual communication, making your mark in a design-driven world. Your journey to becoming a professional graphic designer begins here.
The Associate degree in Graphic Design is a dynamic program immersing students in the world of visual communication and design. It goes beyond traditional art, blending creativity with technology to prepare students for thriving careers in graphic design. Through diverse projects, students explore their creativity, honing a strong artistic voice.
The curriculum covers graphic design principles, typography, layout design, digital illustration, and more, balancing theoretical coursework with hands-on studio projects. Access to industry-standard software ensures readiness for real-world challenges. Expert faculty, professionals in the field, offer mentorship and industry insights.
A standout feature is the focus on portfolio development. Students create a comprehensive portfolio, a vital tool for showcasing skills to potential employers or clients. Collaboration fosters teamwork and communication skills.
Upon graduation, diverse career paths await in advertising, marketing, web design, branding, and more. Roles like graphic designer, art director, UI/UX designer, and creative director are achievable. In fact, this program at San Jose State University is where creativity meets professionalism, providing a robust foundation and diverse opportunities to turn design passion into a successful career.
Upon completion of the Associate degree in Graphic Design program, students will:
1. Apply colour, composition, hierarchy, and typography principles across diverse media platforms, including digital, print, motion, 3D, and more.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in generating original concepts, developing prototypes, incorporating feedback, and managing projects through the production process.
3. Effectively communicate with audiences by applying visual communication principles and comprehending design's societal impact.
4. Analyze key aspects of graphic design history, theory, and criticism from various perspectives, incorporating insights from influential designers, historians, and contemporary thought-leaders.
5. Exhibit expertise across a spectrum of graphic design disciplines, including in-depth exploration of information architecture, user interface design, interactive design, motion graphics, iterative image-making, exhibition design, and typeface design.
6. Display a comprehensive understanding of the design process, design thinking, and professional standards. This includes engaging in real-project learning scenarios and transitioning to portfolio preparation for entry into the workforce.
This module introduces the principles in drawing, developing an awareness of composition, observation skills, and builds familiarity with contemporary drawing practice.
Credit: 4
Be introduced to the fundamental elements and principles of two-dimensional design, including typography, colour theory, and spatial organization.
Credit: 4
Be introduced to making and thinking in 3D and gain experience working with a diverse range of materials, techniques and processes.
Credit: 4
This module focuses on cultivating and exploring a plethora of approaches to generate ideas, with the aim of creating more original and integrated options.
Credit: 4
This module establishes the foundation that is needed for our students to become responsible artists and designers.
It will cover areas that will prepare them professionally, and equip them with knowledge of their rights and its application in this new digital world.
This module is an introduction to the history and fundamentals of visual communication to understand the role of in the society.
Credit: 4
This module offers students the fundamental knowledge and skills in interactive media. Since the digital media has become the most important communication platform, students will be equipped with the technical skills of coding and the aesthetic skills in designing screen-based interface.
General preparation, project setting up, images optimizing, interface concept and working with software, all these related areas will be covered so students have applied skills needed.
Credit: 4
Based on the history of art and design, the module will cover how culture influences media and how, in return, media has changed culture over time.
This understanding would be supported through the use of secondary and primary research, and methods that include textual analysis, observation and interviews.
Credit: 4
This module provides the students with the opportunity to collaborate across programmes, integrating knowledge and ideas.
Introducing social and cultural content to stimulate the process-driven approach for critical thinking, producing a coherent body of work in any chosen media platforms.
Credit: 4
This module build on design knowledge for application from print-based photography to screen-based moving image.
Students will be introduced to the process of contextualization through contemporary case-studies alongside acquiring technical skills from studio to lab. They will evolve to explore empathetic and responsible collaboration in creating content and experimenting in production processes.
In short, students will learn to generate ideas with photography before applying cinematic principles to motion graphics sequences. Topics include photography and camera, elements of cinema and case studies from selected photographers and films.
Credit: 4
Students are exposed to the alternative method of producing digital communication tools. This module encourage the exploration of enhancing user experience in new media platform.
Besides technical skills development, other related applied knowledge and investigation like foresight and insight, user-centered design, non-linear interpretation, and interaction design will be covered in this module.
This module intends to engage students in the discovery and analysis of issues in society through the lenses of identity, culture, traditions and stereotypes, the study of the media's impact on such issues in society, and the development in students fundamental research and analysis techniques that will facilitate their discovery and analysis.
Credit: 4
This module advocates a human-centric approach to innovate original opportunities in a broad range of media applications.
Students will be introduced to the concepts of brand archetypes and design taxonomy in the investigation of contemporary case studies for self-directed briefs.
They will evolve to synthesize ideas, process and production to the choice of their related discipline in Graphic Communication.
Topics include consumer research and brand innovation in branding, beauty and wellness, design, drinks/beverages, fashion, luxury, retail and technology.
Credit: 4
This practical training attachment exposes students to work environments where they can gain a more hands-on understanding of professional practices.
Credit: 4
This is a project-based module which provides students the opportunity to conceptualise, plan, and execute a project.
It will be a real life client project that will allow students to put their studies into practice and help them develop a sense of responsibility as well as interpersonal skills in a professional environment.
Credit: 4
A self-directed module for students to uncover new opportunities for authentic and integrated user-experience. Expects lots of engaging design projects.
Credit: 4
This module allows students to discover the framework and strategies of developing a successful brand expression through case studies and analysis.
Students will develop a critical understanding of the social and psychological aspects integrated within the context, which will allow students to develop the ability to make good design decisions.
Credit: 4
Capstone conceptual investigations, verbal and visual problem solving utilizing typography and image.
Credit: 4
Comprehensive design problems utilizing design theories, analysis, experimentation, innovation and conceptual development as systematic approaches to structuring various degrees of graphic design issue; database scientific visualization, graphic information system, publication design, and promotion and media graphics.
Credit: 4
Capstone design problems utilizing design methodologies, theories, and analysis in the area of time-base multimedia design; narrative filming, kinetic typography in motion, interaction design and event design as related to visual information design.
Credit: 4
A capstone design problems course that exposes students to the principles, methodologies, and elements of motion graphics and narrative design.
Students develop techniques and skills for synthesizing the language of motion simultaneously with an emphasis on narrative structure, and text and image in relation to time-based media.
The project is examined in terms of historical, cultural and conceptual implications.
Credit: 4
An advanced course focusing on the fundamental theory and practice of computer user interface and interactive design with emphasis on: the 2D graphic digital user interfaces, the current interaction development technology, theory, process and methods, and its overall impact on culture and society.
Credit: 4
Experimental problems and themes exploring theories, strategies, and methodologies in 3D branding and Promotion Design such as marketing communication tools, packaging and P.O.P design, emphasizing innovative expression.
Projects also examine contextual and conceptual prototyping for point of purchase display.
Credit: 4
Annual Fees
