Graphic Design
Good design is central to the world of communications. It's easy to think of advertisements in newspapers and magazines as examples of a graphic designer's art, but in reality, graphic design and visual communications are used in printed media, on television, and on websites.
Here are some of the educational opportunities available in graphic design:
Graphic Design Degrees
Graphic designers primarily create designs for printed media, from publications to billboards. While earning a degree in graphic design, students learn about the elements that go into good design, including typography, drawing, and form, and the tools and skills that go into creating printed materials, from computerized graphics and illustration programs, to publishing and layout applications.
Visual Communications Degrees
Visual communications professionals are the generalists of the design world. They know about all types of visual media, from print to video to online. A visual communications expert will work with his client to determine the best way to get the client's message out effectively in a unified, memorable way.
While the coursework of a visual communications degree program may be similar to that found in graphic design, it may include additional courses in animation, photography or video, and is likely to feature courses in marketing and communications.
Web Design Degrees
Web page design is a combination of the artistic and the technical. HTML is just the start of it. Web designers have to know how to create graphics and animations -- even how to program on both the client side and the server side. Then, they have to have the right creative vision to create interesting web pages that encourage the visitor to explore the site.
A good web design school will give you plenty of hands-on training using the most frequently used page layout and graphics applications, and give you a chance to express your creativity.
