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Graphic Design

2007 Program Highlights

Two year program leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Graphic Design.

Read the latest news about the Graphic Design program

• Begins in the fall and core courses are sequential. (No summer Graphic Design courses)
• All first-year Integrated Media core and Graphic Design classes are Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.    
• All second-year Integrated Media core and Graphic Design concentration courses are Mondays/ Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If your goal is to earn an A.A.S. degree within two years, you should commit to being a full-time student. Some students take longer than two years to complete our program. Many students have already completed the 18 general education credits before they enter the Graphic Design program. Often, students choose to take just the core IM/GD courses (3 courses each term). We accept 23 new students each Fall term. An average of 18 students complete the core courses within two years of starting. All courses are taught in our Graphic Design Macintosh lab in AC1392.

Faculty

The program is directed by full-time instructor/program director, Christina Maier.

Our adjunct faculty are practicing design professionals from the Portland area who teach in their area of expertise. We feel that the students benefit by learning from active, accomplished designers who are able to bring real-world experiences into the classroom.

Portfolio

The ultimate, tangible goal of the program is to provide you with the structure in which to build a strong, well-crafted portfolio of projects which demonstrate your ability to create innovative solutions to design problems. Your portfolio should be a rich, personal reflection of who you are, how you think, and demonstrate what you claim on your résumé.

During your second year, you'll create three portfolios: a personal portfolio website, an Acrobat-based (PDF) portfolio and a traditional print portfolio.

See examples of student Graphic Design projects.

Is There A Job For Me?

There is a constant demand for graphic designers who have a high degree of Macintosh computer proficiency. Upon the completion of our program, you'll have well over 1500 hours of experience with the most commonly used graphic software applications in the Adobe Creative Suite. This, coupled with a well-rounded, creative portfolio allows you to be successful in the Portland market. Our students have done quite well competing for entry-level, salaried, full-time positions with benefits.

Portland offers many freelance opportunities for those wanting more flexibility and independence. Many graduates find themselves working for a variety of agencies and clients on a project-by-project or "on-call" basis. A much higher hourly rate is the primary benefit of being a subcontractor, along with the freedom to move around and work for a wider array of clients.

Job Titles:

• Web Site and Web Page Designer
• Multimedia, Interactive and/or Instructional Designer
• Junior Graphic Designer
• Publication Designer
• Digital Pre-press Operator
• Graphic Design Assistant 

Am I Suited For This Field?

You should have:

• An ability to communicate visually, verbally and in writing
• Inherent artistic ability
• Craftsmanship and an eye for detail
• Strong organizational skills
• A willingness to promote yourself
• Self-discipline and motivation
• Ability to sit at happily at a computer 20-40 hours a week
• An understanding that continued success in Graphic Design demands that students embrace life-long learning
• Excellent vision and color recognition
• Keyboarding skills

Equipment

Macintosh Lab

24 20-inch iMac Intel Core Duo Macintosh workstations
12 color scanners
600 dpi laser printers
Large format duplex color printer
Digital cameras
25 Wacom Graphire 3 tablets
High resolution presentation data projector

Software

Adobe Creative Suite:
    Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Pro
    Adobe Photoshop CS2
    Adobe Illustrator CS2
    Adobe InDesign CS2
Adobe Studio 8: 
    Flash 8
    Dreamweaver 8 

Costs

As of Fall 2006, in-state tuition is $72.00 a credit hour which includes both student and technology fees.
Books, tools, lab fees and supplies will cost a total of $1,085 for all six terms in addition to tuition. 
Many students choose to buy a Macintosh computer, software, printer and scanner which can cost between $1,500 - $3,000.

To Apply

Graphic Design is a Restricted-Entry program for 2007. The application deadline is 5 p.m., June 15 2007.  Applicants are required to complete both the Integrated Media Core AND the Graphic Design Supplemental applications . Twenty-three students will be accepted and up to 5 alternates selected.

For more information about the design program,